Suppose an accountant entered a world of creatives – and was trying their best to keep up. What would they do?

Suppose an accountant entered a world of creatives – and was trying their best to keep up. What would they do? That was me (John Power) 5 years ago. True to my trade, I kept an ‘account’ of what helped me. I then put it into the following 1000 word ‘immersive essay’. Hopefully it will help you.

Imagine that you’re on top of a mountain.

The air is crisp and a cool wind whips your coat around you. It’s late morning. Suddenly the Sun breaks free of some little fluffy clouds - illuminating a landscape of possibilities for miles around you. But, what’s more, you see something else… your ideas taking form in the air around you – fizzing and crackling with their own energy. Your slightest whim becomes a dreamlike vision in the air around you. You feel unstoppable.

You’re not just at the top of a mountain. You’re in a state called ‘Peak Creativity’.

Can we ever truly reach this peak?

Maybe not.

But maybe…

Part 1: Conditions – Preparing for the Climb

Before you even set out for the mythical ‘Peak Creativity’, check yourself. Are you ready?

Imagine that you are in the doorway of your house. You wouldn’t climb a mountain in your pyjamas, right? You wouldn’t set off on an empty stomach. You need some hot porridge, a coffee and some gear. The same goes for creativity. There are pre-requisites.

• Inspire yourself: Immerse in art, nature, or novelty. Satisfy your appetite… and then some!
• Take care of yourself: Prioritize physical and mental wellbeing—sleep, eat, and rest.
• Create a suitable environment: Clear distractions. Surround yourself with what fuels you.
• Make time: Creativity needs space to breathe. Don’t rush it. Protect it.
• Gather what you need: Whether it’s information, paintbrushes or self-raising flour.
• Build your team: A diverse, bonded team – aligned on a mission, works wonders.

(Conditions are everything you do to prepare yourself for getting creative.)

Without these, we are unprepared, lost – and end up going home early.

From Einstein to Agatha Christie, great minds have a tip that can help. Like many tips, it bears repeating, even if you know it. Something that can feed your curiosity, offer a change of pace. You can probably guess what’s coming…

So, zip up your coat. Tie up your bootlaces. It’s time to step out into the fresh air, and … that tip?

Go for a walk.

Part 2: Concepts – Finding Seeds of Ideas

Imagine you’ve set off. You’re walking a woodland trail, and a kaleidoscope of nature unfolds around you. Sunlight dances through the trees – scattering among ferns, mushrooms and bark. The soft earth beneath your feet seems to whisper of new connections.

You spot something small in the underbrush.

An acorn.

Simple, unassuming, yet brimming with potential.

That’s how ideas begin. Small. Quiet. Modest.

The best seeds come from cross-pollination: when two different plants meet, they create something entirely new—stronger, more vibrant, more adaptable. It’s the same with ideas. When concepts collide—sometimes from vastly different worlds—they blend and evolve into something extraordinary. There are different ways to do this:

• Combine ideas: What happens when you blend two unrelated things?
• Use brainstorming exercises: Try Crazy 8s, Morphological Analysis, Innovation Frameworks, or Design Thinking. There are a myriad reliable creative idea creation techniques that suit a range of different scenarios – solo/group, big/small, problems/expression.
• Ask questions: Why? What if? How might we?

(It might seem obvious, but you can reliably create new ideas by applying proven creative techniques to starts ideas.)

If you do this, you’ll end up stuffing your backpack with acorns.

You look up and see the craggy peak loom ahead of you. In your pocket you squeeze an acorn that seems particularly potent.

Part 3: Craft – Tools to Scale the Mountain

Real talk - why does every creative project have a… valley of misery halfway through?

Imagine you’re facing a sheer cliff face. It’s impenetrable. You’re stuck. A voice on the wind seems to whisper ‘ideas are useless if you don’t finish them’… You really don’t feel like you’re going to finish this.

And then... you see something unexpected…

A ladder.

Simple. Practical. Right there when you thought all hope was lost.

It’s not magic. But using it makes everything feel so much better. You gain height. You advance. You’re back on track. Thank goodness for the trail blazers who create tools and techniques that others can use to get from A to B. These can help you polish an idea – where it’s colour grading or playtesting, crafts enhance your work. There are ideas in every discipline that make scaling the mountain possible. Some of the most useful ladders I’ve found are…

• Storytelling: The Hero’s Journey helps structure complex narratives.
• Game Design: Iterating on ludeme combinations can rapidly enhance a game idea.
• Art and Design: Colour theory and gestalt principles can that deepen your expression.
• Improv: The “Yes, and …” principle keeps ideas flowing.
• Behavioural Science: Psychological principles – like the IKEA effect can guide behaviour.

(Crafts are the reliable techniques help you finish an idea. We can get these from outside of our lane. E.g. at Mediazoo I learn craft techniques from the different departments)

When you use these ladders, something strange and interesting happens. You start to combine and cross pollinate the models. Your ideas get richer and you end up not just climbing ladders – but transcending paradigms and creating new ones. That’s when you stop following the route laid out for you and start carving your own path.

When you’ve climbed a few ladders and put in the hard work.

You look down and realise that your little acorn is a sapling.

The End?

When you finish an idea. It’s as though the world stops around you.

Take a deep breath.

Wiggle your toes.

You’ve made it. It feels good to be up here doesn’t it?

You reflect on how you got yourself ready, you found new things and new paths to elevate them.

You can see the forests and crags of challenges you’ve overcome. You can squint back at your tiny house – miles away. So many steps taken.

Hang on - is that … another .. higher peak up ahead?