Let me tell you a story that will change the way you see your creativity.
In 2002, Tiger Woods, one of the greatest golfers to ever live, did something unusual...
At the peak of his career, after winning four major championships in a row, he made a decision that left even experts scratching their heads.
He changed his golf swing!
Mid-reign. Mid-glory.
But why?
Because he knew something most people ignore:
Peak performance isn’t a place you stay. It’s a place you evolve from.
Tiger won it all. But his body was telling him something he couldn’t ignore.
His knee was breaking down.
Instead of clinging to comfort, he did what all great creators do: he adapted.
He tore apart something that worked. Something legendary. And rebuilt it, not because it was broken, but because it would inevitably break if he didn’t change.
Over the next few years his career took a hit, but by 2005 he returned to dominance with his new more efficient swing.
Now pause. Breathe that in.
I consider athleticism a form of creative body movement, but even if you don’t, here’s the thing...
You might not be swinging a golf club for a living. But maybe you’re a writer. An entrepreneur. An artist. A leader. A dreamer.
Whatever creative domain you are in, the lesson still stands…
Don’t wait to change because you’re failing. Change because you’re growing.
The moment you get comfortable with your creative process, the way you write, the themes you explore, the tools you use, it’s easy to sit back and coast.
But here’s the trap: what works now can become what limits you tomorrow.
Ask yourself…
What part of your routine needs reinventing?
What’s gotten too easy or too automatic?
Where are you succeeding, but slowly slipping into stagnation?
Here’s a creativity principle that changed my life:
Success is a poor teacher. It’ll convince you to stop growing.
Tiger knew better. He didn’t wait until his game declined to make a change. He saw the road ahead. He knew that long-term greatness isn’t about maintaining. It’s about evolving.
So my takeaway is simple:
Don’t just work on your craft. Work on your adaptability.
Change before you have to. Reinvent while you’re strong. Upgrade your systems before they fail you.
Because if you want to go from good to great (or from great to legendary) you have to let go of what’s merely “working” to reach what’s truly possible.
Like Tiger, you’ve got more in you. But you’ll never see it if you’re afraid to change your swing.
Stay creative,
