Who encourages your creativity? (Episode 274)

Who encourages your creativity, and whose creativity do you need to encourage?

Yesterday, I had the privilege of having a lunch meeting with Leif Pagrotsky.

Leif is the former Minister of Trade of Sweden, and one of the most interesting and “real” politicians I have ever had the honour of meeting.

One of those rare politicians who are in it to really make the world a better place, and who approaches politics without ego.

Now he is, amongst other things, a geopolitical speaker.

We met up to share experiences around speaking and to discuss how we look at the world (and we did it from a stunningly beautiful view from the highest point in Stockholm!)

One of the things we discussed, and which I thought would be valuable to share here, was the value of having someone who encourages your creativity.

As a leader, Leif saw it as one of the most important parts of his job to make sure he was encouraging the people working for him to find creative solutions.

In our meeting I found myself taking the role to encourage Leif’s idea for a whole new kind of Geopolitical speech that he has been developing lately.

To encourage – of course – means to “put courage” into someone else.

Who is the person you should take the time to put courage in so that they will run with their next big idea?

PS:

The Global Book Launch continues.

I was recently in Chennai, India for a speech for a professional speaking conference for PSAI and I used that event to also do the India launch of my new book: “The World of Creativity”.

One of the 37 chapters featured in the book is about what the world can learn about creativity from India.

That means we have now done book launch events in Stockholm, Malmö/Landskrona, Brussels, Bangkok and Chennai.

In March we will also do the Singapore launch (17 March 2026).

If you are Singapore-based, I would love to meet you there: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfjPVHQBew9qmo0NT_MnE8GyOekca8iRHTH_yMfN4rnB69XWQ/viewform

The first print run of the book is already sold out! Order your own copy here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1907312897