Creativity can be scary. It’s not just about ideas—it’s about risking failure. I saw it with my 9-year-old when his drawing didn’t turn out as he hoped. He shut down, comparing his work to mine. Sound familiar?

In the workplace, we do the same. Fear of being wrong stifles ideas. But creativity thrives in brave, messy spaces where it’s okay to fumble. If we want innovation, we need to model that vulnerability—trying, failing, and laughing along the way. When we embrace the messy, the magic happens.