In the debut of our Creative Thinkers series, we spoke with Adam Morgan, the award-winning Executive Creative Director at Adobe. Over the past 25 years, Adam has worked at the intersection of creativity and leadership. He’s also the author of Sorry Spock, Emotion Drives Business and the host of the Real Creative Leadership podcast.
Our conversation explored the essence of creativity, how to overcome creative burnout, and what separates a creative leader from a creative contributor. Here's a reimagined look at Adam’s thoughts, through the lens of DolFinContent’s commitment to empowering modern creative teams.
What Does It Mean to Be Creative?
For Adam, creativity is about making new connections between seemingly unrelated things. It’s not just about coming up with something new—it’s about recombining the familiar in an unfamiliar way.
“Everything may have been done before, but creativity is finding new ways to connect the dots.”
Rather than defining creativity by originality alone, Adam reframes it as a relational skill—a way of thinking that bridges insight with imagination.
Discovering Your Own Creative DNA
Interestingly, Adam didn’t find his creative stride until college. He was originally studying chemical engineering before he pivoted to advertising—thanks in part to reading Jump Start Your Brain by Doug Hall.
“I realized my approach to creativity wasn’t spontaneous. It was structural. I needed frameworks. I think of myself as a central brain thinker—part creative, part data-driven.”
At DolFinContent, we know that design systems, process frameworks, and templates don’t suppress creativity—they unlock it. Adam’s approach to creative structure reinforces that great work doesn’t require chaos—it thrives in clarity.
Is Everyone Creative?
Adam is adamant:
“Yes—everyone has creative potential.”
He recalls a moment at an IT conference when a developer said, “We’re not creative types.” That stuck with him. In Adam’s view—and DolFinContent’s philosophy—this is a dangerous myth.
“There’s no separate brain for creatives. Creativity is problem-solving. If you’re a developer debugging an algorithm or a business owner pivoting in a crisis—you’re using creativity.”
This mirrors our belief that creativity isn’t limited to the art department. It’s a company-wide capability.
Overcoming Creative Fatigue
When creative block hits, Adam doesn’t call it writer’s block—he calls it a lack of inputs.
“Your brain can’t make new connections if you’re only feeding it three things. You need 300.”
Instead of forcing ideas, he turns to reading, watching documentaries, or exploring topics outside his discipline. At DolFinContent, we encourage creative teams to build weekly rituals of inspiration—TED Talks, cross-discipline learning, or creative show-and-tells.
Adam’s team does the same. Their weekly inspiration meetings aren’t about deliverables—they’re about refilling the creative well.
Intentional Information Consumption
There’s a difference between passive entertainment and active input gathering.
“When you’re people-watching for creativity, you’re not just looking—you’re observing for patterns and truths.”
Training your brain to see meaning in the mundane is a muscle. And like any muscle, it needs reps. If you’re serious about developing your creative intuition, Adam believes you need to dissect the work of others—not just admire it.
Can Creativity Get Injured?
Yes—and Adam says it happens when people rely too much on a single style or process.
“If your one trick stops working, you’ll think you’ve lost your talent. But what you really need is a new pattern.”
At DolFinContent, we often coach brands through rebranding fatigue and team burnout. Our solution? Rotate creative roles. Refresh sources of inspiration. Challenge the format.
What Makes a Creative Leader?
Surprisingly, Adam believes creative excellence alone doesn’t make someone a creative leader.
“Just being the best designer doesn’t mean you’re ready to lead.”
Instead, leadership requires:
- Vision
- Empathy
- Relationship building
- Coaching
- Emotional intelligence
“If you want to lead, you need to read.”
Leadership isn’t instinctive—it’s learned. Podcasts, books, mentors—these are your training tools.
This distinction resonates deeply at DolFinContent. We don’t just help companies create; we help creative leaders scale, guide, and inspire their teams for long-term impact.
How Adam Stays Inspired After 25 Years
It’s simple: consistency over bursts.
“Every week, I make time for inspiration. My team watches TED Talks, shares hobbies, or brings something they’re passionate about to the table.”
We’ve adopted a similar approach at DolFinContent, hosting weekly Creative Field Trips—from VR art exhibitions to reverse engineering viral ad campaigns.
“Exposure to new fodder is the spice of creativity.”
That spice? It’s what keeps ideas fresh and spirits high.
Want to explore how your team can unlock deeper creativity, fight burnout, and build visionary leadership across your brand?
Let’s Chat
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