Successful companies create environments that stimulate creativity and produce a continuing flow of superb ideas. Why is your company's environment so important to creativity? Simply put, it's because environments have the ability to either stimulate your senses or dull them.

Consider the following:

• If your work environment is rigid and hierarchical (many layers of management), chances are your ability to think outside the box will be very limited because ways of doing things will tend to be standardized.
• If your environment is hectic, fast-paced, with many deadlines, you'll likely have little opportunity to spend in contemplation, an activity that is generally necessary for creativity to happen.

Here's what you can do to stimulate creativity:

• Find new and interesting ways to minimize the distractions in your life. Be sure to make time for some quiet time for yourself on a regular basis.
• At the very least, devote some time each day to quiet contemplation to train your mind to be more attentive to creative opportunities.

Find the process and location that works for you. The important thing to remember is that you will be more creative in some environments than others.