How to be creative

I am sick to death of hearing this statement. Can creativity really (and I mean REALLY) be taught? Ad schools around the nation suddenly sit up in defense mode.

"OF COURSE IT CAN" they claim. Would you expect them to say anything other than that?

You can't teach someone to be creative. Picture it:

"Um okay, first, you need to open your mind."

"With a hammer?"

"No numb-wit. With relaxation, open your mind, let it flow."

"What should I be thinking about?"

"Just keep it open."

"You mean like a 24-hour store?"

No, no people, you can't teach someone to be creative. Can't you teach someone to be artistic? No. You can either draw, or you can't. Sure, an art teacher can HELP you improve your technique, but she can't teach some embicil who can't draw a stick man to whip out a paint brush, plonk on a beret and voila, Pablo P.

Pffff, talk about blowing smoke up people's asses.