Identifying Mental Patterns of Creativity in Successful Entrepreneurs: A Phenomenological Study
Keywords:
Mental patterns, creativity, entrepreneurship, qualitative research, phenomenologyAbstract
The present study aimed to identify and explain the mental patterns of creativity in successful entrepreneurs using a phenomenological approach. This qualitative study employed a phenomenological design. Participants included 24 successful entrepreneurs residing in Tehran, selected through purposive and snowball sampling. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and continued until theoretical saturation was achieved. Thematic analysis was conducted using NVivo version 14. Peer review and participant feedback were used to ensure the credibility of the findings. Data analysis led to the identification of four main themes: "self-awareness and inner understanding," "divergent thinking and cognitive creativity," "constructive interactions and social learning," and "goal-oriented and action-based mindset." These themes encompassed 21 subthemes and over 100 open codes. Findings revealed that creativity in successful entrepreneurs is the result of a multidimensional interaction between intrinsic motivation, lived experience, social engagement, and active mental processes. The results suggest that creative mentality in successful entrepreneurs is not a fixed trait but a dynamic, purposeful, and context-dependent process shaped through interaction with the self, the environment, and others. These findings have implications for the design of educational programs and entrepreneurship development interventions.
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