Well before 1400, the Aztecs discovered the fruit of a vine-like orchid and began using it as a spice.

Its value was then discovered by the conquering Spanish who brought this black flower back to Europe. The tasty spice gained in popularity with kings and queens due to its unique flavor, but farmers were not able to get the vine to bear fruit outside of Mexico.

In 1703, a French botanist Charles Plummer renamed the valued spice vanilla. What could be done to make this black flowering vine produce its fruit in Europe?

For 300 years, Europeans transported these orchids from Mexico in efforts to get them to produce fruit, to no avail. In 1841, a young slave named Edmond had been working on a plantation in the French-controlled island of Reunion. He worked for a plantation owner named Ferreol, who had been experimenting with the vanilla orchids.

The 12-year-old Edmond had been learning about horticulture from his owner, Ferreol, and was secretly applying his newly acquired knowledge.

In late 1841, Ferreol was walking through his vine-laden plantation with Edmond. Looking down he noticed two green capsules hanging from the black flowered vine. As he and Edmond discussed their find, Edmond mentioned he had pollinated the plant himself. To demonstrate, Edmond pulled back the lip of the flower growing from the vine. Using a twig, Edmond then lifted a leaf of flower that separated the pollen-bearing anther and pollen-receiving stigma, then pinched the anther and stigma together, causing the pollination needed for the plant to bear fruit.

In 2016 the world produced 7,940 tons of vanilla. It is used in ice cream, pop and fragrances. Edmond’s creation has impacted us all.

It was originally thought that being a genius was a prerequisite for being creative — you need to be smart. In 1921 cognitive psychologist Lewis Terman began a longitudinal study tracking 1,500 children in California who were identified as intellectually gifted (average IQ of 151). He found being a genius did not mean you would be more creative.

Some believe creativity can be increased using rewards. Ken McGraw of University of Mississippi conducted a study where students were given nine math problems, with the 10th problem needing creative discovery to solve.

The rewards had no effect on solving math problems, but students who were offered a reward for right answers took much longer to answer the problem needing a creative solution. Further studies found rewards actually stifled creative thought.

Further studies have found that creation is an ordinary act. Edmond learned about botany during his walks with Ferreol. Creating often starts with ordinary acts, such as Edmond tinkering with the flower of the plant. Creating takes work, a series of steps that lead to improvements.

Creative thinking is simply a special kind of problem solving behavior. Creation is the result of taking action and implementing ideas.

There are many more stories of acts of creation like Edmond’s whose benefits we use each day. You don’t need to be a well-educated genius, nor do you need incentives to be creative. All you need is an open mind, motivation to implement ideas and persistence to produce a creation!

Steve Patchin is director of Career Serivices for Michigan Technological University.