Creativity Management

Creativity Management ? Artists and Creativity

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation whilst innovation can be defined as idea selection, development and commercialisation.

There are other useful definitions in this field, for example, creativity can be defined as consisting of a number of ideas, a number of diverse ideas and a number of novel ideas.

There are distinct processes that enhance problem identification and idea generation and, similarly, distinct processes that enhance idea selection, development and commercialisation. Whilst there is no sure fire route to commercial success, these processes improve the probability that good ideas will be generated and selected and that investment in developing and commercialising those ideas will not be wasted.

Artists and Creativity

There is a common perception that being creative and being an artist are one and the same. That if you are one, then you are also the other. This is bad thinking:

a) What people are referring to is their perception of a creative type. In fact it is highly contentious that there is a creative type at all. Whilst some theorists argue that there are creativity traits such as tolerance for ambiguity and intolerance for conformity, others counter that these traits are hard to identify and are situation dependent. Further, motivation is more important than traits.

b) If creativity is problem identification and idea generation then we all have this ability. Further, we can all produce large numbers of ideas, numbers of diverse ideas and numbers of novel ideas. This is related to task competency.

c) Creativity is a cognitive ability. People may look "creative," but this is a bad guide to their actual cognitive performance.

d) There are many types of "artists." Poets and painters are two very different types. Bunching all "artists" together compounds confusion. The ability of painter, for example, is related to at least two factors. First, there is his or her cognitive activity ? what he or she finds aesthetically pleasing etc. Second, there is the mechanical capability of being able to translate those images onto a physical canvas with paint. This second ability is related to the hard wiring of the painter ? motor neurons etc.

These and other topics are covered in depth in the MBA dissertation on Managing Creativity & Innovation, which can be purchased (along with a Creativity and Innovation DIY Audit, Good Idea Generator Software and Power Point Presentation) from http://www.managing-creativity.com/

Kal Bishop MBA, is a management consultant based in London, UK. He has consulted in the visual media and software industries and for clients such as Toshiba and Transport for London. He has led Improv, creativity and innovation workshops, exhibited artwork in San Francisco, Los Angeles and London and written a number of screenplays. He is a passionate traveller. He can be reached on http://www.managing-creativity.com/

:tea:
 
Click to expand...
Creativity Myths

Creativity Myths

Sustained myths about Creativity and Innovation lead to confusion, bad practice and bad decision making. Some of them include:

1. Creativity requires Creative Types

While some theorists assert that there are creativity traits such as tolerance for ambiguity and intolerance to conformity, these assertions are countered by the fact that traits are hard to identify and are not stable nor transferable across situations. Further, motivation is a critical factor. Additionally, creativity is a cognitive process and thus measurements like "she looks creative" are poor benchmarks. All the research shows that everyone can produce novel, useful, varied, diverse ideas and looking for certain types to come up with them reduces total valuable output.

2. Money is the best Motivator

Material reward is a synergistic extrinsic motivator. That means that it is a factor that enhances intrinsic motivation but may not in itself cause maximum creative effort and output ? there are at least six other motivators that are as valuable. Additionally, the exact level of material reward very positively correlates to that received by peer groups.

3. Time Pressure drives Creativity

Yes and no. There are at least three conflicting forces:

a) Time pressure increases creative output. By forcing idea production, setting goals and incremental deadlines, a greater number of ideas are produced than if a "do your best" approach is taken. This action benefits from the positives of prolific production and other processes.

b) Time pressure may be a non-synergistic extrinsic motivator. It reduces the level of engagement in the endeavour and inhibits intrinsic motivation.

c) Short-term time pressure does not allow the mind to engage in the endeavour at various cognitive levels. It does not allow rich ideas to formulate through the process of incubation.

4. Competition outperforms Collaboration

Competition causes many people to shut down and introduces many negatives such as core and peripheral groups, politicking and restriction of information. Collaboration, on the other hand, allows the intellectual cross pollination that is the raw material for good idea generation.

5. Creativity and Innovation can be used interchangeably

The terms Creativity and Innovation are often used interchangeably but they are, in fact, separate and distinct. Creation can be described as problem identification and idea generation whilst innovation is idea selection, development and commercialisation. The distinctions alone lead to numerous conclusions. Among them is the fact that:

a) Creativity and Innovation leaders require at least six different competencies (including one holistic) to even begin Managing Creativity and Innovation (actually, many more are needed).

b) Both Creativity and Innovation require different structures, processes and skill sets.

c) Workshop facilitators should split sessions into distinct parts and formulate frameworks and processes to maximise output at each level.

************************************:tea:
 
Magic In Your Spice Rack

Magic In Your Spice Rack

Variety is the spice of life, but spices, historically are the stuff of magic! A spell, after all is really just a recipe and traditionally many of them involve plant life or herbs. Magic doesn't have to be complicated to work. In fact the simplest spells sometimes work best of all, because they most resemble an innocent wish and the doer is not attached to the outcome. Check out the magickal uses of some of these very common spices, which are found in almost everybody's spice rack or kitchen cupboard at home.

CINNAMON: Cinnamon is practically one of the most useful spices in practical magic and is used for purification, blessings, prosperity, protection and improved communication. Sprinkling a little cinnamon on your toast or your cafe latte in the morning may help to improve business. To protect yourself from gossip or the envy of others, place a tiny dot of cinnamon on your breast bone in the morning while dressing. Sprinkling a little cinnamon under the phone, may help you get that difficult person to call you back. Sucking on a cinnamon flavored candy before you need to make a presentation or a speech, can help you be more eloquent (as the spice is ruled by Mercury.) The next time you wash the floor, add a dash of cinnamon to the pail to increase business.

GINGER: Ginger is used to speed things up. Next time you do your floor, add a little ginger and cinnamon to the water in the pail to make your own "Fast Luck in a Hurry" floor-wash. A little sprinkled under the phone may cause that important call to come faster, but don't use too much ... it can also cause a heated exchange or an argument. A mixture of ginger, cinnamon, crushed dried rose petals and coffee, placed under your mattress is said to spice up your sex life.

SALT: Salt has been used for ages to purify spaces and prevent negative energies from entering your home. If you feel like you are under attack, try sprinkling a little in all four corners of the house for protection. Taking a bath in salt is said to purify the aura.

BASIL: Said to be ruled by Mars, Basil is said to have a protective and cleansing influence. If you have had contact with someone who you dislike and whose negative energy seems to be hanging around, a bit of basil, steeped in warm water and drunk like a tea or mixed with tobacco and burned on the tip of cigarette is said to drive the obnoxious influence away. Basil sprinkled near the front door is said to bring you money.

BAY LEAF: Aside from seasoning stew, the Bay leaf can also be used for granting wishes. Write your wish on a piece of paper and then fold it into thirds, after placing three bay leaves inside. Fold the paper again into thirds. Once the wish is granted, the paper and bay leaves should be burned as a thank you. Bathing in bay leaves (add nine of them) is said to bring you fame and glory.

MARJORAM: Marjoram can be used to clear negative thought forms from your home. Sprinkle it on the floor and let it sit awhile (like astral baking soda) to absorb the bad energy and then with a broom sweep the negative vibes out the front door.

MINT: If you need to sparkle in a crowd, charm, woo or sell something, trying nibbling on a little mint or drinking mint tea before you do your presentation. However, if that is too archaic for you, sucking on a spearmint-flavored Tic Tac will do the trick as well.

PARSLEY: Need some cold hard cash? Make a tea out of dried parsley by boiling a teaspoon of the dried herb and adding it to a cup of boiled water. Either add it to your bath or put it in an atomizer. The idea is to sprinkle or spray the parsley water in a clockwise direction in your house to raise your money drawing vibration.

ROSEMARY: Rosemary is a protective herb and the whole needles can be sprinkled around the perimeter of a house for protection. If you like antiques, but are worried about the vibe of the previous owner of what you bought, a wash made of one teaspoon of the dried herb to one cup of boiling water can be used to purify the object from the energies of its past owners.

SAGE: Sage is an herb of wisdom. A tea made from a teaspoon of sage and a cup of boiling water can be added to the bath-tub or sprinkled throughout the house to help destroy illusions and raise mental clarity. You can also buy it commercially, in tea bags, and drink it to help improve your memory while studying for tests.

Samantha Steven's articles have been published in many high-standing newspapers and she has published several books. If you wish to buy Samantha's books about metaphysics click herehttp://www.insomniacpress.com/author.php?id=110You can meet Samantha Stevens at http://www.psychicrealm.com where she works as a professional psychic. You can also read more of her articles at http://www.newagenotebook.com:tea:
 
My Work Is My Play - The Journey From Survival to Creativity

My Work Is My Play - The Journey From Survival to Creativity

"For the love a' creation!", my father was fond of expounding, when "Pete" and "God" had run their course. It was years later until I realized that sentence actually held meaning for me ? other than an expression of exasperation. It is, most literally, the love of my life.

For a remote viewer, creation is both the destination and the journey. It has a very real context, namely, the matrix. It is the void, the confluence of all things singularly rolled into one while simultaneously separated into individual parts made unique by a nuance of frequency. It is that vast and limitless outer expanse only reached by turning inward.

In my years of remote viewing, I've been on many journeys. The real goal of this process is to engage the consciousness of the matrix. In the advanced stages, the targets reflect this whether they be of a terrestrial or off-planet nature. There is no other way for me to describe my experience except to say that it is a direct interaction with the creative source and a distinct confirmation that we are part and parcel of this force.

As an embodied soul, I am both the creation, bound to a contract of safety and survival, and the creator, inextricably dedicated to risk and innovation. One way of describing survival is to say that it is the eternal quest for the mediator, the recognized other, regulator of our early bio-neurological processes. It is the search for the "savior", the one who can assure us that no harm will ever befall us as long as we remain faithful to the other's perceptions of the world.

Creation, on the other hand, is the direct experience beyond time and space. Creation is the personal responsibility of the individual to the collective and has no intermediary. Creation assumes survival.

A Biological Imperative

Survival is our biological imperative. No argument there. However, how we define survival for ourselves and others around us is a component of health and well-being of global proportions. We can, for example, be persuaded to go to war when we're convinced that our survival is threatened. However, resistance not only arises from an immediate life and death scenario but also out of a question of quality of life. Enter creativity. In the final analysis, we are not content to simply "survive".

Creativity then becomes the resourced state that sustains life. It is, in fact, an inseparable part of survival. The optimal word here is "resourced". Our greatest resource is our consciousness. Obviously, the more parts (i.e. pieces of consciousness) of ourselves we can convince to stay present in the moment, the more resourced we are and the more creative we can be.So what tethers us to the path of expectation? How do we mistake opportunities for opportunists, gifts for burdens, or vice versa? This is our survival mechanism in action; this is also our survival mechanism run amuck.

Past Tense or Present and Tense?

Does the past exist? My answer would be yes, it exists in the present. I have frequently had the experience of remote viewing events, places and life forms in the past. I absolutely know beyond a shadow of a doubt that it is possible to focus on the signal line of such a target and experience that "past moment" in its sensory entirety. As a remote viewer, I am also trained not to take the experience back "home" with me. Consciousness helps me do that.

However, when an unconscious part of me is connected to the signal line of a past event, I don't have the benefit of that conscious resource. It's as if that particular part has no idea that a trained remote viewer also shares the same physical container. In that case, whenever some present sensory input amplifies the signal line (to which I'm already unconsciously attached), I experience that event all over again. And the experience registers in my body through the nervous system while my brain draws the same fearful, hopeless or delusional conclusion it's always drawn, based on the limited resources available to that unconscious part of me.

Of course, I'm just using my remote viewer part to make the point. The same thing happens when consciousness is brought to that current event by any other method of integrated awareness, as long as it includes the body. The body really needs to know it survived. Otherwise, it becomes impossible to return to calm and safety, the portal to creativity.

Survival In the Workplace

One place to easily view this in action is in the workplace. When we're growing up, choosing a career sounds like an exciting premise. We don't take into consideration that the unspoken part of our job description will be to fulfill someone else's expectations. The workplace, by its very nature, is an arena of external focus. That makes it a fertile field for the triggering of unconscious past wounds. We can use the experience to heal and grow (creativity) or we can use it to reaffirm our attachment to a certain level of survival.

What often occurs is that we measure success or failure by the amount of money earned, possessions garnered, and lifestyle achieved. When we speak of someone as "successful", we usually mean "wealthy. Somehow, this has come to mean that only the "successful", the "creative", have earned the right to play.

In this pass/fail world, survival can become a hook synonymous with drudgery, boredom and bitterness. Notice how "successful" people are often touted for their creativity. Ironically, you have to be really creative to survive. It's just that when the majority of your focus/energy is on a picture of survival alone, you don't always acknowledge the creative part of the endeavor. Unfortunately, that brand of creativity rarely gets translated into the quantum-leap realm of "success". We tend to stop at survival instead of peeking around the corner or taking those few extra steps toward a new picture. I must say that one of the major things remote viewing teaches you to do is not to stop at the first picture you think you see. Once again, it's integrated, perceptual training that makes the difference.

Work and Play Go Hand in Hand

When exactly did 'work' and 'play' become the Cain and Abel of sound economic theory? In many cultures they used to go together. In some, they still do.

How ironic is it that the biggest innovation in the world of corporate training today involves improv theater techniques and game design technology? No doubt about it?play is a primal imperative. Look around in nature. Play sets the stage for life.

Stress management in the workplace is really about people learning to work and play together for the creative good. Team building skills are all about that very concept. When the company prospers, then everyone benefits. All work and no play makes Jack? a survivor in my book and that's really only half the story. Life needs creativity to thrive and the creative process needs acknowledged space to happen.

I once attended a week-long meeting of advanced remote viewers from all over the world. Approximately twenty-two nations were represented in a group of about 75 people. We came from all walks of life from teachers and ministers to doctors and lawyers. For three days we struggled to agree upon a list of prime imperatives for human survival. The question was "What drives the human race?"

Some were easy, like 'love' and 'fear'. Others did not flow so glibly off the tongue, like 'greed' and 'competition'. I was a member of a contingent who tried in vain to introduce the word 'play' into the mix. In the end, 'play' was nixed from the top ten because it was not deemed a powerful enough imperative. What amused me the most was that the group could not sit there for a whole day deliberating on this list without someone starting to play. People either began to joke about other people's words or just act out and laugh. Some of the group began to devise their own game for picking words. But 'play', as visible a driving force as it was, never made the cut.

How does our quest for survival sometimes end up being the death of us? It's when our biological history keeps insisting that we're fighting for our life when, in reality, the actual threat in linear time has passed. Our brains have a habit of holding onto strategies that have proved themselves stalwart weapons in the moment only to turn into shackles impeding the march of progress the next day. Humans do it; corporations do it; nations do it.

Taking the Leap

How do we make the move from survival to creativity? Well, first we have to recognize that we're stuck on survival level. That's usually the hardest. That's when we want to look around for someone or something to blame ? past or present Many of us are reluctant to move off the "?but you were supposed to take care of me" piece of the healing process. Becoming aware of the fact that "where you are" is more likely "where you've been" is an essential first step to witnessing objective truth in the moment.

Remote Viewing calls these scenarios analytical overlays or AOL's. It's easier to understand the concept of what needs to be done than it is to actually train your brain not to close off the creative process of inquiry. That's what we do when we insist on naming or labeling something or someone too quickly. I've found that Remote Viewing actually trains your informational processing system to behave differently. We really don't realize how quickly that conscious part of us wants to draw conclusions. Not every embedded strategy is bad, of course. It's the ones that don't work any more but keep on going like the Energizer Bunny of survival mechanisms that we want to address and resource.

On a recent remote viewing journey, I was taken into a part of the matrix that is an energy stream. I saw myself lying there on the mat. The object was to surrender to the energy and have the experience. I suddenly realized that the creative force wanted to "play". I "returned" with a feeling that creation demands a rebate. The message seemed painfully obvious and terribly simple but it was the experience of it, the embodiment of it that drove the point home: It's not enough to be someone's creation. At some point, you have to realize that you're alive ? you've made it ? and you must give back in order for that creative source to survive. Making a conscious decision to move your perspective from survival to creativity is a spiritual experience that grounds your creative power in the three dimensional world.

abt the author
Talia Shafir, MA, C.C. Ht. is a regression therapist and co-founder of the Center for Integrated Therapy in Sebastopol. She divides her time among a practice on both coasts which specializes in trauma and long term PTSD, teaching Remote Viewing throughout the country and running a corporate training consultancy using Improv and a variety of experiential techniques called Bizprov International.:tea:
 
Should You Quit Your Job for Your Dream?

Should You Quit Your Job for Your Dream?

The next time you're moodily sitting in your office, wishing you were living your dream instead, answer the following questions? or answer them now! They'll give you a sense of whether or not now's the time to make the break.


My job is making me crazy; so crazy I'd do anything to quit.


Highly agree

Mildly agree

Don't really agree

Strongly disagree


If I left my job for my dream, I'm not sure what I'd do first, or even how I'd begin it.


Highly agree

Mildly agree

Don't really agree

Strongly disagree


My boss runs my life ? or ruins it. I feel completely misunderstood and trapped by this job. I don't even know if I could quit ? how would I survive? Who would even hire me?


Highly agree

Mildly agree

Don't really agree

Strongly disagree


I hate this job but I really need the money. I don't see any other viable alternative.


Highly agree

Mildly agree

Don't really agree

Strongly disagree


If I stay at my work just a little longer, I stand a good chance of getting a promotion and a raise. Then I could find my way clear to saving a little money for my dream.


Highly agree

Mildly agree

Don't really agree

Strongly disagree


5. Yeah, I could quit my job for my dream, but I could run off to Tahiti, too. That's way too much risk for my taste.


Highly agree

Mildly agree

Don't really agree

Strongly disagree


My spouse/partner is okay with the thought of me quitting my job for my dream. We've talked it through and he/she sees it as the next thing I need to do.


Highly agree

Mildly agree

Don't really agree

Strongly disagree


My spouse/partner fully understands what life will be like when I make the leap to begin my dream. He/she will be there for me, emotionally and even financially if necessary.


Highly agree

Mildly agree

Don't really agree

Strongly disagree


I have a business plan for my dream all organized and ready to go. I've even scoped out sources for capital, and necessary space and materials to get to work.


Highly agree

Mildly agree

Don't really agree

Strongly disagree


I have a savings account for my dream with enough to get started, plus an emergency savings account worth 6 months of my general living expenses. I've also scoped out alternatives to my current health care and insurance.


Highly agree

Mildly agree

Don't really agree

Strongly disagree


10. I've been developing a systematic plan for leaving my job for a while now? I feel I'm almost ready to go.


Highly agree

Mildly agree

Don't really agree

Strongly disagree


11. I have an adequate support system in place to really help me move ahead with my dream. It includes good friends and advisors, adequate child or elder care, a supportive spouse, and even a coach or mentor.


Highly agree

Mildly agree

Don't really agree

Strongly disagree



If you answered mostly a) and b) to questions 1-4, you're stuck. Your job has forced you to forget about essential pieces of yourself ? it's time to get some career coaching now.

If you answered mostly a) and b) to questions 5 & 6, you're a borderline case. You haven't yet decided whether your dream is all that important to the quality of your life. Just an experiment, you might want to sit with a blank piece of paper and really brainstorm what it would be like to live your dream.

If you answered mostly a) and b) to questions 7-11? what are you waiting for? You've got a plan, you've set up the necessary support and you're good to go; you should be able to weather the inevitable ups and downs. Be sure to allow your company enough notice to make the transition smoothly, so you can leave with glowing reviews. Congratulations!


About The Author

Suzanne Falter-Barns is an expert on creativity, and the author of two best sellers on creativity. Her website, howmuchjoy.com, and her ezine, The Joy Letter, have been featured in SELF, Fitness, i-village, cybergrrl, and on msn.com among others.:tea:
 
Codifying Creativity

Codifying Creativity

Can we codify creativity? Within these few words are a number of principles that must be identified and resolved before we can really answer the question.

The first question is, what is creativity? What are we trying to codify?

One useful definition of creativity is that it is problem identification and idea generation. Another is the production of a number of diverse and novel ideas. Yet another is the engagement in a number of diverse and novel behaviours.

The second question is, can we measure creativity?

This is necessary, as any codifying must result in measurable change. From the above, we can see that creativity can be measured on a number of levels such as: a) we can measure the number of ideas produced and their diversity and novelty, b) the frequency of idea production over periods, c) the frequency of divergent and novel behaviours engaged in over periods or d) we can ask people to rate themselves as being creative before and after training.

The third question is, what do we mean by codify?

It means to code or organise into a systematic process. From the above, it becomes clear that codifying creativity is possible if we produce systematic processes that produce measurable change in the ways mentioned above.

Now onto the real question then. Can we codify creativity?

Well, yes. If we just set out a number of processes that produce measurable improvement in the ways described above.

What processes?

There are an infinite number and each produces it's own set of results. By combining, mixing and rearranging, different results occur.

Simple psychological games, such as role-play, can be used. In the Journal of Psychology, businessmen were asked to rate themselves on creativity and they ranked themselves very low. Then, after asking them to pretend they were happy-go-lucky hippies, they re-rated themselves much higher.

Lateral thinking techniques can be used, where the point is to generate ideas without purpose, for the sake of generating ideas, follow seemingly nonsensical pathways and so forth. This simply maximises the quality and quantity of the idea pool.

Linking techniques can be used. Where everyday, novel and diverse objects are used to create connections with the endeavour.

What I have just done is codify creativity. Ask any group to come up with ideas related to a particular problem and they will produce a set quantity. Use the above three (each contains an infinite number of possibilities) and the group will produce more creative output.

Using and extrapolating the above principles (and using more precise techniques), I can, for example, codify processes and structures that make it possible to complete a screenplay very quickly.

The above is an incredibly general example, but you get the idea. And this small case begins to demonstrate how creativity can be made measurable, useable and tangible.

By Kal Bishop, MBA

**********************************:tea:
 
The Power Of Your Intuition

The Power Of Your Intuition

We all have enormous reserves of mental capacity that we habitually fail to use. There is no problem that we cannot solve, no obstacle we cannot overcome, and no goal we cannot achieve when we learn to use the incredible power of our mind to its full capacity. When we us the power of our mind to it's fullest our creative capacity is unlimited.

All of the truly successful men and women in history started down the path the success by learning to listen to their intuition. Your intuition is your direct connection with infinite intelligence. It is often called the "still small voice" within. You may experience your intuition as a gut-feeling or as an inner sense of what is right or wrong for you. Sometimes your intuition manifests itself as an inspiration, a hunch, or a flash of insight.

Intuition is a natural ability. It is a skill that you already have. But this skill must be developed. It's a mistake to begin making any important future decisions based on your intuition if you have only had a few random experiences with it. The more practice you have with your intuition, the more effectively you'll be able to use it. You intuition is like a muscle. The more you use it, the stronger it grows and the faster it acts.

Every change in our life begins with a new piece of information. People who are the most successful are those who deliberately expose themselves to the greatest number of new and different ideas. They do this by reading books, listening to audio programs, attending seminars in their chosen field. They know that it only takes one good idea to change the entire direction of their life. So it stands to reason that the more ideas you come up with the greater the probability there is that you'll come up with the right idea.

All highly successful men and women are those who completely trust their intuition to guide them in every situation. They never speak or act until they feel an inner urging to do so. They know that their intuition will always bring them exactly the right answer at exactly the right time. Highly successful men and women rely continuously on their intuition and as a result they seldom make mistakes.

Your intuition is the direct pipeline to a form of intelligence that is completely beyond your physical brain. It's accessed by your subconscious mind. You subconscious mind is controlled by the thoughts you think and the beliefs you hold in your conscious mind. The more you affirm and visualize your desired goals in your conscious mind, the faster they are picked up by your subconscious mind, and this then triggers your intuition.

We've all made many decision in our life. Some right and some wrong. When our intuition tells us to do something or not to do something, it is always right. How often have you made a decision that went against your intuition, only to regret it later? How often have you pushed aside that hunch or nagging inner feeling, only for your decision to come back to haunt you? This is because you intuition is always correct. It gives you exactly the right answer you need at exactly the right time for any given situation.

When you have a clearly defined goal that you very much want to achieve it automatically stimulates your intuition. The more you think about, affirm, and write out your goal, the more your mind will be committed to finding ways to achieve it. When you repeatedly send the message of your goal to your subconscious mind, you activate your intuition to bring you the ideas, insights, and opportunities to help you achieve it. That is why intensely goal oriented people accomplish far more than people who are general or vague as to what they want to be and have.

Problem solving is another excellent way to activate you intuition. Whenever you have a pressing problem that you have clearly defined and intensely desire to solve, it automatically activates your intuition to find a solution. But, in order to activate your intuition, the problem must be clearly defined. It cannot be fuzzy or vague in any way.

Asking hard and focused questions is yet another way to stimulate your intuition. The more you train yourself to ask hard, focused, and provocative questions, you activate your intuition to give you the insights and ideas you need to move forward in your life.

Practicing solitude on a regular basis is the best way to stimulate your intuition. Solitude is an essential tool in developing the creative insight and intuition that will give you the ideas and answers to important questions, that will in turn, bring about powerful changes in your life. Most people have never practiced solitude. They are so busy, they feel that they don't have the time to set aside 30 minutes each day to practice solitude.

What most people fail to understand, is that one good idea through the practice of solitude can save you a year of hard work. All of the greatest leaders and highest achieving men and woman in history have all practiced solitude. If you want to be successful, you simply cannot afford not to practice solitude on a regular basis.

Here are eight simple steps to help you practice solitude and develop your intuition:

1. Go to a quite place where you will not be disturbed. Relax, sit comfortably, and close your eyes.

2. Begin to breath deeply. When you inhale focus on breathing with greater calmness and peace. Visualize and feel relaxation flowing into you each time you breath in. When you exhale feel yourself blowing out the pressures and stresses of the day and know that the tension is draining from your body.

3. Picture a funnel, its wide end extending up and out from the center of the top or your head.

4. Gently guide your awareness upward and focus your attention out through the funnel. Be open to whatever you experience.

5. Remember, do not try too hard; do not force your concentration.

6. Feel how a multitude of impressions seem to pour into your mind through the funnel. Notice the sensation of heightened awareness that opens to you there.

7. Practice alternating this exercise. One day practice this exercise with your eyes closed and then the next day practice it with them open.

8. Practice this exercise daily for a minimum of 30 minutes each day.

Each and every one us has at our disposal the same intuitive powers used by some of the smartest men and women who have ever lived. You have the ability to tap into and use a higher form of intelligence than you have ever used before. Your intuition can help you solve any problem and achieve any goal. Once you begin to develop and use your intuition you will become more alert, effective, and smarter in everything you do. Your potential will unfold at speed that you cannot now imagine. Your future will become unlimited.

abt the author
Joe Love draws on his 25 years of experience helping both individuals and companies build their businesses, increase profits, and achieve total success. A former ad agency executive and marketing consultant, Joe's work in personal development focuses on helping his clients identify hidden marketable assets that create windfall opportunities and profits, as well as sound personal happiness and peace.:tea:
 
Who Wants To Be A Creative Genius?

Who Wants To Be A Creative Genius?

Can You Learn Creativity?

Have you ever watched Robin Williams do a stand-up routine? Could so much creativity and spontaneity result from a highly organized approach? Definitely. Wild and funny thoughts don't come from nowhere. Comedians have habits of mind, and even the most spontaneous ones get better with practice, because they're training their brains to find the humor in situations.

You can do this too. Creativity in all areas can be improved by cultivating the right habits in your mind. You can start training your brain today, with some simple techniques.

Train Your Brain

If you want the mind of a creative inventor, start redesigning everything you see. Imagine a better light bulb, a faster way to serve food, or a better lamp. Do this for three weeks, and it will become a habit. It's also a good way to pass time while driving or waiting for an appointment.

How about systematic creativity in poetry? Write a word on each of 40 cards; 10 verbs, 10 adjectives, 10 nouns and 10 with any words. Shuffle and deal out four cards. Write a 4-line poem using one of the words in each line. My wife has had poems published that were created with this technique. Your mind will begin to find a poetic use for any word if you use this method often.

Would you like to be the person who has something unique to say about any topic? Train your mind to look at things from other perpectives. What would Ghandi say about this? How would a martian view our habits? If a dog (or a cat) could think, would he say about humans?

The point isn't to ask other people silly questions, but to ask yourself, just to see what new ideas they suggest. If you consciously do this for a few weeks, you will do it out of habit thereafter, and you'll always have something interesting to add to a conversation.

Be A Master Problem Solver

You probably have heard of problem solving techniques such as "attributes listing," "assuming the absurd," and using "what if" word lists. If you haven't, you can learn about them at http://www.IncreaseBrainPower.com. The point isn't to know them, however, but to use them until they become a part of your habitual thinking process.

Imagine you need a new seating design for restaurants. If you've trained your mind to challenge assumptions (another creative problem solving technique), you automatically begin to ask things like, "Are chair legs necessary?" If the seats were extended from the wall, table, or ceiling, it would be easier to clean under them. Are chairs necessary? Has anyone tried a stand-up cafe? Less space is required.

You won't automaticaly have great ideas, but you'll have enough creative ideas that it is more likely you'll find a useful one. And this "spontaneous" creativity will be the result of your brain training exercise. So why not start developing those creative habits of mind today?

About the author
Steve Gillman has been studying brain improvement, concentration, creative problem solving, and related topics for years. Some of what he has discovered can be found on his website: http://www.IncreaseBrainPower.com, as well as in his free Brain Power Newsletter : http://www.IncreaseBrainPower.com/Newsletter.html:tea:
 
Learn A Life Skill TODAY!

Learn A Life Skill TODAY!



Did you ever watch your grandma knitting?

Wasn't it boring? Didn't it seem to take forever?

Most of us live life in the fast lane.

Who needs to buy balls of yarn, search for patterns and spend - heaven forbid - the next three months making a jumper, when we can buy one in the high street for next to nothing.....

So why bother learning to knit?


the garment you make yourself is special to you or whoever you make it for. Create your own unique 'look'.

you will NEVER bump into someone wearing the exact same thing. Style and originality in one!

if you ever thought you didn't have a creative bone in your body - think again. Creating something useful will give you the most wonderful sense of achievement, second only to giving birth!


About The Author

Linda Gray is a freelance writer and designer. She has created a beautifully illustrated 'how-to-knit' ebook which you can download for FREE from her working from home website. http://www.mylot.org/stixandyarn.htm

[email protected]:tea:
 
10 Ways To Boost Your Creativity

10 Ways To Boost Your Creativity



Creativity is your birthright ? but can often be hidden in the everyday. To facilitate your personal development and self growth, here are some creativity tips you can use to resurrect, refresh and enhance your creative faculties.

1. Look after yourself.

Sleep well/Eat well/meditate/do what you enjoy and do it more often (if it is life enhancing!). Creativity is reduced when your senses are dulled.

2. Do something different.

We do so much on auto - the route we take to work, newspaper we read, TV programmes we routinely watch. Vary one element of your regular routine for a while. If feasible, take a different route to work, read a different newspaper (especially one you would never read!).

3. Be curious about your world around you.

It always amazes me when people don't see what's around them. See the area you live/work in as a tourist would. How would you explore it if you were a tourist?

4. Read a book on something you previously had no interest in.

...and see if you can create interest whilst reading it. It is my belief that no topic is boring or uninteresting if it is enthusiastically and creatively presented. You know what you like - or you like what you know?

5. Do something childlike once in a while.

...and you don't have to have the children there as an 'excuse' to do it. Sit and play on swings/draw/paint 'silly' pictures - have fun. Children are incredibly creative and as adults we could learn a lot about how they view the world.

6. Create/prepare quiet time for yourself every day.

Not to do anything (unless it relaxes you), but just to clear and refresh your mind. We are human beings, not doings. There are times when our crowded schedule and minds don't allow space and time for the creative to be welcomed in. Einstein liked to go sailing in the afternoons after working in the morning. Okay, most of us don't have this opportunity, but you get the point.

7. Ask 'what if' questions.

Just for fun and see where the answers take you. What if that building could talk, what would it say, what stories would it tell?

8. We often make assumptions.

...about the people we work with (especially if we don't like them!) Try treating someone you don't particularly like at work as if you liked them (yeah I know...) What would you say, how would you act towards them?

9. Write and storyboard your life.

...as if it were a script you had to sell to a film company.

10. Talk to people you routinely ignore or dismiss.

Imagine their lives from their point of view, they often have viewpoints which you may never have considered before and ... carry a small notebook with you to jot down new ideas / sensations / feelings as they come to mind.

Do one, some or all of these and you'll soon notice a rise in your creativity, personal development and self growth.

About The Author

Julie Plenty is a Personal and Business Coach, who helps writers, artists and photographers prosper in their business by helping them build a strong personal foundation, because they ARE their business. For more self growth and personal development articles, and to sign up for her Life Design newsletter, visit: http://www.self-help-personal-development.com.:tea:
 
In between Luck & Effort

In between Luck & Effort

I have one magical thought, lets see it more closely. Just look around & try to find out peoples who are successful, in sense of reality, with no efforts. You will find none.

Now look around again & try to explore the peoples who are successful by morality of their efforts, and this you will find many.

Their distinctive efforts have certainly taken them ahead, may be in changeable degree.

People who believe only in luck shall be able to see opportunities in the mirrors.

People believing in efforts creates opportunities irrespective of circumstances, favorable or unfavorable to make a real picture / image. Luck is an unknown fruit which will we recieve unexpectedely after strong efforts.

So in between luck and efforts you must focus on the efforts most of the time.

I focus to my energy to get what I want; I know efforts is the right way, Luck wonders around the right way.

About The Author

Nilesh B Gore
Graphologist(Handwriting Analyst) & SW. Eng.

Email : [email protected]

Web : http://www.brendynamics.com/gr

Country: India, Ms:tea:
 
How A Creation Box Can Work For You

How A Creation Box Can Work For You

Bring to mind a time when you decided that you wanted something in your life; a vacation, a special book, or a household item. Did you notice that things relating to what you were wanting appeared out of nowhere--either you overheard someone talking about it, noticed an advertisement, a billboard or even junk mail? This, my friends, is the power of the Law of Attraction at work. The Law of Attraction states that all forms of matter and energy are attracted to that which is of a like vibration. "Like attracts like." The thoughts we hold attract similar thoughts and become large masses of thoughts. These thoughts are also called vibrations.

I have been following the teaching of Abraham-Hicks, (one of the teachers of The Law of Attraction) for many years, and have adopted many of the suggestions offered from their work. Here is Abraham's explanation of vibration.

If you're wondering what you are vibrating, observe your life. It's a perfect match. What you are living is what you are vibrating, without exception. So, if you've got something that you don't want, identify what it is within your vibration that is giving it to you. The Law of Attraction is powerful, and whatever you are vibrating, the Universe will match.

One of the powerful tools I use from the Abraham teachings is the Creation Box. A Creation Box is simply a box or container where you store symbols, pictures, or descriptions, of your desires. Your Creation Box can be any size, shape, or colour--it is for you to enjoy and have fun with. A Creation Box helps you purify your vibration; in other words, you become more focused on the desire you put in it. Fill your Creation Box with pictures you tear out of magazines, sketches, doodles, or special notes that describe what you want. As you begin to play with your Creation Box, you will be knocked over by the speed and efficiency with which the Law of Attraction responds to the desires you have placed in your box.

Whatever you are focusing on, be it real or imagined, causes you to vibrate--and that vibration is what the Law of Attraction accepts as your point of attraction. The Law of Attraction does not know or care why you are vibrating--it only responds to your vibration. You get more of what you want and you get more of what you don't want. The Creation Box process helps you to think, feel, and vibrate MORE of what you desire. I've been using a Creation Box since 1995, placing into it things that I want while remembering that the key here is not to become attached to how it will come to me.

Recently, a friend of mine noticed my Creation Box in my home and was curious about its purpose and contents. After explaining its purpose, I opened it up to share some of the special things I wanted to manifest. To my delight, I realized that a number of magazine clippings and notes of things I had desired had already come to me!

I hosted a Creation Box building party at my home and each of us created a special box for our dreams and desires. I invite you to prepare your special Creation Box with your friends and family, and watch your desires come to you in ways you couldn't have imagined.

Michael Losier, a Law of Attraction Trainer and author, supports people in understanding and practicing the Art of Deliberate Attraction, so they can have more of what they want and less of what they don't. Michael has been applying the principles of Law of Attraction for many years and enjoys a wonderful and rewarding life in the city of Victoria, BC, Canada. He facilitates a number of in-person Law of Attraction seminars as well as Teleseminars to a worldwide audience.

For more articles by Michael Losier, Teleclass information or to purchase the book, Law of Attraction, The Science of Attracting More of What You Want and Less of What You Don't, visit http://www.LawOfAttractionBook.com.:tea:
 
Why Teach Thinking? Why Not ?

Why Teach Thinking? Why Not ?

The word 'creativity' has so many diverse meanings and interpretations. I remember telling an audience of teachers that creating a mess is also creative as long as new things and views are being conjured up. This led to much laughter and discussion about the meaning of 'creativity' (This notion of 'creative mess' was taken from master-thinker, Dr Edward de Bono).

Most people feel that creativity has to garner results or products, and it is not wrong to think so. However, by giving such conscious or subconscious constraints, creativity may be unduly hindered. One must remember that many creative ideas and innovations were once considered impractical and 'crazy' but now, they are part of our life. Take for example, the prevalent usage of computers at home. It was once doubted by Thomas Watson Sr. (the founder of IBM) as an impossibility but is now a reality. This demonstrates the point that the once unthinkable could one day be a fact of life in the near future.

Why is creative thinking an important and much talked -about topic these days? Why is the government of Singapore so intent about creating ' Thinking Schools, Learning Nation'? Have we just begun to realise that without creativity and innovation, we cannot progress and will lose our competitive edge in the global markets? I just hope we are not too late in realising this obvious fact that creative ideas, products, services, policies are the forces that drive an economy like Singapore which is not endowed with natural resources. It is time we learn to enhance and manage effectively our BRAINWARE (a term taken from the management guru, Tom Peters) and forge our path towards knowledge capital rather than physical capital!

I am much relieved that the far-sighted government of Singapore has taken steps to address this fact by initiating numerous think-tank groups to tackle this lack of innovation and competitive edge in these turbulent times. Let me rephrase my sentence for better resonance. It is for SURVIVAL!!! To survive in this global economy when your neighbours are producing at a comparatively lower cost, we have to seriously consider other ways and means to attract foreign investors in terms of knowledge and innovation to compensate for what we lack. How do we go about doing this as we are nearing the end of this millennium?

The answer is EDUCATION. It is imperative that we educate all Singaporeans, especially the young, to see the importance of being creative. In early June 1997, PM Goh Chok Thong unveiled his vision of ' Thinking Schools, Learning Nation' and this fuelled a revamp of the education system. This has led to numerous changes in the curriculum and also the training of teachers in the use of thinking tools. Many schools have started their own thinking program to keep in tandem with the vision.

As with any new initiatives and programs, there are obstacles and problems along the way that will be faced by the schools. One of the major obstacles faced by Singaporeans at large is that we suffer from creative paranoia. Creative paranoia is a term I coined to describe the insecurity of most Singaporeans in their ability to be creative and as a result, they cease any attempts to be creative. Such negativity will definitely hamper Singapore in its pursuit to be a hub of creativity and innovation. This is a major problem in the education of the young on creative thinking. The courses on teaching thinking by the ministry are necessary and a great help to many teachers who are meandering in the 'jungle' of teaching thinking. In my opinion, the main concern of this paradigm shift towards a thinking culture in school is not the pupil's lack of ability to absorb thinking skills. On the contrary, perhaps it is the educators who are imparting the thinking skills to the young that deserve our attention. Are educators here psychologically prepared to be vessels of thinking skills to the future pillars of Singapore? Or, are we still victims of self-induced creative paranoia? We have to break the shackles of creative paranoia first, before we, as educators, are able to impart the thinking skills to the young with fervour and passion.

Another problem of implementing a thinking program in school is the resistance to change of the teachers. Teachers who are used to their traditional methods of teaching may find the learning and use of new teaching strategies a chore for them. A word of advice to heads of schools who are planning to implement this program - NURTURE the change. A program will not be successful unless every member involved is ready for the changes ahead and are willing to undertake their tasks with responsibility and passion. Thus, the success of this program is inevitably dependent on the ability of the head of the school to communicate the vision and to garner support from the staff involved.

In short, a credible thinking programme should not just enhance the brainware but also the 'HEARTWARE'. There is a need to inculcate a creative thinking culture in schools for thinkers (including staffs and students) to challenge them to seek continuous improvements. Slogans such as ' DARE to CHANGE,'DARE to INNOVATE' and other inspiring messages must be taught and be ingrained in the hearts and minds of our people. It may remind one of the Cultural Revolution in China with the slogans and the brainwashing. Yes, I have to admit that this is a revolution indeed! A 'Thinking Revolution' that will ensure Singapore's progress and prosperity in these turbulent times as we marched into the next millennium.

To reiterate, unless our hearts are in touch with the vision of 'Thinking Schools, Learning Nation', the desired outcomes will not materialise. Total commitment to the vision is critical!

There are also other concerns to ponder upon, namely the choice of which thinking models to adopt. There are a few models for teaching thinking that are currently used in some schools. For example, Robert Schawtz's Infusion method of teaching thinking. Other models include Spencer Kagan's Multiple Intelligence and the comprehensive thinking system of the 'G.O.D is CREATIVE' program by Brainwerks Research.

With the various models of teaching thinking available, a principal has the difficult task of selecting an appropriate model to be used in the school. It will be advisable that such imported models of teaching thinking should be adapted and integrated into the local curriculum by the heads and the teachers for better results.

To conclude, this article does not seek to explain fully the workings of nurturing a thinking culture /program in Singapore's education system but to create an awareness of its importance to meet the nation's future challenges. There will be glitches along the path towards the vision but I am sure we, the educators of Singapore, would THINK SMART and INNOVATE to ensure its success. So, should we teach thinking? The question is rhetorical.

About The Author

Dr.Alvin Chan is an Innovation Research Specialist in Asia. He has consulted for and aid in the development of managerial innovations and effective learning methodologies in several organizations.

Please email Your Feedback to Dr. Chan at [email protected]:tea:
 
Dancing On Your Brain: The Cha-Cha Effect

Dancing On Your Brain: The Cha-Cha Effect

My grandmother used to say that the secret to living a good life is maintaining a flexible spine and a flexible mind. Whether we're talking about joints or brains, there's just no room for rigidity.

Mark Twain once made a comment that illustrates my grandmother's idea perfectly. He said:

"It is discouraging to try to penetrate a mind like yours. You ought to get it out and dance on it. That would take some of the rigidity out of it."

That's exactly what we need to do in order to be open to new ideas. We've got to take our brains out and dance on them! Do the twist. Do a little clogging. Tap. Cha-Cha. Shake it like a Polaroid picture.

We all know people whose brains we'd like to flamenco. And if we're honest, we'll admit to needing to have our own brain danced upon from time to time.

It's not that we set out to be rigid. We establish certain thinking patterns and we build whole belief systems that may or may not serve us well. At some point, we get complacent, lazy, or just plain clueless about the boxes we've built for ourselves.

We humans have an interesting way of hanging on to old thoughts and beliefs. We end up with a cupboard full of ideas past their shelf life-unexamined, unused, but still taking up space.

Our thoughts become incredibly repetitive as certain cues pop up in the course of the day.

Let's say that every morning, you listen to the news, full of turmoil and despair, and it reminds you that you're not sure if you want to have a child with so much uncertainty in the world. Then you get in the shower and get ready for work, and as you look in the mirror, you realize you aren't getting any younger, and maybe you'd better make that decision to have kids now while you still can. And then, as you drive to work, you pass a school, and you calculate how old you'll be when your child is the same age as the students you see. Then you get to the office and wonder how you'd be able to juggle work and a family at the same time.

Lather. Rinse. Repeat. Every single day.

That's just one example. There are many. It could be about your job, your weight, your relationships-you know the top ten things on your own mental list. No matter what you're facing in life, you have cues that bring it up for you again and again. You thought about it yesterday, you're thinking about it today, and you're going to think about it again tomorrow.

What if you did some applied thinking? Not just that casual sort of obsessing you do daily, but serious applied thought?

We need to learn how to think more efficiently and effectively. Dr. Edward de Bono is a former Rhodes scholar who was on the faculty at Cambridge, Oxford, and Harvard universities. He is considered the world's foremost authority on creative thinking.

Okay, the guy's brilliant. But the cool thing about de Bono is that he wasn't interested in revealing his method only to those who breathed the rarified air of the world's finest universities. He was passionate about developing a way to teach creative thinking that was so simple even a five-year-old could benefit from it.

He coined the term "lateral thinking" and set about developing clear, visual ways to enhance the way we think. He uses the image of a car. Just because you're in a good, quality car does not mean you are a good driver. You must learn how to drive. Some people are better than others, but everyone can acquire a reasonable amount of skill. You must have the desire to learn and spend time practicing. Once you become good at it, it's easy and enjoyable.

De Bono believes that good thinkers aren't born-they're made. He says there are two dangerous fallacies: that if you're intelligent, you don't need to do anything about your thinking, and that if you have a more humble intelligence level, there's nothing you can do about your thinking.

De Bono inspires us to develop a broad view. The broader your knowledge base, the better your thinking. De Bono actually came up with the phrase, "think outside the box"--but don't hold that against him! It remains a clear image and a permanent part of our language because it immediately conveys the concept of stepping out of our regular patterns.

Do your own lateral thinking to see where it leads. When you find yourself stuck in your thoughts-of-the-day cycle, go wide. Jump the track. Consciously take your thoughts in a new direction.

Decide on a certain cue-say, whenever you look in the mirror and notice wrinkles or gray hair-and instead of your usual "I'm-getting-so-old" lament, picture yourself with white hair and crinkly eyes. Imagine the things you'll be doing when you're old. Escape into a reverie of the dreams you see coming true and the loving friends and family surrounding you. Stop dreading the process and focus on that brilliant 85-year-old who will be amazing and amusing everyone.

Your bones need lateral motion, and so does your brain. You can walk for miles and miles, but unless you add some sideways action, you're grinding your hipbones in their sockets. Linear thought will get you where you think you want to go, but you will have missed out on tremendous opportunities for gaining perspective.

You're going to keep on thinking until the day you die. Why not be a bit intentional about it? Pick your cue, and engage in a full-on effort to replace a repetitive thought cycle with an interesting new twist.

Take your brain out to dance in this daring new direction.Flex and stretch it at every opportunity. Feel it becoming more limber, supple, and--why not?--sexy.

Cha-cha-cha, Grandma!

Maya Talisman Frost is a mind masseuse in Portland, Oregon. Through her company, Real-World Mindfulness Training, she teaches fun and effective eyes-wide-open alternatives to meditation. To subscribe to her free weekly ezine, the Friday Mind Massage, please visit http://www.MassageYourMind.com:tea:
 
How To Entertain A Thought

How To Entertain A Thought

After studying scores of great thinkers like Leonardo Da Vinci, I think I've stumbled upon what really set them apart from the rest of the folks living (and thinking) at the same time.

It's remarkably simple. They learned how to entertain a thought.

Aristotle said, "It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it."

Hmmm. To entertain a thought without accepting it.

We need to do that. Everyone needs to learn how to be good host or hostess to new ideas. In fact, our goal should be to become the Martha Stewart of mental entertaining!

What if you treated a new thought like a guest?

It's easier to think about mental entertaining if we put together a to-do list, just like Martha. Here it is:

#1 Make the first move.First of all, you issue an invitation. Nothing fancy. You don't have to make any major investment or lifelong commitment. You're simply inviting this person in.

It's the same with initiating the entertainment of an idea. You might see a quote on the side of a bus somewhere, and decide you'd like to explore that concept more deeply. Or, maybe you find yourself bumping into the same topic all the time, and so you make up your mind to learn more about it. Either way, you need to be ready to initiate the process. Don't hide--you won't meet new ideas if you scurry away whenever the doorbell rings.

#2 Prepare.Uh-oh. Your house is a mess. You'd better do some cleaning. You're not really trying to impress, but hey, you could certainly do some sprucing up and get the place looking neat and inviting.

Prepare for a new thought in the same way. Make some space in your mind to think about something new. According to Deepak Chopra, the well-known author on health and longevity, the average human has 60,000 thoughts a day. Pretty impressive? Well, here's the kicker: 57,000 of those are the same ones you had YESTERDAY! Now that's some serious clutter! Get rid of a few of those dusty old thoughts and make room for new ones.

#3 Offer a warm greeting.When your new guest arrives, be warm and inviting. After all, you're hoping to start a friendship. Put your best foot forward.

It's the same with an idea. If you face it with skepticism, fear or detachment, you won't be entertaining it for long. You'll be eyeing your watch, yawning, or looking for a way to end the discussion early. You've got to be open and full of anticipation to prepare an environment in which new ideas will be explored and integrated fully. Just as it's no fair making lame excuses or having your friend call to interrupt the visit, it's also cheating to cut out too soon when it comes to entertaining an idea.

#4 Make introductions. This is the big one. You would certainly introduce your guest to everyone at the party, with a special effort to connect them to those with whom they may have something in common.

Any new idea you consider will be more likely to be welcomed if you actively and intentionally introduce it to your other ideas and interests. Look for unusual and inspired pairings. How does it fit? Where does it fit? DOES it fit? You won't know until you try.

Picture Leonardo Da Vinci's mental entertaining. His new idea, Human Flight, arrives, and immediately Leo sets about introducing him to others. "Human, meet my good friend, Engineering, and his lovely wife, Fabric Design. Oh, and have you met Bird Anatomy? She lives just around the corner from you. Oh, Dr. Entomology has arrived! Listen, Dr. E is absolutely brilliant, but a bit hard of hearing. Ask her about her recent work on the wings of insects! Now, you all make yourselves comfy and I'll go get some more wine."

What happened at that party? Leonardo threw these ideas together, and BAM! What emerged was the idea for a perfectly designed parachute as well as a remarkable helicopter--hundreds of years before the Wright brothers started building their flying machines! Talk about a soaring success! Don't you wish you'd been there?

#5 Offer the best seat in the house. You usually sit in that nice chair there by the fireplace, but when a special guest comes over, you graciously offer it.

When you are entertaining a new thought, give it the consideration it deserves. Every time you think a new thought, your brain is actually creating a new neural pathway. It's like a jungle in there, full of nerve endings and ganglia and all kinds of connections. Help it along. Make it comfortable.

Once you've considered an idea, that pathway is there. All you have to do to keep it "live" is to keep going down that path often enough to clear the trail, but not so often that it becomes a rut.

#6 Listen, inquire, and show interest.Ask questions. Dig a little deeper. Find the connections to other people, places, and activities. Learn as much as you can about your new idea.

#7 Relinquish control.Just like when you introduce guests to each other, you should not try to control the outcome. Some guests might hate each other on sight, while others click instantly. People might argue, or a married guest might sneak off to a back room with someone other than their partner. Anything can happen!

That's not up to you. You're having this party to offer an opportunity for people to connect. Make introductions, insert a few comments, smile and acknowledge everyone, but for the most part, just let things happen. Don't direct the flow of ideas.

#8 Leave room for future possibilities.Even if you decide this guest of yours is insufferable, you don't want to burn any bridges. Be gracious, and be glad you were excellent enough to offer the invitation.

You're not going to like every idea that comes your way. And you might not find any other interest or idea that connects with it initially. That's fine. You need to develop the ability to recognize useful concepts and distinguish valuable and valid ideas from those lacking a strong foundation. That's what critical thinking is all about.

But you also need to file that idea away so that you can look it up if and when you DO meet a likely candidate for another gathering of thoughts.

There is a great deal of room for different styles of mental entertaining. Maybe you're best at dealing with only two ideas at a time, or maybe you want to throw a huge bash and welcome all comers.

Entertain in whatever style suits you. Tete-a-tete or bacchanal--it doesn't matter, as long as it's happening.

Learn how to entertain a thought. With a little effort, you'll become a perfect host or hostess to new ideas that come your way. And guess what? You'll have no hangover, no cleaning up, and no regrets.

Party on!

By Maya Talisman:tea:
 
Creativity, Innovation, and Science ? Separate and Distinct or Not?

Creativity, Innovation, and Science ? Separate and Distinct or Not?

There is a pervasive belief that creativity and innovation are separate and distinct from the concept of science. That creativity and innovation cannot be scientific. This is completely false.

An event begins to fall into the realms of science when experiments are repeatable and the results reproducible. The myth that creativity occurs out of the blue combines to create the impression that it is impossible to design repeatable experiments that generate reproducible results.

One useful definition for this article is to define creativity as problem identification and idea generation and innovation as idea selection, development and commercialisation.

To make creativity scientific, ask two questions:

a) Can repeatable experiments (processes, structures etc) be designed to increase problem identification? Is an increase of output reproducible?

b) Can repeatable experiments (processes, structures etc) be designed to increase idea generation? Is an increase of output reproducible?

To make innovation scientific, ask three questions:

a) Can repeatable experiments (processes, structures etc) be designed to increase idea selection effectiveness? Is an increase of output reproducible?

b) Can repeatable experiments (processes, structures etc) be designed to increase development output? Is an increase of output reproducible?

c) Can repeatable experiments (processes, structures etc) be designed to increase commercialisation output? Is an increase of output reproducible?

Answering the above:

a) It is not unusual for people to agree that repeatable experiments (processes, structures etc) can be designed to increase problem identification. Results ? an increase of output - are reproducible.

b) When people need to generate ideas, they will herd people into a room with a flip chart and conduct an idea brainstorming session. Implicit in this action is the acceptance that certain processes and structures etc... increase idea generation. In fact there are an infinite number of processes and structures that increase idea generation and make insight more likely (see MBA dissertation at www.managing-creativity.com). Results ? an increase of output - are reproducible.

c) It is not unusual for people to agree that repeatable experiments (processes, structures etc) can be designed to increase problem idea selection effectiveness. Results ? an increase of output - are reproducible.

d) It is not unusual for people to agree that repeatable experiments (processes, structures etc) can be designed to increase development output. Results ? an increase of output - are reproducible.

e) It is not unusual for people to agree that repeatable experiments (processes, structures etc) can be designed to increase commercialisation output. Results ? an increase of output - are reproducible.

In conclusion, given the nature of creativity and innovation, it may not be possible to design repeatable experiments that produce exactly the same ideas, but it is possible to design repeatable experiments that always produce an increase in idea generation. Though you cannot predict what an idea will be, where it will occur and what form it will take you can increase the likelihood of ideas occurring. Further, you can increase the number of ideas produced, the rarity of those ideas, the diversity of those ideas and the frequency of their production.

There is much more to this??

This topic is covered in depth in the MBA dissertation on Managing Creativity & Innovation, which can be purchased (along with a Creativity and Innovation DIY Audit, Good Idea Generator Software and Power Point Presentation) from http://www.managing-creativity.com. You can also receive a regular, free newsletter by entering your email address at this site.

**********************************:tea:
 
Trying to Create From Distorted Perceptions?

Trying to Create From Distorted Perceptions?

We've all met people who are "negative" ? negative thinkers who consistently see the glass as half empty.

In certain situations, particularly stressful ones, even the most positive person can fall victim to this distorted thinking. As a creative artist, this kind of thinking can keep us away from our art and can keep us from enjoying it even when we manage to keep at it.

Distorted Perceptions Seem Real to Us

I've recently started performing at a monthly "open mic" event, and it's been a very positive experience. This is a big change from the intense stage fright I used to have. Back then, as the sign-up sheet was being passed around from table to table, I probably would have been thinking:

"I just KNOW I'm going to screw up."

This is an example of "predictive" thinking ? when we're sure we know how something will turn out, or what someone else is thinking. Predictive thinking tends to come true (have you heard of the term "a self-fulfilling prophecy"), so be careful about what you're consciously predicting! If that's something you can imagine yourself thinking, try this thought on instead:

"I can't know exactly what will happen, so I'm going to aim to have a great time up there!" Imagine how different your performance will be with THAT thought instead of the first one.

Or maybe I would have thought:

"I'm so nervous ? I'm never going to be good at performing!"

This is an example of black and white thinking. We're either good at something or we're bad at it. There are only two options, with nothing in between. This doesn't give us any room to learn, explore, grow, fail, try again or get better. Try this thought, instead:

"I'm becoming a better and more experienced performer every time I do it." Imagine the difference to your performance!

Put It Into Play

Choose one of your creative goals. Now, write down all of the thoughts you have about it. Just vent everything ? whatever comes to mind (use a computer keyboard if that's easier for you).

Watch for any patterns of distorted perception. Are you predicting how something will turn out? Are you using black & white thinking?

When you come across an example of distorted perception, write down a more positive thought that challenges it. If you need help with this, check out my coaching program for creative artists at http://www.everydayartistcoachingstudio.com

Predictive thinking and black & white thinking are just two examples of the many ways our creativity can fall victim to distorted perceptions. Watch out for these so that the true voice of your creativity can be heard.


By Linda Dessau:tea:
 
Creative Thinking The Secret Key To Lasting Success

Creative Thinking The Secret Key To Lasting Success

What is creativity anyway? Well, let us look at the word. Creativity means the capability to build, create something. It does mean to build something new but not necessarily something unique. And here is the first trap many of us tap into. We tend to think about creativity as building something unique, something that has never been there before.

In fact, everything you create has never been there before anyway. Whatever you create, from making breakfast to writing letters, is something that has never been there before. Right? Ah, I can almost hear you say that is trivial.

Well, it might be trivial but creativity is trivial as it is a gift every human being is blessed with. What we need to do to unleash the power of creativity is to put it from the breakfast creating level to new heights.

Now how do you do that? You do it as you learn every skill. By practicing and exercising. Any skill you ever mastered you mastered through taking the steps needed and practice them over and over again. That's how we learn new things.

Think of your creativity as a muscle. That muscle can be strong or weak, depending on how much you have used it in the past, but no doubt about it that muscle is there. If you compare yourself with a body builder, would you say your body misses any muscle he has? Certainly not, only these muscles might be covered a little bit - or a little bit more- under some fatty tissue and are so weak that they do not show through.

Same goes with creativity. We simply have it but it is often our weak muscle covered by the fatty tissue of beliefs we have about our own incapability and about the superiority of others.

Once you take that metaphor as a given, you can start building your creative muscle. You can make it as strong as you like it to be. the only thing you need to do is constant excoriate.

So, how to build your creative muscle again?

Every creative process has 4 phases.

* Preparation

* Cerebration

* Realization

* Application

Like toning your muscles by going through certain steps in the right sequence you build up creativity by applying these for phases sequentially.

At first you might only do it once in a while. But the more you do it the stronger your creative muscle gets and the easier it is. it just becomes a habit. And a habit is something we do unconsciously.

Let us look at the steps a little closer.

Preparation

This is maybe the most important step. Preparation is about gathering the data, the information. All Improvements start with questioning the current situation. Asking questions, and asking the right questions is key.

Asking yourself hard questions is not always comfortable. But, remember, starting to exercise is not always comfortable as well. Nevertheless it is a must.

What questions to ask? Here are some questions to start the process.

What am I trying to do?

How am I trying to do it?

What are my assumptions?

What if my assumptions are wrong?

By asking these questions you start the loop of creativity. Just do not start judging for now.

Once you have your data collected, you know the frame of the problem. Now, begin with the second step.

Cerebration

This is the easiest step in the process. Cerebration simply means to stop consciously thinking about the issue and turn it over to your unconscious mind. Because your rational mind has already clarified the frame of the challenge it is time now to tap into your resources.

How to do that? There are many ways but one works pretty well for me. I start thinking and doing something totally different after I told myself that I hand the issue over to my subconscious mind. No second thought on it. I actually deny myself to ponder over it. I do everything I can to not think about it anymore.

I think my unconscious mind becomes pretty upset of me ignoring it and usually starts acting like wild to get through to my conscious mind. The more I suppress this the stronger it tries.

Eventually my unconscious mind is so upset that it fires up ideas. Not only one or two, but because I consciously suppressed it from letting ideas coming out, it starts firing on idea after another. I never know when it happens, it could be hours or even days after I framed the issue. But I am sure it always happens.

And, this is my goal. Now I can go to the next stage.

Realization

This is where you take all the ideas your unconscious came up with and write them down. You realize them. You get aware of them.

In that critical stage we often start judging the ideas. Don't do that before you have written down every single idea that your mind came up with.

Writing the ideas down or even saying them out loud, gives them a new dimension. You create the idea literally by giving it a form (either written or by producing sounds we call language). This is a very important part. Let the idea emanate, become something that exists outside of your brain. No matter how silly it seems, if it was worth for your subconscious to come up with it is worth to be written down. Value the work of your subconscious mind.

After you have written down all your ideas, you can go to the next stage.

Application

This is the last stage, where you evaluate the set of ideas and pick the one you belief has the biggest chance of being applicable. Make a Top 10 list of your ideas and sort them as long as it takes to find the right sequence.

Now you have done it. You can start to apply your idea to the problem. You will maybe find hundreds of issues that have to be solved but that is only an entry point to start the whole process over again until you succeed.

Creativity is a skill it is not a genetic gift to some. It is a gift you have too. Build your muscle using the sequence i gave you and you will start becoming a creative person able to solve problems and create the outcome you want.

About the author
Norbert Haag is a business consultant, entrepreneur and sought after speaker for more than 20 years.
His company - Online Business Coach http://www.onlinebusinesscoach.com - provides information and services for online businesses, small business owners and freelancers.:tea:
 
Creativity and Broken Eggs

Creativity and Broken Eggs

In 1420, the dignitaries of Florence held a competition.

They offered the enormous prize of 200 gold florins to the architect whose genius could span the unfinished dome of the Florence Cathedral.

This was a great challenge. Even the original builders of the cathedral in 1296 left writings hoping that God would offer a solution because they did not have one.

Filippo Brunelleschi was the answer to their prayers.

He proposed the radical idea of a dome supported by a brick vaulting system that balanced the opposing forces, but without the customary central supports.

The experts called him mad.

Brunelleschi sought to demonstrate his design with a challenge.

He could stand an egg upright on a flat surface. Could they?

All were unsuccessful.

Finally, Brunelleschi cracked the bottom of the egg and set it down.

It must have been a mess, but it stood upright and demonstrated his idea.

The experts protested, but Brunelleschi remarked that they could have done the same if they had understood his design.

Of course, they did not. They didn't understand creativity either.

They were too mentally confined by their concept of the possible. Figuratively and literally, the thought of solving the problem by breaking the egg never occurred to them.

One imagines their frustration trying to balance the round egg on the marble tabletop and their groans when Brunelleschi demonstrated the sloppy, but clever solution.

We all have eggs we never think of breaking.

These are the fixed states of mind that we accept without question as "the way things are." These states represent the boundaries of our thinking and, therefore, our life experience.

Refuse to be confined by the eggs others never think of breaking.

Geniuses break eggs.

Break your share.

That's why they make paper towels.

About The Author
Tony writes and speaks on success. Subscribe to his free SuccessMotivator e-zine at http://www.successmotivator.com.

[email protected]:tea:
 
Tips on Breaking the Creative Block

Tips on Breaking the Creative Block

There's no question that creating anything is hard to do. Here are some tips if you find yourself creatively blocked.

Set a Goal

Set a goal for yourself. For example, it could be to write one poem, one short story, to paint two small paintings or create three works of art. Don't make the goal too big.

Set a Time Table

Give yourself a time when you want your goal to be completed. There is nothing like a deadline to help you get things done. You can tell people about the deadline or keep the information to yourself. Don't make the time table too unrealistic.

One Step at a Time

Baby steps get you to the top of the mountain. If you manage to do one small thing towards your creative goal each day, you will be amazed at how fast you can accomplished it. Ask yourself what is the next step and then do it.

If It Isn't Working Stop

If you are working on a creative project and you don't know what to do, stop and do something else; it can be anything-the laundry, mow the lawn, work in the garage. When you come back to the project, you will probably have the answer to what was blocking you.

Progress Not Perfection

If you don't expect to create the perfect project, it will take off a lot of pressure. It will make it easier to accomplish what you have set out to do and the process will be a lot more enjoyable.

Easy Does It

If you don't create exactly what you've set out to do, don't worry. Ask yourself the question "how important is it?". It will help you get things in perspective.

Don't Worry About the Other Guy

Don't worry about what anyone else is doing. Keep the focus on yourself and what you want to accomplish, it will help you to go forward instead of getting stuck.

Just Do It

Don't talk about it, don't worry about it-just do it, one step at a time until whatever you have set out to do, gets done.

About the Author
Mary Baker is a contemporary realist painter, whose studio is in Newburyport, Massachusetts. This New England city, north of Boston, has inspired the artist's realistic oil paintings. Mary Baker is a professional artist and has shown in New York art galleries. Mary's art work has passion, depth and beauty, capturing moments in time that many people pass by.

You can visit her website, Mary Baker Art, at http://www.marybakerart.com , see her paintings and read her comments on the creative journey, the creative process, breaking the creative block and creative space-the illuminating silence:tea:
 
Computer In The Shop? What Do You Do Now?

Computer In The Shop? What Do You Do Now?

Have you ever had one of those days when you just feel like something is missing? ? something just doesn't feel right? like you should be doing something but you can't remember what?

Well, I had one of those days recently? my computer was in the shop for a minor repair. Ahhhhh! What was I going to do?

Ok, so I planned to take my computer in for the repair. Then I would go shopping for my daughter's birthday present and have lunch with my husband. But, that still left half a day. No problem. That was taken care of as my phone continued to ring even without my computer there. But, the whole time I felt like something was missing.

Why are we so dependent on our computers? Why do our routines feel completely out of whack if we don't have our trusty keyboard and mouse?

In today's high tech society, a computer is a common site in most homes and nearly all businesses. Everyone and his brother has access to these electronic lifelines and most depend on them to help run their lives smoothly.

For any entrepreneur who relies on the virtual work for business, when our computers are unavailable, we can be at a loss as to what we can do. So, the following is just a few ideas of what we can do during the time that you would normally be on your computer.

1. Get out of your office!


And, if your office is in the house, get out of the house. Take advantage of the time to separate yourself from your work. It may be hard to leave work behind but, for entrepreneurs who generally are dealing with all the aspects of keeping a business running smoothly, a few hours away from the office can help recharge the batteries.

2. Run some errands.


Not only will this help by getting you out of your office but you can get some of those odd jobs done that have been sitting on the back burner.

3. Spend some quality time with your family.


Now is the time to get out with your partner and/or kids, if they are not at work or at school. Go for a walk or bike ride; have a swim; or make a picnic. Relax & enjoy the company of your loved ones.

4. Clean up your office.


Now is the perfect time to organize all the piles of paper on your desk and file them away. You never know what you will find under there and how great it will be to see the nice wood that your desk is made of again.

5. Write an article.


Wild guess when I wrote this article? You guessed it? I sat in my comfortable rocking chair, watched my daughter play, and jotted down my thoughts.

6. Catch up on phone calls.


You know all those quotations that you have been sending out? Now is the time to follow-up on them. Or, have you been wanting to contact someone just because? Without the distraction of your "you have mail" dinger going off, make that call.

7. Give your home a little spring clean.


Those dust bunnies have been around long enough. It's time to send them packing. Cleaning cannot only separate you from your daily work routine, the end result is great! Until the kids get back home.

8. Do something nice for yourself.


Have a long soak in the tub but keep that phone away from the edge of the tub. This may be hard to do because we always want to be there for our clients if they call. But you deserve a break every once in a while to help recharge your batteries.

These are just a few ideas to help you stay productive, in one form or another, while you are without your computer.

But, one thing to remember if you are going to be unavailable for any length of time? advise your clients and contacts of your down time. Send an email to all of them advising them that you will be out of the office or just without a computer for a few days. This way, should they happen to send an email to you for whatever reason, they will know why you didn't respond to them right away.

About The Author
Janice Byer is a certified Master Virtual Assistant and owner of Docu-Type Administrative & Web Design Services (http://www.docutype.net). See this and other articles on her website.

[email protected]:tea:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top