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/

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Turning Obstacles Into Blessings

Turning Obstacles Into Blessings



"Your capacity to be creatively alive in virtually all life circumstances will depend in large part upon the kind of attitude you choose for yourself."


- Dr. Wayne W. Dyer, Author/Lecturer

In almost every part of daily living, there are obstacles that prevent you from accomplishing your goals. Whether the obstacles are in running a business or in handling a personal crisis, the objective is the same. You have to get above it, over it, under it, or around the obstacle.

Whenever you are faced with an obstacle, learn to see it for what it is. Think of how you can remove it, or make it harmless and not so important. By making the obstacle weaker and less important, you make yourself and your business more stronger.

FIVE WAYS YOU CAN FACE OBSTACLES AND TURN THEM INTO BLESSINGS


Never dwell on the cause of the obstacle. Rise above it and change the way you respond to it. It only has as much power as you're willing to give it.

Check your attitude. Know that you have the ability to control the outcome, and/or to choose the answer that's right for you.

Think of an alternative. If one answer doesn't work, or if it doesn't feel right, try another way to get to the best solution.

Realize that your view of the obstacle is what may determine how much impact it has on your life.

Think about what you were doing just before the obstacle happened. Don't make excuses to yourself. Turn the obstacle into a positive motivator. Then find a way to move toward your goal.


FIVE OBSTACLES THAT CAN INFLUENCE YOUR LIFE AND BUSINESS


*** FEAR OF FAILURE. Do you think of all the reasons not to pursue your goals because you might fail? What if you make a wrong choice? What happens when something doesn't work out? These can be mind numbing experiences. Ask yourself if your fear keeps you from doing your best, or if you might lose a client or friend because of it.

*** GUILT. No act, either big or small should make another person feel guilty. When you give your best, you have no reason to feel guilty. When you trust your feelings and are responsible for your actions, you'll have no reason to feel guilty.

*** CRITICISM. The Golden Rule prevails here. When you do (criticize) unto others, it (criticism) will be done unto you. If you can't take criticism, don't criticize others. Set boundaries between you and your critics. Try not to return criticism with criticism. You will be the better person.

*** DEFEAT. This obstacle is all in your attitude. The more stressed or overwhelmed you are with handling challenges, the more defeated you may feel. Let your faith work for you and know that with your skills you'll get it right. At times, you may need to connect with a higher source of power. If your spirituality or belief is strong you will overcome any challenge.

*** CONFLICT. Dealing with difficult situations, and difficult people can be quite intimidating. What do you do when you find yourself in a frustrating situation? Are you passive? Aggressive? Or, assertive? After you've identified the specific issue, take a deep breathe, then act or speak with your honest feelings and get closure on the situation. For example: if you need to confront someone, be specific about what happened and how it made you feel. Then get your point across without hanging on to your anger. Look for a positive outcome--one that will benefit everyone involved.


Obstacles are only temporary misfortunes. The next time you experience an obstacle, whether it's fear, guilt, defeat, criticism, or a conflict in your life or business, remember that you have a choice to turn any obstacle into a blessing. Take a look at the people you interact with. Are they fair? Positive and upbeat? Respectful? Pleasant to be around? Are you the same? If so, then your obstacles will be at a minimum.

Think of other obstacles that may hold you back from succeeding. Recognize them. When you encounter an unmovable obstacle, confront it and learn from it so that the next time you'll be stronger and quicker to get to a favorable result. Be positive. Be respectful. Be powerful. Be pleasant. You always have a choice!

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About The Author

Gerri D Smith is publisher and host of multiple Gateways to inspiration, motivation, and information for individuals, small business owners, and entrepreneurs.
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Finding A Little Adventure

Finding A Little Adventure


I have had more than my share of exciting times and I'm grateful for every one of them.

There was the time the bear came into camp at 11:00 p.m. and we listened to him consume two weeks worth of food for two people and a dog in only six hours. At 5:00 a.m., when it became obvious he had run out of goodies, we paddled our canoe out on to a very dark lake. He was still there when we went back at 7:00 to try to recover some of our gear. Probably because he'd also managed to polish off a flask of Kahula. And the time I was paddling solo on a large Canadian lake. The wind came up so strongly it was impossible for me to get to shore. I just held my own for several hours. After dark I was briefly grateful to land on an island I thought would be my refuge only to find it had been recently consumed by fire and there was no place to even sit down, let alone set camp. I've spent countless hours walking my canoe through low water rapids, carefully calculating each step, taking minutes to move 10 feet forward. And I can still barely think about the time I flooded my Jeep in a beaver pond.

People are always saying to me "I wish I was that adventurous" when they listen to my stories. But I'd like to make a distinction. Don't go to the dictionary, this is my distinction and I'm being a bit contrary again.

To me, adventure requires only awe, inspiration and appreciation. Seeing a black bear and her cubs walk a cliff on the opposite side of a lake from where I'm camped is adventure. Having a bear in camp is an adrenaline-induced learning situation. Quietly watching a moose as he steps into a lake on an early foggy morning is adventure. Having that same moose block my passage while paddling a narrow creek is an adrenaline-induced learning situation.

I'll never stop going into the wilds and exposing myself to the risks that sometimes come. I have to admit that I'm a recovering adrenaline junkie and occasionally need a fix. But in my day-to-day life, adventure is merely an attitude to take action in order to inspire awe, appreciation and inspiration. It's a choice to not look at something the same old way but to approach it with curiosity. Adventure helps me write this newsletter, adrenaline just gives me good campfire stories.

The Top Ten Ways to Add a Little Adventure


Adventure Can Be Simple. Too often we think of adventure as this big thing we have to plan and put together. Arrangements need to be made, schedules coordinated, time secured, etc. Now that can take the adventure right out of adventure! Adventure can be as simple as just stepping out your door with no plan in mind.

Hang Out With An Adventurer. Do you know someone who has an adventurous nature? Spend some time with them. Adventurers love to lead others into uncharted territory.

Adventure Is An Attitude. Get that and you will find adventure in everything you do.

Go To The Wilds. True, adventure can be found at work, home and even in a good book. But in the wilderness, your senses become more acute. You'll smell, see, hear and feel more. A sun-soaked rock can feel as good as a down-covered bed; a light breeze or a cool lake as good as a full body massage; a campfire more wonderful than turning up the furnace; a field of flowers or just plain old earth more scent-filled than the best perfume. The best place to start with adventure is to let you body sense where all adventure comes from, the wilds.

Move Your Body. You'll see this in most of my top ten lists. Your body knows more than your mind ever will. Hone it.

Be A Child. When you were five, adventure came naturally. What did you love doing at that age? Do it. Yes, this may mean you'll have to get in the sandbox, on a swing, hang from the monkey bars or lead the cat around by a toy at the end of a string. (Hint: Kittens and puppies can teach you a lot about adventure)

Take The Dog For A Walk. Let him or her lead. See The Top Ten Reasons To Take Your Dog For a Walk at http://www.portagecoach.com/TopTenReasonsToWalkTheDog.html

When The Directions Say Turn Righ, Turn Left.

Make Choices In Seconds. Not, hours or days. If you can't decide in a few seconds, then choose not to choose. Let it go as though you never had the choice.

10. Find a Creek and Follow It. Upstream, downstream, it doesn't matter.


About The Author

Deb Martin is a Transition Coach, coaching individuals to simplify life business transitions by seeing their brilliance and honing that brilliance. Subscribe to her free e-newsletter, PORTAGE, for insights designed to help you feel and act differently in order to attract what you want, naturally. Please visit her web site at: http://www.portagecoach.com/newsletter.html to subscribe.

[email protected]
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Top Ten Creative Strategies for Inspiring Creativity Where You Work and Play

Top Ten Creative Strategies for Inspiring Creativity Where You Work and Play



Websites, automobiles, milk cartons, living spaces. Design saturates every aspect of our lives and the difference between success and failure could be the color purple, could be the person that you talk to every morning when you wake up, or could be the amount of light that streams into your office every day.

These ten steps will support you in revitalizing your environments and will foster an amazing sense of innovation. With these strategies, creativity will become much more than a goal?it will become a way of living.

1. Start by finding out what makes you "tick" with the DISC assessment.

The DISC is a fantastic tool that can provide you with amazing insight into understanding your behavior and will help you create motivational environments and interact more effectively with others.

Are you a high D (Dominance?)- You will thrive in an environment that is fast-paced, buzzing with energy, and somewhat chaotic. A week-end in a busy city like Manhattan, Atlanta, Chicago, or Hong Kong may provide you with the motivation you need to get your juices flowing.

Are you a high I (Inspirational?)- You will thrive in an environment filled with people. A high energy convention, a mastermind group, or a cutting-edge community organization can send you to amazing new levels of success.

Are you a high S (Steadiness?)- You will thrive in a calm and consistent environment. A day in a quiet park by the water can provide you with the balance and peace that you need to get the job done.

Are you a high C (Conscientiousness?)- You will thrive in an environment that is filled with order, facts, structure, and one that focuses on tradition. A day at a wonderful book store or a historical museum will often motivate a high "C" to move to new levels of inspiration.

2. Replace your old 45s by adding Beethoven to your life.

What songs are the old records in your mind playing? "I'm not smart enough. I can't do this. I don't have the money. I'm not well-connected enough." Break this pattern of negative thinking by popping in a CD of Ludwig van Beethoven. The year 1805 was a year of crisis for Beethoven, with his realization that the impaired hearing he had noticed for some time was incurable and would soon grow much worse. Did he let this stop him? Absolutely not! He actually sawed off the legs of his piano so that he could put his ear to the floor to feel the vibrations as he struck the notes of the keyboard. He came through this phase with determination strengthened and entered a new creative phase, during which Symphony No. 5 was born. Beethoven's music coupled with his heroism can provide you with a powerful source of energy, inspiration, and a sense of pure triumph.

3. Add a punch of Red to your life!

In the practice of Feng Shui it is important to know that Red is the color of fortune as it is a color of confidence. Moreover, it attracts recognition and respect for the person who uses it. Add red candles, red roses, or red paint to your home or office and watch closely as you unleash your creative spirit and as your boldness grows to new heights.

4. Master the Master.

Jack Fields, age 13, has over 22 tournament championships and 2 holes in one under his golf achievement belt. How did he do this? By mastering the master, Tiger Woods. During his free time, Jack reads books like How I Play Golf-- by Tiger Woods, In Search of Tiger: A Journey Through Golf With Tiger Woods-- by Tom Callahan and Tiger Woods: A Biography for Kids -- by Libby Hughes. He pours over Golf World and Golf Digest Magazine to find out what Tiger is up to, is incorporating Tiger's diet and workout regimen, and he practices putting while watching Tiger on television during his appearances on the PGA tour. Jack's focused study of this icon of the golfing world has stimulated him to come up with his own innovative style, quality processes, and to make smart decisions when the tournament heat is on!

5. Add an original twist to a traditional business by tapping into a hobby.

As visitors walk through the doors of Donna Lane, in Southern Pines, North Carolina, the aromas of jasmine, citrus, lemon, and roses mixed with the rich smell of coffee and mochas are enticing? making visiting this full service day spa an ideal location for renewing beauty, forgetting stress, and for getting reacquainted with old friends. CEO, Michelle Yow, is not only an expert in the field of extreme self care but is a connoisseur of fine coffees from around the world. By adding The Java Bean Plantation Coffee Company to her establishment, Michelle is able to dabble in a favorite hobby while enticing coffee lovers from her local community to take a closer look at her line of all natural skin care products. This is a clever strategy, and people love doing business with Michelle, because she is resourceful, inventive, and known for adding panache and pizzazz to a traditional business.

6. Create a feeling of warmth, comfort, and of "being home."

Accessories reflect a highly personal touch, and they are of paramount importance in the design and décor of not only a home but a place of business. No one knows this better than David Woronoff, President and Publisher of The Pilot Newspaper (www.thepilot.com.) Breaking away from the traditional publishing design schemes, David chose hard wood floors, corian countertops, and Oriental rugs for the renovation of The Pilot, adding an element of surprise, an intimate touch, and a homey feel to the interior of this growing community newspaper.

7. Create relationships that inspire you.

Are your relationships chipping away at your creativity and your zest for life? Or, are they simply supporting you to live a life of mediocrity and of living with the status quo? Hmmm?not quite enough. By developing relationships with people and colleagues who not only support you but actually inspire you, the vacuum of success can pull you forward in a flash! Dan Askins of (www.danaskins.com) is living proof of the profound affect that positive relationships can have on your life. Dan believes that success is all about making connections with high-energy colleagues, friends, customers, and companies. By forming a marketing mastermind group and opening a full concierge service in his executive office center, Dan is quickly advancing in the world of commercial real estate development, and he is finding the courage to try innovative ways of problem solving and of approaching the challenges of both his business and personal life.

8. Play Chess.

Chess is not simply a game?it is an amazing tool for the development of the mind, and it just so happens that it is a "board game." By adding a chess board to your home, small business, or corporation, this game can challenge you and your team to think fast, think under pressure, and to think several moves ahead. It is a fantastic game for developing vision, elements of strategic planning, and for anticipating a potential change from a customer or competitor.

9. Use your gifts and talents shamelessly.

One of the keystones of high achievement and happiness rests in your ability to exercise your talents, strengths, and gifts. As an attorney and President of a new chemical company, BenTech, Bob Friesen is a shining example of how building your life around a talent can translate into personal and career success. Bob has accessed his musical talent in a highly compelling way. With the support of a digital keyboard and his guitar, Bob has been able to use his talent to add extraordinary joy to his life, and he will soon be recording a demo of one of his many compositions. This exceptional use of talent has allowed this forward-moving professional the opportunity to play out his strengths to their fullest, which has resulted in an increase in his bottom line profits.

10. Build spaces of delight by merging the indoors with nature.

Whether it is a sun-filled breakfast or conference room, a beautiful potted plant, or a hummingbird feeder placed outside a common window, you can boost your spirits and create extraordinary joy by bringing nature into your home or office. After being challenged by the dark spaces of his basement office, Dr. Timothy Dey (www.deygroup.com) created a solution to this challenge by adding a Florida room to his home in Detroit, Michigan. Timothy now uses this room as his home office, and by filling his day with natural light, birds, trees, and all that nature has to offer, he has truly created a living and breathing environment that is warm, inviting, and truly inspiring.

About The Author

Bea Fields, Southern Pines, NC, USA

[email protected]

http://www.fivestarleader.com

Bea Fields is an Executive Coach and a Certified Guerrilla Marketing Coach. She is also a Consultant, Trainer, Public Speaker and author of the Five Star Leader e-course. Her area of expertise is that of Leadership Development and Marketing for Executives, Managers, Small Business Owners, and Political Leaders.
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Top Te9 Ways to Live Creatively

9 Ways to Live Creatively

Creativity ? according to Webster's it means having the ability or power to create; characterized by originality and expressiveness; imaginative. Ok that sounds great, wouldn't we all like to be more creative every day? Sometimes the hardest part to trying something new is the first step. Here are nine inspired steps to help you start living a creative way of life:

1. Be willing to try something new.

When was the last time you stepped out of your everyday routine and did something totally different? Taking a dance class, going to a concert to experience something different than what you normally listen to on the radio, or even picking up a pencil and sketching the trees in your own backyard is creative action. Creative thinking and creative action start with a new decision about how you're going to spend your time.

2. Create something with your own hands on a regular basis.

There are plenty of opportunities to express your creative side. Even mundane tasks like setting the table allow you to try something new. For example, instead of buying new napkin holders, my daughter and I made our own out of some extra wire and brightly colored beads. They turned out awesome. We were both so proud of them and they are treasured pieces we will use for years.

3. Express yourself through visual, performing arts, or creative writing, music, or dance.

You can turn off the television and do some creative journaling every evening instead of tuning in and shutting down. Create a play with the kids. Try lip synching to a new video on television. Take turns creating a different ending to a familiar fairy tale. Use your imagination.

4. Make creativity a habit.

If you already dabble in creativity, make it a habit by scheduling time on your calendar for it. You're more likely to live creatively if you actively write down your intentions. You don't even have to sign up for a formal class. Try it for 30 minutes every week and increase the time spent on these activities from there.

5. Display something in your home and office that you made yourself.

Your surroundings reflect your ideas. What better way to inspire more creativity, charm, and character than to include objects that you have made? Hand-made objects give you more to talk about, more vivid memories, and provide richer experiences overall than buying something similar. Over time it is also a visual reminder of how far you've come since your first started creating.

6. Visit creative spaces

Museums, art shows, gallery exhibits, theatre, performances these places remind us of our own innate creative abilities. Plus they're fun to visit.

7. Take time to find new inspiration

Inspiration can be found in a variety of different places. Ask people you've known for years what creative stuff they do ? you may be pleasantly surprised. Research within your own family. I bet you'll find someone in your family that is artistic and can be a source of inspiration for you.

8. Ask Questions

Stay involved with other creative people. Inspire others with questions about their progress in their own endeavors. Something they say to you could provide you with an idea that moves you in a new direction.

9. Provide a creative outlet for someone that is new to the idea of living creatively

Just when you've figured out some new ways to live creatively, share your knowledge. Give the information away to someone who is totally new to the ideas. They will undoubtedly have a twist on your information that allows you to learn something new and keep growing.


About The Author

Lise Richards is an Artistic Lifestylist, and owner of the Creativity Center, Inc., a creative arts education center and gallery. Her Aspiring Artist Program helps people develop their art and market it to a diverse audience. Visit the Creativity Center online at www.centerofcreativity.com.

[email protected]
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Theres A Light At The End Of Your Tunnel, Called Imagination!

Theres A Light At The End Of Your Tunnel, Called Imagination!

Imagine this. You've got this huge dream you just turned into an exciting accomplishment. You had a huge problem you turned into a beautiful masterpiece. You had a giant obstacle you formed into a personal triumph, and now?.., you give a long stare at your prized possession and say, ain't that just the cat's pajamas.

There's Just One Problem!

That's not the way most people imagine. Yep, most people imagine the thing falling all apart. They put their "imaginer" in reverse and see all sorts of doo-doo falling on them. Why do they do that? Here is one observation.

They have never been told by someone or told themselves to do otherwise. Now wait a minute before you grab the remote control. Think about this. What did you do in the first paragraph? Did you imagine all kinds of doo-doo falling on you? NO! Why? Because I told you what to imagine.

Now, if you did like I asked you to, you imagined some wonderful incident in your life and how that would play out if all those wonderful things happened. And, it made you feel terrific. So, it stands to reason, if we would imagine all kinds of wonderful things happening, at the beginning of an opportunity, similar results would happen.

Things tend to play out in reality the way they play out in our imaginations. The exact specifics of any situation may not look just like they did in our imagination, but, the end result is the imagined conclusion.

For example; I remember when I was a young teenage boy. I had a crush on a girl that I wanted a date with so bad. I imagined that there was no chance for me cause she was soooo? beautiful. I imagined that she would laugh at me if I even looked like I wanted to ask her for a date.

A Faint Heart Never Won A Fair Maiden!

Well, somehow I managed to get up the nerve to ask her for a date the next Friday night. Now mind you, all that week I was imagining her telling me, in one of our classes, that she had to cancel. So, I tried my best to avoid her the whole week. But, she didn't cancel.

You know what she did? Yep; she stood me up. I was too afraid to call during the week to confirm the date because I didn't want her to tell me she couldn't go. So, I just show up at her house at the prescribed time and her father tells me she went out with the girls.

Well, dummy me, I said, do you know what time she'll be back? He laughed and said, no. Here's the point. The details didn't play out exactly the way I had imagined them, but the end result was just what I imagined; no date with miss beautiful.

As Lucky As The Only Man In A Women's Prison With A Fist Full Of Pardons!

Well, as it turned out, she stood me up because I avoided her during the week and she thought I forgot or changed my mind because I didn't remind her.

Our imaginations can cause us to feel the thrill of triumph, or, the feeling of getting caught with our pants down. Here is another scenario for you. When I started my second online business, I did a lot of research to determine what the roadblocks there would be and how much competition I had to deal with.

I was astonished when I went to the search engines and found over 5 million competing sites for the very competitive keywords I needed. So, I decided this would have to be a very precision undertaking and would require the right mind-set to stay motivated enough to see it through.

I described to myself the kind of imagination that would be necessary to succeed. I wanted to be in the top ten of at least two major search engines with one keyword. So, every time I imagined my site on a search results page, I would see it in the top ten listings.

Filled To The Brim!

About 4 months of intensive effort and keeping my desire in my imagination, and whalla!...I'm there. But, not with just one keyword, I'm there with four keywords and in 4 major engines all in the top ten. Someone said, "are you telling me you just imagined yourself into the top ten"?

Yes and no. If I hadn't kept my focus on the desired imagination, I would never have lasted for the amount of effort it required. The easiest part was the imagination part. The harder part was the grinding it out day by day. But, with the wrong kind of focus, your imagination will sap your strength and leave you in a fine kettle of fish.

Make No Bones About It!

Imagination without perspiration is about as useful as a screen door on a submarine. Our imagination was created to do a specific job, and it does it very well. It was not meant to be a garbage dump for "life sucks, my goose is cooked, up the dirty river, dead as a dodo kind of attitude."

Now, if you use it that way, it will take that attitude and process your dream into a living color sewage dump while you stand around scratching your rear end trying to figure out what happened.

But, if you describe to your imagination the wonderful things that you would like to see happen, then your imagination has the fuel it needs to keep you motivated. And, the next time you need some get-up-and-go, you'll feel the fire in your desire.

Next time you find yourself in a situation that you really need to succeed in, do this. Write down the most positive outcomes you can think of that could possibly happen. Write down 4-6 outcomes that seem plausible. Then, read them daily, everyday until the project is completed.

Entertain High Hopes!

Will this guarantee success? You know better than that. Here's the guarantee. If you do it, your chances are a hundred times greater of success than if you don't because your imagination will be supporting you, aiding you, giving you a feeling of signed, sealed and delivered. That's when living gets fun.

By Richard Vegas
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Creativity Stereotypes ? Are They Holding You Back?

Creativity Stereotypes ? Are They Holding You Back?



Here's a quick quiz:

1) When I see a see a sunrise, I'm moved to:

A. Compose a poem.

B. Try and capture the beauty with my paints and brush.

C. Stumble drunkenly into bed -- boy that party was a lot of fun.

D. Cover my face with my pillow and go back to sleep. Who in their right mind gets up early enough to look at sunrises?

2) At work, I'm the person my coworkers go to when they need someone to:

A. Think up a new theme for the office party (especially if they want it to be a bit wild and off the wall).

B. Get people excited for the party.

C. Organize the party.

D. Clean up after the party.

3) In school, I was considered one of the:

A. Brains.

B. Jocks.

C. Nerds.

D. Nothing. I was kicked out my sophomore year.

Now take this test again and write down what you think a creative person would choose as his or her answer.

Scoring: Well, there's no real scoring here. The point is to get you thinking about creativity and stereotypes.

In another creativity article I wrote, "Quiz: Are Your Creative?", I pointed out that the biggest difference between creative people and those who aren't is creative people believe they're creative and uncreative people believe they aren't.

But, it's one thing to say it and something completely different to live it.

I believe one of the things that prevent people from fully realizing their creative potential is the idea of stereotypes. They think they cannot be creative because they don't look, act, live, etc., a certain way. And, unfortunately, that belief can become so powerful it truly does cripple their creativity.

Let's take a closer look at these three stereotypes.

1) When I see a sunrise?

You can still be a creative person and not be moved to paint a sunrise or write a poem about it. Everyone is different and everyone draws their creativity from different things. Me, you couldn't catch me anywhere near a sunrise without an IV drip of coffee in my arm. And even if that did happen, I'd be lucky if I could reach the creativity level of a turnip.

The point is every muse is different and every muse dances to a different drum (or maybe it's not even a drum, maybe it's a French horn.) Sunrises make you yawn? So what? Find what gets your muse dancing and go with it.

2) At work?

You don't have to act like a Bohemian to be creative. In fact, that image of a black-clad, beret-wearing, long-cigarette-smoking Artiste has been the bane of many would-be artists. I can't tell you how many people I've run into who don't have time to BE creative because they're too busy trying to LOOK creative.

Creativity comes in many shapes and sizes. It also dresses in a variety of outfits -- from t-shirts and paint-splatted jeans to suits and ties to cocktail dresses to, yes, the all-black look.

Don't worry about how your creativity relates to how you look or act. There's no correlation between the two.

3) In school?

Again, there are no studies linking creativity to getting bad grades or being a social misfit. Creativity is just as likely to have been class president as it was to have been caught smoking in the bathroom. Or kicked out of school altogether. (Now, whether those schoolyard memories are fodder for creative pursuits is a topic for another day.)

Basically it comes down to this -- creativity doesn't fit into any neat box. Whether that box may be unconventional or conservative. Whether it's covered with clay and furiously spinning pots or impeccably dressed and churning out million-dollar deals. Whether it's dressed in black and discussing Satre in a coffee shop or pushing a stroller in small-town America.

Creativity is just that. Creative. It doesn't care what package it comes in.

It only cares that you use it.

Creativity Exercise -- Take Away The Power of Stereotypes

Go back to the quiz. Look at the answers you chose for yourself. (If one of my answers didn't fit -- which is entirely possible -- turn your answer into fill-in-the-blank.) Look at the answer you instinctively felt a creative person would have selected. I'm going after instinct here -- don't worry about what you read in the article. Or go back and see how you answered before you read the article.

Do you have two different answers? Describe what makes the answers different and why.

Do you describe yourself in completely opposite terms as you would someone creative? Why is that? Do some journaling on the answer.

Now try describing yourself again and this time add the statement "and that makes me creative" or "yet I still am creative" at the end. For instance: "I hate sunrises and that makes me creative. I was a model student yet still I am creative." Write these out ten times each day until you begin to believe it.

(Source: Freeing Your Creativity: A Writer's Guide by Marshall Cook)

Michele Pariza Wacek is the author of "Got Ideas? Unleash Your Creativity and Make More Money." She offers two free e-zines that help subscribers combine their creativity with hard-hitting marketing and copywriting principles to become more successful at attracting new clients, selling products and services and boosting business. She can be reached at http://www.TheArtistSoul.com.
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Connect With Your Creative Dream

Connect With Your Creative Dream

We get so busy in our day-to-day life, with all the doing and actions and daily chores, that we can quickly lose sight of the BIG PICTURE. What's it all for? What are you working towards?

If you don't know where you're going, how will you know when you get there?

Taking the time to connect with your creative dream allows you to visit (and then revisit) the big picture. For instance, if I know that these smaller articles are going to come together into a book, I'm going to approach writing them with more excitement and a stronger sense of purpose.

Creative dreams are precious things. They're sometimes so dear to us that we fear saying them out loud, writing about them or even indulging too much time in thinking about them. We worry we'll lose them, that other people will think they're silly and might convince US of the same thing, or we tell ourselves we're just "fantasizing" and think we "should" be working instead.

Or the opposite may be true; we may have a very active fantasy life, conjuring up images of many different creative dreams, scenarios and the like, but never quite bringing any of them back down to the earth with us.

Connecting with your creative dream, in the ways I suggest below, will allow you to nurture a healthy vision of where you're going, and bring that dream into your everyday life as a creative artist. Bringing your creative dream with you into your day-to-day world can help get you out of the mire of self-doubt, details and challenges of today.

Your creative dream is that little smile on your face that no one understands but you ? and whoever you trust to share it with.

Put it into Play: Daily Practices for Connecting with your Creative Dream

Part 1: Define your Creative Dream ? Defining your creative dream can be as simple as spending a few quiet moments in reflection, and then capturing your thoughts through words, images and/or music. Here are some more specific ideas; choose whichever one appeals to you, or try them all.

Often in a coaching session I'll ask a client to do this: Imagine that you're climbing on top of a BIG mountain. From there, you can look down at your past, present and future paths. Explore things from this unique perspective and see what you can see about your creative dream from up here. Then capture your thoughts through words, images and/or music.

Another idea is to write yourself a letter dated some time in the future, at a time when you've made this creative dream come true. Write about how things are for you now, what you did to make the dream happen, how you're feeling, and any expressions of gratitude, appreciation or self-acknowledgment. Record yourself reading this letter.

Or create a collage or other artistic representation of your creative dream. Place it in your creative workspace.

Revisit these processes whenever you feel the need, or if you've been through a transformative experience.

Part 2: Connect with your Creative Dream Everyday ? Choose one of the following:

Read through your notes or "future letter".

Play or listen to your "creative dream music" or your recorded "future letter".

Talk about your creative dream to someone you trust. Let them know before hand if you're open to their comments or if you'd prefer they just listen.

Move your artwork or collage to a new place in your creative workspace. Play with when it comes into your line of sight as you work and notice the impact. This will also keep it from fading into the woodwork (where you'll no longer notice it).

Questions to Consider:

Where in your creative life do you need to step aside and look at the big picture?

When was the last time you let yourself dream?

By Linda Dessau
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5 Ways to Enhance Your Creativity

5 Ways to Enhance Your Creativity



We're born creative. However, this innate characteristic becomes buried as we get older. Our logical left brain usually takes the driver's seat. Here are 5 ways to help you unearth your creative self.

1. Surprise Your Mind. List laughable, ridiculous, outrageous and bizarre ideas. Don't limit yourself to ideas that other people consider "sane," "reasonable" or "logical." The best and most creative ideas stem from silly ones. When you're in a creative mode, you're suspending judgment on ideas you generate. You simply list them all down and never worry whether they make sense or not. Allow yourself the freedom to think outside the box.

2. Aim for Quantity. Generate loads of ideas for you to go through later. It's normal that your first few ideas won't really be fresh. The gems will come out later so it's important to keep going. With a large list of ideas, you'll have more to choose from, adapt or combine. Creativity is not coming up with something new from nothing; creativity is the ability to create something novel from ideas/things that already exist by combining, improving or refining them.

3. Be Playful. A relaxed and playful attitude fosters creativity. Those creative juices flow best when you're not restrained by your logical, left brain. Toy with ideas and forget about being too careful. Be a child again and play.

4. Believe that Everything has a Solution. An optimistic outlook always leads to solutions, no matter how impossible a problem or task may be. Often when a solution can't be found, all that's needed is for the problem to be redefined. Or when you think you're stumped, surprise your mind with silly solutions then work backwards, leading to the original problem. Cultivate an attitude of continuing search for solutions.

5. Let Go of Your Fear of Failure. Don't expect to do something perfectly for the first time. Thomas Edison tried about 1800 things for the perfect filament for the incandescent lamp. Fear of failure is one of the major factors that can hinder your creativity. Instead of looking at failed attempts negatively, look at your failures as learning opportunities. Failing isn't fun, but neither is doing nothing.


About The Author

Shery is the creator of WriteSparks! - a software that generates over 10 *million* Story Sparkers for Writers. Download WriteSparks! Lite for free - http://writesparks.com
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Tap the Creative Inside You

Tap the Creative Inside You



Imagination is the source of creativity. It's a place where unlimited possibilities reside. It's where pure energy lives.

People are innately imaginative and creative. However, most people are simply not conscious of their imaginative and creative selves.

Creativity is the cognitive process of developing a novel idea or concept.

Teresa M. Amabile, a creativity expert, argues that creativity is not a quality of a person. Rather, it is a quality of ideas, behaviors or products.

According to her, creativity has 3 basic ingredients:

1. Domain-Relevant Skills - These are skills associated with expertise in a relevant field (e.g., artistic ability, technical ability, talent, etc.).

2. Creativity-Relevant Skills - These skills include a cognitive style or method of thinking oriented towards exploring new directions, approaches that can be used to generate new ideas, and a work style conducive to developing creative ideas.

3. Task Motivation - Recent evidence suggests that a genuine interest in a task for its own sake, rather than for achieving external rewards such as money, enhances creativity.

So how can you develop your creativity? Here are 2 ways:

1. Provocative Operation, coined by Edward de Bono - This involves disrupting your thought patterns. It works with the premise that the more you are used to something, the less stimulating it is for your thinking.

Application: Insert "interruptions" into your day. This can be writing in a different room or area, reading magazines you wouldn't normally read, tuning in to a different radio or television station, cooking and eating something different.

2. Forced Analogy - This method forces you to compare a concept, idea or problem with something else that it has little or nothing in common with. The results are new insights.

Application: Compare an emotion (e.g., elation, excitement, anxiety) with a tangible object (e.g., pen, chair, door). How is anxiety like a door?

When you need to tap the creative inside you, use these 2 techniques. Tap into your imagination and you enable yourself to create new things, come up with ideas you have never thought of before. Tap into your imagination and you awaken your creativity.

About The Author

Shery is the creator of WriteSparks! - a software that generates over 10 *million* Story Sparkers for Writers. Download WriteSparks! Lite for free - http://writesparks.com
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Unleash Your Creativity and Think Your Way Out of the Box

Unleash Your Creativity and Think Your Way Out of the Box



The brain is a strange organ. It works in ways we don't yet understand and manages to create everything we see. Working at odds with the rest of the body it performs best when we're not consciously trying and it is exactly this right-hemisphere activity that contributes to some of our most creative moments.

Creativity is the lifeblood of every facet of life. From the arts to business, without it, things would become stale very quickly. Yet, as society is becoming more complex and process-driven the struggle for educational institutions is just how to stimulate creativity.

One easy answer is watercolour painting. The gentle movements of a brush have a relaxing, de-stressing effect which has also been noted in activities such as calligraphy, whilst the mix of colours and their application energise parts of the brain which would normally get scant stimulation. Couple this to the mix of a visual/tactile experience as your painting emerges and presto! Right-side thinking is the order of the day and you haven't even thought about it!

British Management Institute research figures show that whilst engaged in right-side thinking activities stressed-out business executives exhibit the same degree of relaxation and satisfaction that's normally reserved for when they're on holiday.

A study conducted in mixed-occupation classes showed that out of the 85 people who took part 90% reported feeling calmer about life, perceiving the world in a more positive way and feeling better about themselves after they took part in a three-hour long watercolour workshop.

Hugh Templeton, an artist of 25 years' experience, who specialises in running such workshops thinks he knows why his classes have that effect: "Painting a watercolour is a life-affirming thing. You have an image of the world in your head. You start getting it down on your art paper and before you know it you have captured a piece of the world around you and it's been through your own efforts. What could be more satisfying that that?"

Hugh is the first one to acknowledge that just enrolling in a watercolour class is not enough. "It comes down to technique," he explains, "watercolour painting, like any kind of painting, is not easy. The danger is that if the instructor is not alert enough to make it easy for those taking part to express themselves and become attuned with their inner vision then their frustration and negative feelings will grow, not go away."

Hugh has made a name for himself precisely because he has spent most of his life developing a teaching technique that teaches the technicalities of watercolour painting almost by stealth. "The idea is that when you're painting you should be focusing on the most important element of the equation. Your inner world. That's where your creativity resides. Anything else is a distraction."

To help promote the principle Hugh has written an interactive theme-driven How-to book on watercolour painting titled "Hugh Templeton's Watercolour Guide for Absolute Beginners".

The book was featured in the Times Educational Supplement as a means of helping teachers develop creativity in the classroom and it's been popular with stressed-out executives who have little time to attend classes.

Published by innovative internet publisher Cool Publication (www.coolpublications.com) the book has been one of their best-selling titles from the moment it was published.

"It is easy to use. It comes in 25 theme-driven sections and you can start painting effectively from the first chapter," says senior editor Chris Walker, "we tried it when Hugh first approached us and even we managed to paint a passable watercolour and we haven't touched anything beyond a computer keyboard for the last thirty years. Hugh Templeton's technique really works, we all forgot we were learning and it was so much fun we felt great for hours afterwards and we tried it out in an editorial meeting!"

About The Author

David Amerland is a freelance journalist and editor. His website is at www.amerland.co.uk. His latest book, Revelations, on the similarities between modern physics and the occult can be downloaded from www.coolpublications.com.

[email protected]
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Characteristics: Creative Types VS Clods!

Characteristics: Creative Types VS Clods!

Here are some odds & ends I have observed in creative-expert-genius types:

Direction of Motivation: creatives move toward what they want in all areas of their life while the clods move away from what they don't want.

Time Orientation: creatives look forward to completion. Clods look backward at how they have been unable to do it and assume future is also failure.

Memory Management: creatives look toward constructed imagery combining the new with the old to create. Clods rely almost exclusively on eidetic imagery of the past for repeat type solutions.

Time Distortion: creatives get in a groove and time goes zip. Clods drag out time for almost any project.

Perceptual Positions: creatives use a 1-2-3 way of processing info where 1 represents self, 2 is other and 3 is observer. They move in/out of these various frames of reference to gather info not available to any single position. Clods are rarely aware of anything but position 1, limiting themselves to only one frame of reference for everything!

Perceptual roles of dreamer-critic-realist. Creatives remain in dreamer mode for decades and use the critic role to make dream better and the realist mode as final preparation for making dream come true. Clods kill dream almost immediately by allowing the critic/realist into the show before dream develops enough to have a life of it's own.

Exaggerated sense of worth/potential. Creatives believe they are more capable than their peers or family think. Clods accept limiting beliefs of those around them as accurate.

Self talk [inner dialogue]. Creatives talk in a powerful confident manner about the thrills & delights of getting it done while the clods talk to themselves in self defeating and deprecating ways about why they can't.

VAK's: creatives visualize in large, color, 3-D the future with a fantastic sound track and how wonderful it feels to be doing it. Clods see tiny b/w pix with screechy voices and soundtrack and feel discouraged.

Beliefs of elite performers:

1. Everything happens for a reason/purpose and it serves us.

2. No such thing as failure just results or feedback for next step. Or the only failure is in quitting.

3. Take responsibility for where you are and who you are.

4. People are our greatest resources. We need each other. The interdependent paradigm.

5. Use everything now. You don't need to wait til you know everything. Get help for details.

6. Work is play. Our vocation is a vacation. Do what you love.

7. It's not what happens to you that matters but what you do about it.

8. Persistence...keep on keeping on

Clods believe none of the above, frequently challenging the list as not applicable to them.

The Success Formula of high performers:

1. Decide what you want.

2. Take Action. Do something...NOW!

3. Notice what works, do more of that. Notice what doesn't, do something else.

4. Repeat above as long as necessary.

Clods do none of the formula or give up quickly.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Michael Dimas is a performance consultant, workshop leader, speaker, coach who will teach you how to empower your body, mind and spirit. He can be reached at [email protected] or on the web at http://www.selfchangetechnologies.com
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The Elements of Creativity: What-ifs?

The Elements of Creativity: What-ifs?

What if there is no toilet paper and I am halfway through doing the "do"?

What if one of my team members decides to leave the project halfway and he happens to be the most knowledgeable guy there?

What if I turn colour blind, how should I adapt to the environment?

What-if, what-if and more what-ifs?

The technique of asking What-ifs provokes an individual to think and to produce something new. At times, in order to find original solutions to old problems, one must take the leap of faith and ask 'crazy' and imaginative questions to get us out of the rut of stale, conformist routine.

So, when you are walking, relaxing and or plain daydreaming, practice the techniques of What-ifs and have a ball of a time stimulating your brain juices!

You never know when your What-ifs Questions and Answers (Q&A) practice sessions could come in handy in sprouting innovative solutions to everyday problems.

I was just wondering about the invention of the mobile phone (or cellphone). Could it be the result of several fun and crazy What-ifs sessions among some guys in a restaurant, just talking off-the-cuff? What kind of questions could lead them into the invention of our beloved mobile phone? Hmm..

The questions asked could be the following:


What if I go out and I cannot receive an urgent phone call from my wife? (Especially when I am out so late and so often)

What if I have to make an emergency call and there is no public phone around? (Where's the fire truck when you need one?)

What if I cut the wires of my home telephone and bring the phone along with me? (That could be COOL! No more getting entangled!)


One must remember that the What-ifs techniques are often used more to excite your imagination, not to develop a real solution to your problem. Though it happens!

The next step in the What-if process is to weigh up the responses and see if there lies a connection that may be used to solve the problem at hand.

Here are the steps of the What-ifs technique:

1.Write out specifically the nature of your challenge/problem. (How can I stop losing my car keys?

2.Ask as many WHAT-IF scenarios as you can. Any crazy what-ifs will do. Don't be too pre-occupied with facts of the problems you want to solve. Imagine. Be a non-realist!


(What if I put my car keys within my body?)

3.Try to answer the what-if questions.


(I could develop a system whereby my thumb-print/ voice could be used to open the car's door- yes; it's been done already! The bio-metric technology)

Putting Your Elements to Work:

Get cracking and develop your own original responses to the following questions. Have FUN!


What if my pet dogs starts talking to me?

What if the Internet service is shut down for a week and I am in the online business selling my products?

What if the book I am reading now is laughing at me for not being able to understand the meanings of certain word?

What if my friend turns out to be alien from Mars?

What if I have a Television that tells me to stop watching too much T.V?


Crack your Head and have FUN!

About The Author

Dr. Alvin Chan is a Senior Research Consultant at First Quatermain Centre of Collaborative Innovation (www.firstquatermain.com).

Please contact [email protected] as a courtesy when reprinting the article online and/or offline.

[email protected]
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The Sylvia Plath Pattern Of Creative Flow

The Sylvia Plath Pattern Of Creative Flow

* Sylvia Plath teaches a valuable lesson about the Even Flow - opening the channels for creativity, regardless of this is for poetry or not.

Sylvia Plath was a poet and that was her job and her life.

She would every day no matter what, as soon as breakfast was over and no matter where she was in the world, sit down with her notebook and just start to write - about absolutely anything at all.

As she explains, this was NOT in order to create a wondrous new poem, but ONLY in order to keep the channels open, keep in the flow.

It wasn't about practising either, but simply an exercise in FLOW - and she was very adamant about doing this, put it before many other if not all other things because she considered it so very important.

Because if a good idea came along or an insight at any time of the day which was to come afterwards, the channels would be open and a super poem would just simple glide out and through and become, there and then.

So she would write about anything whatsoever, no holds barred - a shadow on the windowsill, a bit of lettuce, an old mushroom she'd found on a walk and brought back to her room. About the table cloth, about her hands, about a little pool of light on the carpet or about her feelings of having nothing whatsoever new to say - and just let it go from there for her "morning exercise" - no expectations of it other than knowing the ACT of doing it was what did the trick.

I read her biography and this really stuck with me. I understood it right away and I implemented it right away too. Switch on computer, call up blank word document and just start writing.

Often, I would start with the words, "What shall I write about today?" and sometimes it would go on like this, "I really don't know, everything seems a bit far away and nebulous, jeez I wish I was somewhere else, somewhere fresh and breezy, with a wide blue sky ..."

As you can imagine, from there you can and most importantly, you DO automatically get into all sorts of places, all sorts of states and the flow really does come, it just happens and Ms Plath was absolutely right, it really does open the channels.

Now as to application of this.

They are veritably endless.

What channels are the most important to you, bring you the most rewards, carry the most important things like poetry was to Sylvia Plath and story telling to Silvia Hartmann in their respective times?

Creative music? Painting?

Loving perhaps?

Now that's an interesting idea, isn't it.

You could have your breakfast and immediately afterwards and as a part of a routine just like brushing teeth, find something to love in your environment - a toy or nic-nac, a shadow, a curtain, a house plant, a table top - like in the original usage of the pattern, it is NOT about the object or the outcome but simply to open the channels for the FLOW.

It might be more urgent to you to *be MORE loved* instead and you might want to practise receiving with the brushing of your teeth instead - receiving energy from the same toy or nic-nac, from a shadow, curtain or a house plant, anything in your environment at all, and letting it into your heart.

And as the Sylvia Plath exercise was NOT about making a poem to be sold later, this is not about making you be healed but only about opening the channels and practicing the FLOW - because when it flows, it flows and you get all these other benefits naturally and as a side effect, of course.

This is a truly superb pattern to be applied to all and everything which may be important to you at any particular time; what makes it so superb is the insistance on the FLOW as opposed to the PRODUCT.

Bringing in the PRODUCT disturbs the flow - of course! - and that is a fantastic reminder that there are certain things that, if done for their own purpose and aim, are the true building blocks and pre-requisites for the products which may follow - be they paintings, or stories, or poems, or our abilities to give and receive this and that.

These products are a result of a well established Even Flow and that is something people tend to forget in their hurry towards and focus on the "end result" - when the products are in truth, nothing more than the wake left behind a ship which indeed, contains all the valuables.

The Sylvia Plath Pattern Of Flow (Metaphor & Poetry)by Silvia Hartmann 2003. All Rights Reserved.

SOURCE http://starfields.org
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Stress VS Creativity

Stress VS Creativity

Now when I use the term "creativity", I mean the kind of states of mind and body where thoughts and ideas flow freely; where there is a STREAM of data information that comes clearly from a very different place than one might normally inhabit and which translates smoothly and perfectly into colours, visions, sounds, patterns, movements, actions and resolutions.

These are very beautiful states, very precious; this flow of "creativity" is nourishing, enlivening and one can do so many things for a long time without feeling in the slightest bit tired; when it is done, one is happy, very much at peace and delighted, too.

It isn't all that easy to enter these states of flow; and there are different levels of intensity, different depths and different intensities, and there's a pathway INTO the really amazing deep states where the good stuff resides.

If this is interrupted (by a phone call, someone wanting something, the cat throwing up et al) one experiences a very similar sense of jarring unpleasantness, just like being shocked out of a trance or hypnotic induction by a rude interruption; this is very unpleasant and disorientating.

Further, to find one's pathway BACK to that place where one was interrupted is tricky, even if one generally knows quite well just how to step down and step away from the "ordinary" states of being.

Stress, fear and chaos in the environment simply PRECLUDES access to these creative levels, and as I mentioned above, this is a mathematically precise correlation between the amount of stress is present, and what states can be reached because of it.

For people who actually need these flow states for their work or their sanity this is good news.

What it means is first of all that creativity isn't "fickle" or "unexplicable" or "strikes randomly".

There is a direct state-PLACE of creativity, and actually within that, there are levels of creativity which correspond to just what kind of creative endeavour can be undertaken - for example, the place from which one can still successfully write a radio jingle is closer to "normal awareness" than a place for a good Country and Western song, and that is halfway to the place where one would start writing a symphony.

Creativity FAILS when there's too much stress.

Stress creates a fog of disturbance that traps consciousness inside of itself and the routes into the various creative flow states are simply lost; and where this becomes really troublesome is when the BACKGROUND stress is so high that creativity seems to have forsaken the person altogether.

Then we are in "writer's block" country.

The inability to access the creative flow states (which are healing and energising in and of themselves, and a countermeasure to stress wear outs!) now itself causes further worry and stress, and now the attempts at reaching the creative flow states is ever further disrupted.

Trying to force some form of behaviour against stress confusion results also in very "unsatisfactory results" - bad art, art that lacks that sparkle and conviction which comes ONLY from the integral flow states.

Disappointment, fear that "the muse has forsaken me", a previously beloved activity becoming a hard slog with miserable results ALL futher increases stress - and all the time, creativity states become more and more unreachable.

And the moral of the tail?

If you ever had creative flow experiences and now you don't have them anymore, that's because people get consecutively more stressed in our societies, the older they become.

If you are an artist and you worried about your creative expression, or dissatisfied with it, get to work on your stress levels.

They go down, YOU get to go to creative city again.

It's quite simple, really, drug free and important to know for anyone who loves to touch the "creative flow".

For help with stress, please visit The Sidereus Foundation. To have more fun with creativity, check out the The Project Sanctuary Player's Portal
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How To Discover Hidden Talents Within You And Begin Appyling Them In Your Life Now

How To Discover Hidden Talents Within You And Begin Appyling Them In Your Life Now

Have you decided it may be time to start creating some newexcitement in your life? If you are now retired, soon to be retired, or just now reaching those "golden years" do you feel your life has become a little dull? Uneventful? Maybe even a little discouraging?

After all, when you reach this period in your life, yourroutine may have changed, your energy may have dwindled and even your drive may have simply slowed down a bit. So if you are not happy with this situation what do you do about it? Well here's something to think about that could just change the whole picture.

Over the years all of us have developed certain talents. Probably more of them than you might believe. You may have dramatically excelled in some of those at a higher degree than the average would have. Maybe today you no longer use those talents anymore because they were either career related or you just lost your excitement about them. You may have even forgotten about them now and they could have even become hidden for years.

Well so what! What's this got to do with creating some excitement in your life today? Plenty. Because you might not realize how much joy you could create in your life restoring these talents. You may not realize what you could do with these talents to help yourself and/or others enjoy life even more. See if you can dig out some these talents now and apply some of those in your life today.

OK so what if you are interested in doing this. What do you need to do to bring these to the surface once again? Here's one way; "Brainstorm." Select a time and place where you can spent some quiet time by yourself and relax. Now think back to your childhood days, your early school years, your high school and/or college days, your military service, your first job. Think all the way up to your adult years.

Then try to remember what things you were good at doing? What got you excited? What turned you on? What were the activities you enjoyed doing the most with family and friends? Were you a promoter, a good communicator, a good listener, a terrific athlete, a dancer, a singer, a musician? What did you excel in at best? Think, think and think some more. Then apply them in your life now and watch your enthusiasm skyrocket.

In my book "Absolutely Senior" I talk about how some of my earlier talents resurfaced and how I was able to apply them in my life to bring me more joy than I ever realized. What a thrill it has been. What great benefits it has provided me and others in my life. You might not realize this but by doing this simple exercise it could not only help you enjoy life more but also be the best medicine you could take to keep your mind off your illnesses, your problems and/or challenges or anything you may be facing that's unpleasant in your life.

This could be just one step closer to learning "How To Have The Best Time In Your Life For The Rest Of Your Life".

Go for it!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sonny Julius is a 74 year old retired sales supervisor, Prior to his sales career he spent 30 years in the family florist business. Becoming dissatisfied with that business he decided it was time to leave it and pursue a sales career. His interest in the internet eventually led him to write an ebook geared to senior citizens. The ebook is a guide for living the senior lifestyle.

In addition he offers a Free 20-minute no obligation phone coaching session to anyone interested in enhancing his or her present lifestyle. Email for more information: mailto:[email protected]

Sonny Julius, President of S A & Associates, is devoted to teaching senior citizens "How To Have The Time Of Their Life For The Rest Of Their Life" For more information go to: http://www.thesunnysenior.com
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hey praveen thats real good work going on buddy these articles are indeed informaetive === you an asset to mp ===keep moving========
 
Re-Energize Your Brain

Re-Energize Your Brain

We all use tools in our work, and all of these tools need to be re-energized in some way over time. They need to be polished, sharpened, refurbished. They need new spark plugs or a tune up. Some times they even need new batteries.

We take these maintenance tasks seriously because we know that when the batteries are fully charged we get the full potential out of electrical devices and when the machinery has been maintained it lasts longer and works more economically.

Doesn't it make sense then to do some regularly scheduled maintenance on our brain - a tool far more valuable than the rest?

It happens to all of us. We get in ruts, we build routines and we develop habits, and in doing so we often don't use our brain the way we could. It is one of our most valuable and precious resources and it is time to re-energize it.

Here then are eight ways you can re-energize, re-invigorate and do some ongoing maintenance for your brain.

1. Ask Why? Our brains are wired to be curious. As we grow up and "mature" many of us stifle or deny our natural curiosity. Let yourself be curious! Wonder to yourself about why things are happening. Ask someone in the know. The best way to exercise our curiosity is by asking "Why?" Make it a new habit to ask "why?" at least 10 times a day. Your brain will be happier and you will be amazed at how many opportunities and solutions will show up in your life and work.

2. Laugh. Scientists tell us that laughter is good for our health; that it releases endorphins and other positively powerful chemicals into our system. We don't really need scientists to tell us that it feels good to laugh. Laughing helps us reduce stress and break old patterns too. So laughter can be like a "quick-charge" for our brain's batteries. Laugh more, and laugh harder.

3. Remember. Get out an old photo album or high school yearbook. Your brain is a memory machine, so give it a chance to work! Spend time with your memories. Let your mind reflect on them and your mind will repay you in positive emotions and new connections from the memories to help you with your current tasks and challenges.

4. Do a puzzle. Some of us like jigsaw puzzles, some crossword puzzles, some logic puzzles - it really doesn't matter kind you choose to do. Doing puzzles in your free time is a great way to activate your brain and keep it in good working condition. Do the puzzle for fun, but do it knowing you are exercising your brain.

5. Play. Take time to play. Make time to play. Play cards. Play video games. Play board games. Play Ring Around the Rosie. Play tug of war. It doesn't matter what you play. Just play! It is good for your spirit and good for your brain. It gives your brain a chance to think strategically, and keeps it working.

6. Learn something new. This one might seem obvious. Yes, we capitalize on our brain's great potential when we put it to work learning new things. You may have a specific topic for work or leisure that you want to learn more about. That's great. Go learn it. If you don't have a subject in mind right now, try learning a new word each day. There is a strong correlation between working vocabulary and intelligence. When we have new words in our vocabulary, our minds can think in new ways with greater nuances between ideas. Put your mind to work learning. It is one of the best ways to re-energize your brain.

7. Write to be read. I am a big proponent of writing in a journal to capture ideas and thoughts. There is certainly great value in writing for yourself. I continue to find that my brain is greatly stimulated by writing to be read. Writing this article (and at least one per week) is one example and writing in my blog is another example. There are several situations and audiences for which I write each week. There are many benefits to me in doing this. The greatest isn't visibility or marketing; the greatest is what it does to expand my brain's capacity. Find ways to write to be read ? in your church newsletter, by writing things for your kids to read, by capturing the stories of your childhood (see number 3 above), starting your own blog or whatever ? just write to be read.

8. Exercise. We all know that exercise is important for your physical health. Our brain is a part of that body, so increasing our blood flow brings more oxygen to the brain ? oxygen that is the fuel for that beautiful brain. When I exercise I get fresh ideas. When I exercise I feel better physically and mentally. Just add "improving my brain" to the list of great reasons to exercise.

This is a short but powerful list. I encourage you to apply at least one of these approaches starting today. Look at your to do list and your calendar. Put it on your list in ink.

Your brain will thank you in the form of new ideas, greater stamina, more passion for your tasks and in so many more ways.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kevin Eikenberry is Chief Potential Officer of The Kevin Eikenberry Group (http://KevinEikenberry.com), a learning consulting company that helps Clients reach their potential through a variety of training, consulting and speaking services. To receive your free special report on "Unleashing Your Potential" go to http://www.kevineikenberry.com/uypw/index.asp
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Creativity: Getting Out of the Box

Creativity: Getting Out of the Box


Leadership, especially in times of change, depends increasingly on the ability of managers, professionals and even front line workers to think and do things differently. In other words, to get out of the box!

So, how do we get out of the box especially when most people are comfortable staying with the tried and true rather than exploring and championing new ideas? Here are tips to jolt your mind and start thinking more creatively.

Stretch your brain.
When a group meets to come up with new ideas, it is helpful to begin with a fun activity that starts the participants thinking in new directions and generating innovative ideas.

Example: Challenge your group to redesign panty hose for male consumers. Yes, you read it correctly. Distribute samples of conventional panty hose and ask such question as, "Who is our target market....How should the new product be packaged? What shall we call it?"

Transform your perspective.
A good way to come up with solutions to problems is to look at them from a perspective that you never considered before.

Example: Bank executives were asked to think of outrageous ways to make their customers very angry. One suggested closing down credit lines without informing customers---causing checks to bounce without any warning. (How would you like that to happen to you?) What they realized is that one of the bank's greatest assets is the perception of total reliability by the customer. They then focused on ways to ensure that reliability.

Dump your garbage.
Hanging on to old complaints or grievances prevents you from dealing with today's significant issues. Therefore everyone has to move on and 'get with the program.'

Example: Encourage workers to symbolically dispose of such obstacles by distributing index cards and asking them to write down all their complaints. The cards are torn up and are placed into a large garbage bag which is then thrown out. After this exercise, the workers may find it easier to forget about their old agendas and move forward. I have also seen this done even more dramatically. The torn pieces are put into a large ash tray or wastebasket and lit with a match. Everyone watches as all the complaints go up in smoke and are burned completely.

Ask the right questions.
Many poor decisions can be traced to asking the wrong questions and to inappropriate, incomplete or poorly framed questions. Good questions should be open enough for creative solutions but narrow enough to focus on solving a specific problem.

Example: A consumer products company was testing an idea for a household cleaner specially formulated for washing walls. Focus groups of consumers were asked to compare the new product's cleaning ability to that of general purpose cleaners. All participants agreed that the new product cleaned better. Armed with this information, the company put the new product into production, advertised extensively and waited for the orders to come pouring in. They waited and waited and waited. The product failed.

While the company was asking consumers how well the product cleaned, they did not ask the most important question: How often do you wash your walls? By the time they learned that most people do not spend time washing walls, they had spent millions of dollars.

Lesson: Before making important decisions, spend time thinking about the questions that you need to ask. Good questions lead to good decisions.

Marcia Zidle, the 'people smarts' coach, works with business leaders to quickly solve their people management headaches so they can concentrate on their #1 job to grow and increase profits. She offers free help through Leadership Briefing, a weekly e-newsletter with practical tips on leadership style, employee motivation, recruitment and retention and relationship management. Subscribe by going tohttp://leadershiphooks.com/ and get the bonus report "61 Leadership Time Savers and Life Savers". Marcia is the author of the What Really Works Handbooks resources for managers on the front line and the Power-by-the-Hour programs fast, convenient, real life, affordable courses for leadership and staff development. She is available for media interviews, conference presentations and panel discussions on the hottest issues affecting the workplace today.
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Be Creative:To Increase Your Confidence, Creativity and Cash In The Attention Economy

Be Creative: 10 Easy Steps To Increase Your Confidence, Creativity and Cash In The Attention Economy

How can you be more creative? How can you turn creative ideas into cash. Want to be better at creative thinking?

In Australia at the moment we are celebrating the Australian Innovation Festival.

This years theme is Innovation and You.

The festival was established to celebrate the best in Australian innovation.

According to the official brochure innovation can be defined as "a process that transfers ideas through business activity into saleable goods, processes and services".

I have been proud to present a range of seminars as part of the festival and attend the official launch.

I was impressed by guest speaker, John Howkins who is a leading figure in global communications, media and entertainment. I'm currently reading his groundbreaking book The Creative Economy.

As I sat, listened and then reflected on his presentation, here is my analysis distilled down into my Top 10 Tips:

1. Create a Confidence Culture. Don't rely only on your own individual talent to have and implement ideas. When you have ideas you need to convince people to invest in those ideas. This relies on your confidence and ability to persuade people to turn a dream into reality. If you're not confident in your idea how can you convince others to invest time, money and resources in it?

2. Sit and Think and Look and Question. The best answers to problems are solved by observation, analysis and insight. Take time out to practice these too often lost skills. Appreciate time working on your own. As Dr Karl Kruszelnicki says in his IQ case study on Nobel Prize Winners (who by the way have normal IQs around the 120 mark), "its not the answers that get you to the blue hall, but the questions!"

3. Attitude. Ideas are available to anyone. All you need is your brain because it is made up of perceptions and memories which form inherited ideas. Put the priority on ideas rather than data. In our democratic and populist societies, we're seeing the rise of the individual. Be an individual to stand out from the crowd and nurture your uniqueness, but also be a team player. This unique combination is essential for success.

It is a credo I live by. Framed hanging on the wall in my office in a prominent position is a poster with my logo and this message:

"OUR CORE VALUES. The following values are actively fostered, encouraged and central to the way we do business: Creativity Excellence Service Teamwork"

Have an attitude, live it and be consistent.

4. Be Competitive and Tough. The barriers of entry for new ideas are extremely low, even non-existent. You need to outsmart your competition and understand patents, copyright, trademarks and other intellectual property laws that protect ideas. What business is about, is not the technology, but about ideas and the application and protection of ideas.

Howkins compares the examples of two brilliant men, Microsoft founder Bill Gates and inventor of the Internet, Tim Berners-Lee. Gates protected his idea and is now the wealthiest man on the planet. Berners-Lee didn't and yet his invention has changed the way we communicate.

5. The Ability To Change People's Mind. Being part of the creative economy is about changing people's minds. If you want your ideas to be taken seriously, you need to have outstanding persuasion and influence skills.

6. Learn Endlessly. Ideas are about doing something different and better. Borrow. Innovate. In beautiful Perth where I live, as well as the low cost of living, stunning lifestyle and great weather - we have another advantage. I call it the isolation, ideas and innovation factor. We live in the most isolated city in the world and this is both a negative and positive. The positive is remoteness breeds creativity. When you stop learning, you stop being creative.

7. Excel In The Attention Economy We now live in an economy where creativity, the media and entertainment dominate. It seeps into every crease, fold and cranny in our lives. Learn to excel in this economy. Understand the pressures and the principles of living in this age.

I call this a time when the Three C's of Change are on the increase:

Chaos, Clutter, and Competition Chaos - Our lives are getting busier and busier and more and more chaotic as we sift through the masses of information coming at us.

Clutter - This mass of information is getting held up, like grains of sand in an hourglass, and the sheer volume is cluttering up our lives and decision-making processes.

Competition - It is an increasingly competitive marketplace now, with me too brands, look at me brands, and global brands dominating the marketplace. It is increasingly difficult to be truly unique and standout from the crowd.

8. To Make A Mistake Is Not To Fail. There's a well-known saying along the lines of "a mistake is only a mistake if you don't learn from it". The rate of failure is high within an economy built on ideas. That failure can be at a personal, company or even Government policy level. Learn how to deal with failure and manage it. Traditionally bureaucrats have focussed on policy and businesses avoid risk.

When a senior executive at the ABC, I always found this a challenge as a manager. A delicate balancing act was required to encourage creativity to make good programs on the one hand, while working within a dinosaur-like, bureacratic, public service culture where policy and process dominate. I learnt the hard way there is an unstable relationship between creativity, innovation and bureacracy. You can read a full article about these challenges originally published in The West Australian newspaper in November 2000 here.

9. Build A Powerful Personal Brand. How creative you are, whether your ideas are accepted and how often you fail will impact on your personal identity. Your identity is how others see you. Manage these perceptions and build a strong personal brand that is resilient, reliable and real.

10. Have Ideas, Make Fun, Make Money. Ideas are the currency and rules by which we get access to capital. If you have the right idea, with the right support, you can have great fun and make a huge amount of money along the way.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Thomas Murrell MBA CSP is an international business speaker, consultant and award-winning broadcaster. Media Motivators is his regular electronic magazine read by 7,000 professionals in 15 different countries.

You can subscribe by visiting http://www.8mmedia.com. Thomas can be contacted directly at +6189388 6888 and is available to speak to your conference, seminar or event. Visit Tom's blog at http://www.8mmedia.blogspot.com.
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You Dont Have To Be An Artist To Be Creative

You Dont Have To Be An Artist To Be Creative

Imagine that a block of ice has been set on your desk. Now describe it. Square, clear and cold, right! Next, consider it from different points of view: If you were trekking across Death Valley, that ice could quench your thirst; a doctor could use it to reduce a patient's fever; a madman could use it to crack a victim's skull; and an engineer could boil it to produce steam for a turbine.

What does an ice cube have to do with creativity? Just this: If you really think about it, you begin to see the ice in more than one context. You expand your initial perception of it from a cold, hard cube to a potential lifesaver, a weapon or energy producer. In short, you've sharpened your creative insight and started to become a more effective problem-solver.

In working with teams to generate breakthrough approaches to problems; with professionals to visualize critical issues in new ways; and with meeting leaders to ignite innovative discussion, I discovered that people who think and act creatively share these traits:
They prefer tackling problems that do not have precise answers, asking questions like, "How can we get our people on board with management's new initiative?

They don't worry about asking questions that might display their ignorance, realizing "dumb" questions often cut to the heart of the matter and open new paths of thinking.

They can easily drop an approach to a problem that isn't working, forcing their way out of habitual methods of thinking and doing.

They entertain offbeat ideas without automatically labeling them "crackpot". Some of the best ideas seem idiotic in the beginning.

They hold open discussions, in which they encourage disagreement, questioning, and fanciful ruminating. They imagine a number of scenarios and visualize all possible viewpoints.

But before you can tackle a problem creatively, you must first get rid of the blinders that inhibit creative insight. These blinders and ways to eliminate them are:

Avoidance of Change.
Break Your Routine. The more often you break your routine the more likely you are to have new ideas. Some suggestions: Sleep on a different side of your bed, take a new route to work, sit outside when trying to solve a problem, listen to different kinds of music, etc. Anything you do to make some part of today different from yesterday is a step in the right direction.

Mindless conformity.
Break Out of the Mold. To reduce your reliance on rules and policies learn to view them as flexible guidelines rather than iron-clad requirements. Try pretending for a day that all your rules have been put on hold. What would that mean for you or your team or your department? Be adventuresome and see what new ideas and actions come up.

Fear of Criticism.
Be a Maverick.If you are constantly worried about other people's perceptions of you, it's unlikely you'll let your creative juices start flowing. The best way to overcome fear of failure is to start taking little risks. When you see that you've survived and that nothing horrendous has befallen you, it will be easier to share bigger and riskier ideas with others.

Over Reliance on Logic.
Think Wildly. Whenever you find yourself bogged down with formal, technical solutions, pause for a little wild thinking. At meetings, encourage free-wheeling discussion, outrageous ideas, and answers outside normal channels. Get to the point where you can exclaim, "I'm never afraid to say anything because I know people won't think it's off the wall."

Black-and-White Thinking.
Evaluate Later, Not Sooner. Instead of focusing on the "tried-and-true" methods of the past, step back to view the full richness of a situation before making a decision. Force yourself to see two or more strikingly different solutions to every problem. Get input from others. Look for multiple possibilities. Only then, come to a well thought through conclusion.

Finally, if there's any magic in these exercises, it lies in their results. With regular practice, they can transform you from a capable professional into a creative wizard.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Marcia Zidle, the 'people smarts' coach, works with business leaders to quickly solve their people management headaches so they can concentrate on their #1 job to grow and increase profits. She offers free help through Leadership Briefing, a weekly e-newsletter with practical tips on leadership style, employee motivation, recruitment and retention and relationship management.
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