Category: Creativity

The Curiosity Hour can Lead to Business Breakthroughs

Image by Tungart7 on Pixabay Curiosity is the fuel of creativity, discovery and innovation.  As we go through our formal education, a subtle but insidious shift occurs. The open-ended questions that we relentlessly asked as infants are gradually replaced by a demand for definitive answers. We are rewarded for knowing, not for asking. The systematic suppression of curiosity stifles individual... Read More--

Don’t Take Lunch at Your Desk

Many office workers take lunch at their desks. They grab a sandwich and carry on working. The old habit of going out for a lunch break is in decline. But there are some compelling reasons to go out for lunch with someone instead of eating at your desk: Eat Out Sitting at your desk all day is linked to various health issues. Walking to a cafe or restaurant, even a short distance, gets... Read More--

The Unconventional lies beyond the Conventional

In his stimulating and provocative book, Four Thousand Weeks, Oliver Burkeman gives this advice – originality lies on the far side of unoriginality.  The principle is that if you want to be innovative and unconventional it is probably better to serve your time learning a conventional skill before branching out on your own creative route.  Beethoven’s early compositions were strictly in the... Read More--

Thirty Ways to Develop your Lateral Thinking

Image by Stefan Keller on Pixabay Lateral thinking involves looking at things in different ways from everyone else.  It means coming at the situation from the side rather than head on.  It comprises thinking unconventional, heretical thoughts that challenge existing norms and the status quo.  Here are thirty ways to foster your lateral thinking: Embrace Curiosity: Stay curious... Read More--

Where can you get Fresh Ideas?

Do you need some novel ideas for the problems and challenges you face? Here are some places and methods to help you find them: Read Widely: Books, magazines, and online articles are great sources of inspiration. Read about topics you’re passionate about, but also explore areas outside your comfort zone. Different perspectives can trigger new ideas. Attend Workshops and Conferences:... Read More--

Which is more important – the idea or the team?

Imagine that you are a venture capitalist investing in start-up companies.  Ideally you are looking for a really good team with a great new idea.  But if you had to choose, would you prefer a great idea in the hands of an average and competent team or an average idea in the hands of a really great team? Pause for a moment and make your choice. It is a dilemma which Ed Catmull... Read More--

The Eight P Plan for Success

Let’s say that you are overloaded, overworked and under pressure.  You are struggling to cope.  This could be at a personal level with private projects or it could be at work where your team is having difficulties with business challenges.  Try this eight point plan which will help you. Pause.  Stop what you are doing. Take time to assess where you are and what you are trying to achieve. ... Read More--

Most Creative TV Ads of 2021

Advertising is creativity in action.  How can you make beer or ketchup or vaccination topical, relevant and fascinating?  The clever people at advertising agencies do some lateral thinking and keep coming up with creative ideas.  Here are my top six favourites from 2021 on Youtube. 6. BLK – Vax That Thang Up – How do you encourage young black people to get vaccinated?  Maybe by using... Read More--

How Open-Minded Are You? Quick Quiz.

Image by Mohamed Hassan on Pixabay   Almost everyone considers that they are open-minded and receptive to new ideas.  As a friend facetiously remarked, “I know I’m open-minded and nobody will convince me otherwise.” In reality it is very easy to fall into a rut where we cling to our own entrenched concepts of the world and subconsciously reject notions which might disturb our... Read More--

Five Reasons Why You Should Think Like a Criminal

Image by Ryan McGuire on Pixabay   Have you seen the movie, The Day of the Jackal?  In this 1973 film directed by Fred Zinnemann, Edward Fox plays a professional assassin, the “Jackal”, who is hired to assassinate French president Charles de Gaulle.  It is a compelling thriller in which it is hard not to admire the cunning and guile of the ruthless killer.  In the end you feel disappointed... Read More--