Category Archives: Creativity

“The most exciting breakthroughs of the 21st century will not occur because of technology, but because of an expanded concept of what it means to be human.”

Posted on by

“The most exciting breakthroughs of the 21st century will not occur because of technology, but because of an expanded concept of what it means to be human.”

– John Naisbitt, futurist and author

In my youth, I found that I often exchanged my time for money. As I get older, I now consider time as a new currency. How I spend my time and who I spend it with has great significance.

I do find that, as a high priority, I spend considerable time exploring and reflecting on life itself, hoping to maximize my potential and to contribute things of significance to those around me.

Exercise:

How can you further develop and expand your concept of what it means to be you?

With this expanded concept in mind, how will you spend your time and who will you spend it with in the future?

“Genius does take shortcuts, but it rarely escapes initial drudgery.”

Posted on by

“Genius does take shortcuts, but it rarely escapes initial drudgery.”

– William Feather, publisher and author (attributed)

Have you ever noticed a person with great mastery or skill who accomplishes feats of brilliance with ease?

Whether that’s an inventor like Edison, an athlete like Michael Jordan, or performers like the Beatles, they all have something in common. They all experience the not so glowing moments of poor performance, drudgery, or failure.

The eventual “aha!” shiny moments so often come after massive amounts of preparation, without the accolades and standing ovations that we see in the media.

Exercise:

Where does your genius lie, beneath your seemingly mundane daily efforts?

How can you take delight in these efforts, knowing that there’s a great gift just waiting to be revealed?

#104: “Rules and models destroy genius and art.”

Posted on by

– William Hazlitt, writer

Many historic thinkers have explored left-brain versus right-brain thinking. Modern-day thinkers often refer to the concept of linear or analytical thinking versus quantum or non-linear thought.

Whatever you call the two types, they are both highly useful and have their place in making the world work. As a business coach, I see many great examples where procedures and systems increase profits. Six Sigma, Kaizen and other quality initiatives are widely used in organizations today.

Yet when we overuse procedures to manage the abilities of people, we often diminish their ability to act, think and create.

Exercise:

Where do rules in your professional and personal life serve you well, and where do they limit your creativity and genius?

How will you find the right balance?

Quotes are posted on The Quotable Coach a week after being sent out by email. To get the latest quotes straight to your inbox, pop your details in the sidebar to the right.

#90: “Creativity involves breaking out of established patterns in order to look at things in a different way.”

Posted on by

– Edward de Bono, doctor and author

Years ago, I read A Whole New Mind by Daniel Pink. The premise of this book was based on the importance and value of right-brain/non-linear thinking. Pink pointed to some of the critical limiting factors related to left-brain or linear thinking: the value of this type of thinking has been decreased due to the advent of technology.

Exercise:

How much of your day do you spend on right-brain versus left-brain activities?

How can you break some of your established patterns and look at your world differently, to develop your creative mind?

Quotes are posted on The Quotable Coach a week after being sent out by email. To get the latest quotes straight to your inbox, pop your details in the sidebar to the right.

#72: “Life is a great big canvas, and you should throw all the paint you can on it.”

Posted on by

– Danny Kaye

Many of us were given a box of crayons or set of watercolor paints as children. As we began drawing or painting, we often made a mess, and went beyond the workbook or the canvas. Our teachers and parents, with the best of intentions, taught us to paint by numbers and draw within the boundaries.

How does this idea relate to the lives that we live today: following the rules, sticking to established procedures, conforming?

Exercise:

What if you are simply a brilliant artist and your life is your masterpiece? How big a canvas, and how much paint, will you need? Consider doubling it.

Quotes are posted on The Quotable Coach a week after being sent out by email. To get the latest quotes straight to your inbox, pop your details in the sidebar to the right.

#66: “To raise new questions, new possibilities…”

Posted on by

“…to regard old problems from a new angle, requires creative imagination and marks real advance in science.”

– Albert Einstein

When I was in school, success was all about getting the correct answer. In recent years, I have become fascinated by powerful questions and the fact that there are often many possible answers.

I am becoming far more comfortable with ambiguity and shades of grey. I think Einstein, through his study of quantum physics and his quotes pertaining to the mysteries life demonstrates, has led many (including myself) in this direction.

Exercise:

How can you use powerful questions to do some heavy lifting and find the added strength and capacity to advance your life?

Quotes are posted on The Quotable Coach a week after being sent out by email. To get the latest quotes straight to your inbox, pop your details in the sidebar to the right.