Tag Archives: creativity

“Yesterday is but…”

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“Yesterday is but today’s memories, and tomorrow is today’s dream.”

— Khalil Gibran, 20th century Lebanese artist, poet, and writer

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The human mind is a wonderful thing. It can be a calculator when it is in analytic mode, and it can also venture into wondrous arenas of creativity and innovation. The mind also has the ability to travel back and forth in time, from the beginning of the universe to the end of time.

EXERCISE:

How can you tap into the wondrous power of your mind to learn from the past, enjoy the experiences of today, and venture into the possibilities of the future? Consider doing this exercise with others within your professional and personal communities to explore what will likely be an even more remarkable experience.

“Criticize by Creating.”

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“Criticize by Creating.”

— Michelangelo

Photo from Flickr by Nathan Rupert

Photo from Flickr by Nathan Rupert

We have all heard the phrase “if you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.” Though we may not share our criticisms verbally, they are still heard loud and clear by our inner selves, and perhaps are observed by others through facial expressions and body language.

Michelangelo coaches us to mobilize our creativity to improve a situation rather than sitting in judgement of the situation. This simple idea is critical in the business world in that our leaders and managers are looking for optimistic, “can-do” people to forward their organizations, not negative “the-glass-is-half-empty” people who rain on other people’s parades.

EXERCISE:

How supportive or critical are your thoughts? Pay close attention today. Should you notice the dark side emerging more often than you desire, ask yourself what creative action you can take to move things in a better direction. Don’t be surprised if engaging your creativity gets you noticed by others and has others around you holding you in higher regard!

“A hunch is creativity trying to tell you something.”

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“A hunch is creativity trying to tell you something.”

– Frank Capra, American Film Director

Photo from Flickr by Dania J

Photo from Flickr by Dania J

Do you have them?  Hunches, that is.

Sometimes they are called intuition, instincts, gut feelings, or inklings.

For some reason, almost everyone has them, but they tend to be elusive in our ability to harvest them at will.

Over the last decade or two, the subject of creativity and non-linear thinking has gotten considerable attention, particularly in our ability to harness it to fuel the economic engines of business.

All you have to do is generate your own list of the most innovative and creative companies that have become mega stars and economic powerhouses.

EXERCISE:

How can you bolster your own capacity to tap into your own hunches to further develop your own creativity muscle to enhance your personal and professional worlds?

Two books I recommend on this subject are:
A Whole New Mind by Daniel Pink
Blink by Malcom Gladwell

Feel free to reply to this message to share some of your own favorite hunch-expanding ideas and resources.

 

“Great minds like a think.”

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 “Great minds like a think.”

– The Economist

Image from The Economist

Image from The Economist

Based on research from the Jenkins Group, one-third of high school graduates never read another book for the rest of their lives. 42% of college graduates never read another book after college, and 80% of families did not buy or read a book last year.

Great minds, like great bodies, need exercise. Reading and thinking about new ideas is like doing cerebral sit-ups, toning our cores to have those six-pack abs we desire.

Exercise:

How will you exercise your mental muscles in the coming days, weeks, and years ahead to avoid the atrophy of the mind?

Consider taking the “use it or lose it” mental fitness challenge in Episode 10 of Brain Games, from National Geographic.

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

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– 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?

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

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– 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.

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

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“…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.