News SPLASH

 

I was visiting the AARP web site (for a client, not because I am eligible for membership) when I spotted a fabulous first person account of the creative process by choreographer Twyla Tharp.  It is excerpted from her book, "The Creative Habit." (2003)  The portion below especially captured my attention. 

Ms. Tharp writes:  "Creativity Is Not Just for Artists. It's for businesspeople looking for a new way to close a sale; for engineers trying to solve a problem; for parents who want their children to see the world in more than one way. We think of creativity as a way of keeping everything fresh and new, while habit implies routine and repetition. That paradox intrigues me because it occupies the place where creativity and skill rub up against each other. Without the time and effort invested in getting ready to create, you can be hit by a thunderbolt, and it'll just leave you stunned. That's why I'm a stickler about preparation. There's a process that generates creativity—and you can learn it."

I urge you to read the article to learn about scratching, bridging and the project box...all ways to keep your creativity brimming. 

 

Can you identify this photo?  Sometimes just changing your perspective can spark a new idea.  This means looking at familiar things in a fresh way - or from a different angle.  Travel is a fantastic way to shake up your brain by immersing yourself in new experiences...eating local foods, speaking with strangers, admiring a different landscape.  Even if travel is a regular (and exhausting) part of your job description, use it as an opportunity to look at business challenges from a new perspective.  That's what I did on a recent stop in San Francisco (big photo hint).  Do you feel invigorated after a few days in a different location?

Google's one big prankster.  For years, the company has come up with clever pranks that build their brand - with a chuckle.  (Think G-mail Custom Time!) What's on for today?  Get ready for Cognitive Autoheuristic Distributed-Intelligence Entity (CADIE) -- darn, outed by cnet.  Think April Fool's Day can bolster your brand?  Fast Company highlights ten recent classics.  Check them out.