There are people out there whose job it is to make us say, “Wow,” on a daily basis. They are the “creative types” among us – the ad men and women, entertainers, writers, artists and just about everybody working at Apple.

It’s not easy making us say, “Wow.” Sure, sometimes it’s fun. But often it’s just plain, old hard work. Some days we are in the mood to say, “Wow.” But many days, we’re just like, “Yeah, so what?” That’s when it’s a grind.

The funny thing is, those people don’t really do what they do because of us. They do it because they don’t know how to do anything else. Making us say, “Wow” is just who they are.

There’s something to be learned from these people. Not necessarily about being creative (although there is that, too) – but about “being” your work, rather than just “doing” it.

“Work,” here, may not be the thing you do to earn money. The work we’re talking about here is what you do with passion, the thing you love. The work that, on good days, doesn’t seem like work.

You may not be a writer or actor or artist or Steve Jobs. You may not have a blog or a business or a platform. But you do have a masterpiece in your head. Everybody does.

Just bring yours to life and share it with the world. And then watch us say, “Wow!”

Back when I worked in advertising, it took me years to understand that some of my clients simply weren’t able to “see,” in their minds, the things I “saw”’ when I presented them with new ideas. What it would look like, the sounds, the mood, the tone.

Many of them were just too literal. They had to actually see it with their eyes to understand it. They weren’t trying to be difficult when they rejected an idea. They just didn’t really understand what the idea actually was. In some ways, it required a much greater leap of faith on the parts of those who actually did approve the work.

Can you see what’s not there? Can you hear the words no one has spoken? Can you complete the sentence, “What if…” with confidence and clarity?

If you can’t, learn to. It is a critical component of innovative thinking, and therefore, success in today’s world of continuous reinvention.

And then, get really good at painting the picture for others. Help them “see” your vision. Because whether your work lives or dies almost always depends on a thumbs-up from someone else.

Being a creative genius isn’t enough. You must be a brilliant painter, storyteller and tour guide, too!

Do people generate ideas more effectively in groups, or flying solo?

You probably have an opinion. Most people who regularly engage in idea generation do.

Those who consider themselves naturally “creative,” and more talented thinkers than their peers, tend to believe they work better when unencumbered by others’ limitations. Those who value the unique perspectives and abilities of their teammates tend to favor brainstorming.

In fact, the comparison is somewhat unfair. Gifted and highly skilled creative problem solvers will almost always shine when compared to teams that are untrained, unpracticed, clumsy and poorly led.

But what about a team that’s on top of its game?

A recent study conducted by researchers at North Carolina State University revealed that when utilizing several proven, effective group ideation techniques (at least 10 or 11 of over 20 identified), brainstorming was extremely effective. Conversely, when such best practices were not employed, the sessions failed.

In order for any team to succeed, it needs talent, skill, experience, practice, a proven play book… and most of all, a dynamic coach and leader.

Will a team like that outperform a single, solitary superstar on the field?

Why not build one and find out for yourself?

Not so long ago, all you had to do was show up, do your job (a.k.a. “the minimum expected of you”), try not to make waves—and you could live a pretty good, hassle-free life. And if you did that long enough you could eventually get paid for doing nothing at all.

Being a small thinker offered big rewards. But oh, how times have changed.

Today, the people (and companies) that sail through life and recessions are those that show up early and stay late; that continually reinvent and ramp up their “jobs” (a.k.a. “the value they deliver to others”); that, rather than avoiding waves, joyfully stir things up on a daily basis.

Big thinkers. Like artists. And athletes. And Apple. And anyone who desperately wants to succeed.

Small thinking leads inevitably to greater challenges, increased frustration and, eventually, non-relevance. Big thinking is, well…it’s the easy way out.

Are you a small thinker? Why on earth would anyone want to work that hard?

Originally featured at Yanko Design, November 18, 2010

Designer Thanva Tivawong has come up with an innovative traffic light design that not only tells drivers whether to stop or go (or speed up before the yellow light changes!), but provides an indication of how much time they have to do any of those things.

Called “The Sand Glass,” the concept incorporates LED lights in the shape of a familiar countdown hourglass. Traditional colors remain, but in Tivawong’s version they would gradually fill the shape before transitioning to the next in the sequence.

While some obvious questions come up concerning those with color blindness (that’s why traditional lights are always in the same red-yellow-green order) and safety (even MORE people racing to beat that yellow or jumping the gun as the red lights near completion), the design would provide us with an alternate traffic light activity to checking email and thumbing texts.

Too much information? Maybe not. Why shouldn’t we be just as frustrated while waiting at a traffic light as we are while waiting for something to load on our computers?

Designer: Thanva Tivawong

Where do ideas come from? Usually, they just pop up, seemingly from nowhere. You might suddenly see them. Or hear them. Sometimes you have to go digging to find them, but not usually.

But that’s how ideas show up. The question remains, where do they originate?

We all have lots of “noise” in our heads these days—messages, images, articles, sounds, songs, Tweets, posts, updates, pitches, “conversations.” Every once in awhile a few of those noise particles ricochet off the walls inside our heads and shoot back an echo – some new, but somehow familiar, mashed-up reflection of everything that’s flying around in there.

The noise is good. Keep it. It’s what echoes are made of. Just remember to turn it off every now and then so you can hear what bounces back.

If you already know who Seth Godin is, and listen to him, then read on only if you’re curious. If not, read on because you really will benefit – and then as soon as possible, read even more: Permission Marketing, Tribes, Purple Cow, The Dip, Linchpin, and/or any and all of Seth’s books.

The question here isn’t WHO Seth Godin is, but rather, why so many people stop and listen whenever he opens his mouth. The reason? They’re on a journey. And Seth Godin knows a thing or two about the land in which they travel

Seth Godin is a modern-day tour guide, and a particularly good one. He points out the worthwhile sites. He tells us what is worth paying attention to, and what is not. He reminds us why we are on this particular trip to begin with, how we got here, and where we are headed.

And most of all, he inspires us to take advantage of the revolution that is going on all around us.

People listen to Seth because he says what they already know – but are all-too-often too lazy to do anything about.

Embrace this journey, or just go along for the ride. Your choice.

If you’re having to work too hard to push an idea through – in fact, if you have to “push” at all – it could be a sign that the idea isn’t really all that valuable, or that it’s just “half baked.”

Good ideas – really really good ones – often create their own momentum. Consider the iPad. Despite a lot of initial skepticism and negativity, it was ultimately able to top the iPhone in early sales. Granted, it had the Apple marketing machine behind it. But the sheer power of the idea itself was ultimately what propelled it to success.

Don’t settle for “novel,” “interesting” or even “pretty good.” Those descriptors suggest potential. Keep at it until you have yourself a game changer!

Join us this Friday, October 29th, at the 1-day SmartStorming Brainstorm Leadership Workshop in New York City!

This 1-day SmartStorming® program offers you a unique opportunity to learn one of the most acclaimed best-practices approaches for planning, structuring and facilitating highly productive brainstorming sessions, time after time.  Participants also learn powerful, proven idea generation techniques for igniting a group’s imagination, challenging limiting assumptions and generating a wider range of bigger and better ideas.

Download full workshop agenda here.

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We look forward to seeing you on Friday October 29th!  If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us
Best wishes,
Mitchell & Keith

Inspiration is obviously an important ingredient in the idea generation process. Perhaps a less known fact, however, is that inspiration flows most freely to those who routinely expose themselves to new and varied forms of creative inspiration and stimuli (such as new ideas, words, images, media, events, etc).

You might say that become a human sponge (of multi-media input) and you gain a competitive edge in problem solving.

How it works: Associative Thinking
As the mind absorbs its new information (those words, images and symbols), the brain’s natural associative thinking ability is stimulated, making imaginative new leaps and connections between seemingly unrelated ideas (Ask yourself, “What if I combine a baby carriage with a bicycle?” and see what pops into your head!) This unconscious combinative play takes place all the time in our mind, and is regarded as a hallmark of innovative thinking.

The daily practice of exposing our mind to fresh, new and interesting reference data, in order to expand our creative range and depth, is known as “Stocking the Pond.”

This principle is championed by Julia Cameron, best-selling author on the subject of creativity, in her timeless book, The Artist’s Way. Cameron uses the metaphor of the mind as a creative reservoir… a kind of well-stocked pond that requires constant replenishment of new and exotic “fish to fry.” As creative thinkers, it is important that we maintain this thriving internal creative ecosystem.

The practice of continually stocking the pond is especially important for those who frequently engage in brainstorming sessions. If their inspiration pool isn’t regularly replenished, they run the risk of “overfishing” their creative reservoirs. Whenever you hear complaints about an individual or a team recycling the same old ideas, over and over again, chances are the principle of stocking the pond is being neglected or ignored.

Inspiration is here, there and everywhere
Where can we find continuous sources of new inspiration? The answer is surprisingly simple: just open up your eyes and ears and pay attention. Mind expanding stimuli are everywhere! We are literally immersed in a rich, planetary ocean of images, symbols, stories, information, sounds, motions, and sensations.

In fact there is so much information competing for our attention, our brains have adapted mental filters to avoid overload. But with a little practice, you and your teams can open up your senses and begin to appreciate those things that peak your interest and fuel your imagination.

A good place to start, of course, is the Internet. Thanks to the web, and the infinite amount of information accessible to us there, we can all follow our curiosity down the rabbit hole, deep into mankind’s accumulated knowledge, wisdom, creativity and culture—available to us 24/7. There’s nothing like a little associative web surfing to trigger new connections that can lead to serendipitous solutions.

Other rich sources of creative stimuli include television, radio, books, magazines, movies, theatre, games, concerts, performances, museums, schools and universities, and even nature itself. Remember Isaac Newton and the falling apple, or Archimedes in his overflowing bathtub? Eureka!

By cultivating a daily habit of indulging our curiosity and exploring where it leads us, we can create an automatic re-stocking system that will keep our internal reservoirs brimming with all kinds of new, exotic and innovative fish.

A quick reminder that on Friday, October 29th, in New York City, for the first time ever we will be offering our SmartStorming Brainstorm Leadership Workshop to the public! (To date it has only been delivered as onsite corporate training.

To learn more about the workshop and to register, click here.

But hurry! Early registration discounts end soon!

Hope you’ll join us!