Crescendo Inc

  

Crescendo Inc. Good to Knows!

April 2012 

 

Greetings!  

Frequently, I discover books, websites, training workshops, blogs, people etc...  that I think are worth sharing with clients, colleagues, friends and family. I refer to these 'discoveries' as Crescendo Inc. Good to Knows!

 

Since the beginning of 2012, I have discovered some wonderful things to share and I encourage you to explore the following Crescendo Inc. Good to Knows! 

  

 Kevin Cannon is a good friend, a favorite person, a BRILLIANT cartoonist and Co-founder of Crowded Comics.   

CrowdedComics Crowded Comics is democratizing the editorial cartoon -- one punch line at a time -- by combining crowdsourced punchlines with original, high quality, timely cartoons on political, social, and cultural issues. The editorial cartoon has been a staple of print newspapers for generations, but throughout its existence it has primarily broadcast the opinions of the cartoonist and the editorial staff.

Crowded Comics, is reinventing the model of the editorial cartoon by DowntonAbbey transforming it from a static and one-directional experience into an interactive, democratic, participant-driven forum.  

 

Discontent with the American political and social landscape is at an all-time high. People across the political spectrum are frustrated - and many feel that their voices are never heard. Crowded Comics is addressing this head-on with a fun, social, crowdsourced, infotainment platform that is designed to increase engagement in political and social discourse.   Read More... 

 

Imagine Jonah Lehrer has done it again. This book is filled with interesting stories and anecdotes focused on the neuroscience of creativity. I so appreciate his ability to take a complex concept and explain it so that I 'get it.' Since it's release in March, Amazon has named it one of their top picks for the month. I have also heard several interviews including this one on NPR's Fresh Air (March 21, 2012) and this one on The Colbert Report (April 17, 2012)   

 

How we Decide is another very interesting Jonah Lehrer book that discusses the neuroscience behind decision making.  Lehrer's interview on Mid-Morning (February 5, 2009) with with Kerri Miller entitled Instinct vs. Analysis is one I have listened to frequently.  Enjoy! 


Did you know that the most creative companies have centralized bathrooms? That brainstorming meetings are a terrible idea? That the color blue can help you double your creative output?

From the New York Times best-selling author of How We Decide comes a sparkling and revelatory look at the new science of creativity. Shattering the myth of muses, higher powers, even creative "types," Jonah Lehrer demonstrates that creativity is not a single gift possessed by the lucky few. It's a variety of distinct thought processes that we can all learn to use more effectively.

Lehrer reveals the importance of embracing the rut, thinking like a child, daydreaming productively, and adopting an outsider's perspective (travel helps). He unveils the optimal mix of old and new partners in any creative collaboration, and explains why criticism is essential to the process. Then he zooms out to show how we can make our neighborhoods more vibrant, our companies more productive, and our schools more effective.   Read more... 

 

Graphic Recording/Facilitation!  

Many of you know that I am starting to incorporate graphic recording into my consulting practice.  The sunflower mural below is an example of a Journey Map  

Journey Map RIS 2012
Rein in Sarcoma Stakeholder Dialogue - April 15, 2012
that I created for Rein in Sarcoma (my cancer organization) as part of a strategic planning stakeholder dialogue that I facilitated.   If you are interested in learning more about this process or if I can help in any way, please contact me to discuss. It is very cool to use with teams - they can't help but get engaged!

 

I hope you find Crescendo Inc. Good to Knows, good to know! There will more to come shortly. Until then... enjoy! 

 

P.S. If you have any Good to Knows that you would like to share, I hope you  send them my way. I'm always curious.  

 

Warmly,

Lisa Griebel
Crescendo Inc
Crescendo Inc
5620 Colfax Ave S
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55419
612.718.4389