Spring Blossoms & Creativity Flourishes
Lynda Curtin - The Opportunity Thinker shares her latest innovation insights with you. May 2008
In This Issue
Dogwood in the Moonlight
TED Creativity Video
Buffet Quote
Seeing the World Through New Eyes
Idea Loft to Host Advanced Creativity
Sold Out Event
Quick Links

Greetings!
 
Don't you just love Spring - the season of new growth and ideas? Below, I share with you two articles that come from recent experiences in my life that reinforce for me the power of creativity. It's everywhere! Share them with your group to spark good old fashioned conversation. 
 
Good thinking to you,
 

Lynda Curtin
818-507-6055
info@LyndaCurtin.com

Dogwood in the Moonlight

Driving up the mountain to Big Bear from the desert below I was struck by the stark contrast between the dry sandy desert - plants not quite in spring bloom, and the snow sledding hills filled with families having a ball. The drive was made even more enjoyable because my favorite Roy Orbison CD was blaring - taking my mind to the place it goes when it needs to relax. Answers pop. I got answers during that drive!

My delight of the day came when I walked in to photographer, Timothy Wolcott's gallery. His walls were jammed with the most stunning photos I have ever seen. There was something different about the colors. They were intense. They popped. I just knew I was looking at the work of someone with a rare passion for creating visual experiences for people. I had to go get my husband who was browsing down the street. I wanted to share the experience with him.

One photograph in particular kept calling me back to look at it - Dogwood in the Moonlight; a beautiful dogwood tree in shimmering full bloom, laden with pure white blossoms standing against the dark green forest in the background. I'm not a photographer and couldn't imagine how such a glorious moment in time could be captured. I learned it took 8 minutes for the shutter speed to capture the photo in the moonlight. What patience. What planning. What vision.

I also learned that Timothy Wolcott has been involved in innovating new ways to use technology for printing processes. This explains why his work is so stunning. He pushes the boundaries of old conventions.

I share this experience with you because it speaks directly to the power of well executed creativity and innovation. These are the lessons I have taken away from this experience:

1. Sometimes it helps the creative process when we make time for our minds to relax in order for answers to surface; to pop.
2. When you look at your innovation does it exude a quality about it that draws customers to it; a specialness? Would customers immediately want to share their discovery of it with others? Perhaps this can become a question in the final analysis of the innovations you are working on.
3. Patience pays.

I look up at Dogwood in the Moonlight hanging in my office several times a day now to help me remember these important lessons and to work towards becoming better with my own creativity and innovation efforts. How do you remind yourself?

Until next time ...
 
Sir Ken Robinson Do Schools Kill Creativity?
with Sir Ken Robinson

I have come across the work of Sir Ken Robinson which I want to share with you via his very funny and dramatic TED presentation - Do Schools Kill Creativity? You can watch it here: (allow yourself 20 minutes). You won't be disappointed; I promise.

What does this presentation have to do with Innovation in the world of work? Quite a bit in my view. For me, he hits home the importance of cultivating creativity in kids all the way through our education system in order to prepare them for jobs that haven't even been invented yet. Afterall, innovation is impossible without creativity, and creativity is impossible without people.

He also made me wonder about the impact our education system is having on our ability to be innovative in the workplace when most of our workers come from our school system, which he describes this way, "Our education system has mined our minds the way we have strip mined the earth for a particular commodity."   

Three ideas for you:

1. Share this presentation with your work group and lead a discussion on how it might help you with your innovation work.
2. Host a discussion dinner party with your family and friends. Show the presentation and then get the discussion going.
3. Watch it once a week for 5 weeks and note different points that strike you each time you watch it and why they do. How can you use these insights back on the job?

I believe innovation relies on people. Tools and techniques help, but, they are not enough. I am hoping to inspire some of you to investigate this work of Creativity expert, Sir Ken Robinson. Remember to share with us your innovation insights.

Until next time ...

 
wb Quote of the Season
"I've reluctantly discarded the notion of my continuing to manage the portfolio after my death - abandoning my hope to give new meaning to the term 'thinking outside the box.'"

- Warren Buffet, 2007 Berkshire Annual Report
 
de Bono For Schools Logo de Bono for Schools to Exhibit at Seeing the World Through New Eyes

Twelve weeks to launch date July 26 - de Bono For Schools, our newest business division. The World Future Society hosts an excellent innovation conference - Seeing the World Through New Eyes. Plan to attend. Immerse yourself in world trends, meet eclectic people from around the world, stimulate your thinking about your business challenges, and stop by our booth to celebrate with us. We are making great progress developing teacher and student products for Six Thinking Hats and CoRT. Set up an appointment to discuss your school needs. Call 818-507-6055

Date: July 26-28, 2008.
Location: The Hilton Hotel, Washington DC
For details click
Advanced Creativity Cover Advanced Creativity for Maximum Impact
Blended Six Thinking Hats and Lateral Thinking
June 10-12 at the Idea Loft in Kansas City, MO

Six Thinking Hats and Lateral Thinking tools work perfectly together. One strength of de Bono's methods is their flexibility to work well with each other. Lateral Thinking idea generating tools strengthen the green hat, for example. There are many more powerful links. If you really want to turbo charge your creative ability plan on attending this advanced workshop. Be sure to bring team members with you to enable smoother implementation back at work.

Register Now: Plan to bring your team with you for maximum impact back on the job.

Or, have us deliver a custom workshop at your organization.

Registration Fee: $1,799
Time: 8:30AM-5:00PM


 
FoF Cover Sold Out Event Leads to New Chicago Event - Advanced Facilitation Skills de Bono Style: Sept. 9-11
Focus on Facilitation: Equip your key leaders with proven innovation tools and processes to facilitate the thinking that needs to take place in meetings in order for groups to arrive at well thought through solutions that can be supported and implemented. There is no other facilitation tool kit like it. It's very practical and powerful.

Twenty nine tools from three well known de Bono methods are blended together to equip proactive business leaders to facilitate a wide variety of important meetings: ideation, project, problem solving, planning, strategy, decision making, improvement.

Prerequisite: To attend this 3-day event you need to have attended Six Thinking Hats or Lateral Thinking training. If you need to meet this requirement you can do so buy registering to attend Six Thinking Hats on Sept. 8, 2008.

Register Now: Plan to attend with a colleague to strengthen your application back on the job.

Or, have us deliver a custom workshop at your organization.

Event Fee: $2499
Location: Chicago
Time: 8:30-5:00 PM
Save 25%
July
26-28
Bring this coupon to the World Future Society Conference in Washington DC, visit our booth  and receive 25% off your purchase of de Bono For Schools products. Watch for the launch of our online store to check out the assortment.
 
Offer Expires: August 1, 2008