It's a tough job, but someone has to do it--create a workshop or training course that teaches people how to wake up their creativity. On Fast Company Now, one Company of Friends member did it by basing his course on flexibility, imagination, and the association of ideas.
I don't know, though, if that's enough to do the trick. It's hard to think differently, especially when you're trying to look at the same old thing in a new way. The mind-ruts can be pretty deep and difficult to climb out of. One way I jumpstart my own personal creativity is to take two or more things that have nothing to do with each other, and try to find some connection between them that would make them synergistic.
What could you do with two paperclips and a piece of grass? A set of bunny ears and a tropical fish? Gets you thinking, doesn't it? Another one I like to do is to try to describe something abstract using the senses--the taste of joy (a mix of fresh snow and vanilla?), the sight of defeat (shards of broken glass embedded in Play-Doh?), the feel of anger (stepping on a thumbtack?)...you get the drift.
It all kind of shifts the mind-gears for me. What gets your creative juices flowing?
Update: There have been two great suggestions in the comments section so far.
From Heath Row: Eric Maisel's Everyday Creative: 30 Ways to Wake up Your Inner Artist
From Rich Westerfield: Hugh MacLeod's "How to Be Creative" on gapingvoid.com
Click on the "comments" button to add your ideas.
To receive a weekly blog update, e-mail Sue.
It's a tough job, but someone has to do it--create a workshop or training course that teaches people how to wake up their creativity. On Fast Company Now, one Company of Friends member did it by basing his course on flexibility, imagination, and the association of ideas.
I don't know, though, if that's enough to do the trick. It's hard to think differently, especially when you're trying to look at the same old thing in a new way. The mind-ruts can be pretty deep and difficult to climb out of. One way I jumpstart my own personal creativity is to take two or more things that have nothing to do with each other, and try to find some connection between them that would make them synergistic.
What could you do with two paperclips and a piece of grass? A set of bunny ears and a tropical fish? Gets you thinking, doesn't it? Another one I like to do is to try to describe something abstract using the senses--the taste of joy (a mix of fresh snow and vanilla?), the sight of defeat (shards of broken glass embedded in Play-Doh?), the feel of anger (stepping on a thumbtack?)...you get the drift.
It all kind of shifts the mind-gears for me. What gets your creative juices flowing?
Update: There have been two great suggestions in the comments section so far.
From Heath Row: Eric Maisel's Everyday Creative: 30 Ways to Wake up Your Inner Artist
From Rich Westerfield: Hugh MacLeod's "How to Be Creative" on gapingvoid.com
Click on the "comments" button to add your ideas.
To receive a weekly blog update, e-mail Sue.