The Seed of Fascination
The reason why many of us do not get inspired ideas is because we are not inspired.
The reason we are not inspired is because we do not follow our fascinations.
The reason we do not follow our fascinations is because we judge them as impractical, irrelevant, or impossible.
And so it goes -- sometimes for an entire life. The good news? This cycle can be reversed.
It begins by suspending judgment. It's followed by entertaining what fascinates you. It continues by getting inspired and then acting on the fruit of your inspiration.
WHAT TO DO
1. On a piece of paper, create three parallel headlines -- the first, "What Fascinates Me," the second, "People I Admire," and the third, "What I Would Do If I Had More Time."
2. Jot down at least five responses under each headline.
3. Look for connections between your various responses.
4. Write down your inspired ideas. Then circle your favorite.
Excerpted from Awake at the Wheel: Getting Your Great Ideas Rolling (in an uphill world).
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 11:19 PM | Comments (0)
April 19, 2009The Man With the Metal Teeth
I knew I was in trouble the moment he smiled.
All I could see were four metal teeth -- the front ones -- the ones people use to bite things. Like an apple. Or the head of an outside consultant teaching a class on creativity.
His nametag said "John Andrews," but when it was his turn to introduce himself to the group, it was "Master Staff Sergeant John Andrews, Fourth Battalion."
Apparently, the man was still fighting the Vietnam war -- and, by the look in his eye, it was clear he couldn't quite tell what side I was on.
Unlike the other participants, John was wearing a suit and a tie -- a tie tied so tight it seemed as if the veins in his neck would explode.
With great respect, I invited John to remove his tie, explaining that relaxation was one of the pre-conditions for creativity.
John declined.
The man was not the first tough cookie I'd encountered in my tour of corporate America. It came with the territory. Over the years, I'd learned to embrace this kind of moment. John was not the enemy. He was not a problem. He was simply someone I would need to be aware of as the session unfolded.
John was probably the same with me as he was with his wife, children, dog, and dry cleaner. He was, quite simply, a master at making people uncomfortable.
Mother Teresa could have entered the room and John would have found a way to get her walking on eggshells.
At no time during the two days of the creativity training did Master Sergeant John Andrews, Fourth Battalion, ever give me the slightest indication he was receiving any value. Not a smile. Nod a nod. Not a nothing.
When the session ended, the rest of the participants were out the door in a heartbeat. John stayed.
He was still wearing his tie.
"Do you... need any help cleaning up?" he asked.
"Yes, John, I do. Thanks."
We both got busy picking stuff up off the floor.
Two minutes later, John, now on his hands and knees, looked up at me.
"I... wonder if I can have a few minutes of your time?" he asked. "I need some help."
Seeing this proud man on his hands and knees, looking up at me with a mix of fear and sadness, was not a picture I'd imagined when he first bared his teeth just two days before.
According to John, his direct reports had just completed their 360 degree evaluations of him and the results were "not good." His job was on the line and he was frozen with fear.
I have absolutely no memory of what I said to John that day. All I know is whatever came out of my mouth rang true for him.
It had nothing to do with creativity. It had nothing to do with innovation. It had a lot to do with life. John's life. My life. All of our lives. Not the WHAT of life, but the HOW.
The difference between a life of business and the business of life.
Time stopped for the two of us. We just hung out in that space, saying nothing, doing nothing.
Then, with the barest of smiles, John stood and asked me if it would be alright if he took a second set of juggling balls home to his 14-year old son.
I found myself singing on the way home that day.
Excerpted from my forthcoming book, WISDOM AT WORK. (PS: If you know of an agent or publisher who might resonate with my writing, please forward me their names and contact numbers: mitch@ideachampions.com)
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Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 04:43 AM | Comments (1)
April 16, 2009Wright Brain Thinking
OK. Break time. Park your left brain and get into your right. I mean Wright, as in Steven -- a truly funny fellow I once ran into while jogging on the streets of New York City.
If the following jams your mind, good. You've been thinking too much anyway. Like I said, it's time for a break...
"Everywhere is within walking distance if you have the time."
"I was a peripheral visionary. I could see the future, but only way off to the side."
"For my birthday I got a humidifier and a de-humidifier. I put them in the same room and let them fight it out."
"I bought some batteries, but they weren't included."
"I intend to live forever. So far, so good."
"I like to reminisce with people I don't know."
"I invented the cordless extension cord."
"I saw a subliminal advertising executive, but only for a second."
"If a word in the dictionary were misspelled, how would we know?"
"What's another word for Thesaurus?"
"I stayed in a really old hotel last night. They sent me a wake-up letter."
"I think it's wrong that only one company makes the game Monopoly."
"I was trying to daydream, but my mind kept wandering."
"I watched the Indy 500, and I was thinking that if they left earlier they wouldn't have to go so fast."
"You can't have everything. Where would you put it?"
"I went to a restaurant that serves "breakfast at any time". So I ordered French Toast during the Renaissance."
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 11:49 PM | Comments (0)
April 10, 2009Welcome to Mississauga!
Please, whatever you're doing now, STOP, and watch this fabulous six- minute video about the mayor of Mississauga (Ontario, Canada). Hazel has her act together -- and some major clues for the rest of us.
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 06:18 AM | Comments (1)
April 09, 2009It's a Wonderful World Puppet Show
Louis Armstrong...shadow puppets...and a question to contemplate: How can YOU or your COMPANY deliver a powerful message to the world in just two minutes -- at almost no cost?
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 05:45 AM | Comments (0)
