Soon after launching my new online course on the creative process, I began talking with the people who enrolled. I was curious to discover what kind of obstacles they were facing -- the "stuff" that got in the way of manifesting their own creativity.

No matter how different the people I spoke to, how unique their background, experience, accomplishments,gender, world view, or astrological signs,they all said the same thing -- what I later came to refer to as the "D" word.

"DISCIPLINE."

That's what they all believed was missing from their lives. The lack of discipline was their Achilles heel, they confessed to me -- their problem, their weak spot, their #1 concern.

For the first few weeks of listening to their lament, I agreed. After all, discipline was important, right? I mean, who could write a book or start a business, or launch a product without discipline? Plus, I was disciplined, and if I, the creator of the course, was disciplined, then discipline must be important, eh?

Well, sort of. In the end, it all depends on WHERE this so-called "discipline" is coming from.

The more I listened to aspiring creators talk about their lack of discipline, the more I began to see how deficient they felt... how inadequate... how not-up-to-the task of creating something new and wonderful.

There was a massive heaviness at the root of their lament... a weight... a density that did not feel empowering -- how high school kids often feel, on a Sunday, afternoon, when they realize they haven't yet done their geometry homework.

Curious, I looked up the definition of discipline -- "the practice of training people to obey rules or a code of behavior, using punishment to correct disobedience." Oy. Then I looked up its etymology.

One source explained that the word "discipline" comes from "discipulus", the Latin word for pupil -- the same root as the word disciple.

Another source noted that the word "discipline" originates from the Latin word "disciplina", meaning "instruction and training" -- derived from the root word "discere" which means "to learn".

Very interesting, indeed.

People who become disciples are people who are deeply moved to learn something. Their actions and behaviors that follow are merely practical expressions in service to what it is they want to learn.

Their motivation is intrinsic. Their performance of specific actions emerges from their recognition that these actions will yield the results they are looking for.

In other words, their discipline is rooted in love, devotion, and choice -- driven by a deeply held inner aspiration.

"Should" is not the disciple's operational word. "Need" is. And "want." And "responding to an inner calling."

Researchers who have studied creativity have come to the same conclusion.
"Intrinsic motivation" is the driver, not carrots and sticks.

When a person is moved from the inside to create something new, their motivation is natural, not forced. They are not doing geometry homework.They are following their fascination and inner calling. And though, to outside observers, they may seem disciplined, they are merely being moved by an unstoppable force within themselves.

How much discipline does it take to eat when you're hungry? How much discipline does it take to look up when you see a rainbow? How much discipline does it take to hug someone you love?

And so, if you are telling yourself that you "need more discipline," I invite you to take a fresh look at your situation.

Do what you can to connect with your original vision to create something new and wonderful. Feel what that felt like. Tune into your childlike curiosity. Rediscover your intrinsic motivation and stay with it. Let that move you. The discipline you keep telling yourself you need will naturally emerge.

Let love, fascination wonder, intuition, and trust run the show.

How to spark brilliance, breakthroughs and bold possibilities
MitchDitkoff.com

Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 09:54 AM | Comments (0)

Knowing how precious your time is, Idea Champions has designed a simple way to ensure that you get the best possible results from your online Free the Genie brainstorming session.

Having designed and facilitated more than 600 creative thinking sessions for 100+ organizations in 11 countries since 1987, we know what it takes to unlock and unleash collective brilliance.

What makes Free the Genie unique is how quickly it opens the creative floodgates -- sparking insights, ahas, and breakthrough ideas.

Here's the process -- what happens before, during and after a Free the Genie session:

1. Free Discovery Call: This is your chance to "kick the tires," ask your questions, and determine if Free the Genie is a good fit for your needs. If you decide to go for it, we will send you a Letter of Engagement for your signature.

2. Frame Your Most Powerful Question: As Jonas Salk once said, "What people think of as the moment of discovery is really the discovery of the question." Towards that end, we will send you a simple "fill in the blanks" exercise so you can clearly define the challenge, opportunity or project you want to explore. Time required? 15-20 minutes.

3. Identify Your Braintrust: Your Free the Genie session can be a one-on-one session with you and your Free the Genie facilitator OR it can include as many as three other people -- teammates, colleagues, friends, family, or clients of yours.

4. Invite Participants: At least one week before your FTG session, your Braintrust will be invited -- so they understand the purpose of the session, why you've invited them, and what (if anything) they need to do to prepare.

5. Experience Your Free the Genie Session: Show time! Simply put, FTG is a highly engaging 60-90 minute creative thinking jam session that sparks brilliance, insights, bold ideas, and positive momentum. (Gluten free, but potentially addictive).

6. Follow Up: Within 24 hours after your FTG session, you will receive the following from Idea Champions:

-- Zoom recording of your Free the Genie session
-- Written summary of the ideas and insights generated
-- Free the Genie card prompts (jpgs)
-- Action Plan template

7. Reality Check Debrief Call: One week after your session (assuming your interest), you will reconvene with your Free the Genie facilitator for 30-45 minutes to assess your forward progress, review your most compelling ideas, clarify your "go-forward" strategy, identify obstacles, and explore engaging ways for you to proceed with clarity, confidence, and renewed commitment.

The Value of Free the Genie
What people are saying about Free the Genie
Idea Champions clients

Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 11:29 AM | Comments (0)

If you are an entrepreneur, business leader, change agent, writer, artist, musician, team leader, or project manager in need of a breakthrough, Idea Champions' online Free the Genie brainstorming service may be just what you're looking for.

Bottom line, it's an elegant, engaging, time-efficient way to think creatively and radically increase your odds of getting breakthrough results. What follows are seven reasons why the time might be right for you to give it a go.

1. TWO HEADS ARE BETTER THAN ONE: No matter how creative you are, having the right people to brainstorm with, at the right time and in the right way, can often be the difference between success and failure.

Human beings are social animals. We need to express ourselves. We need to be heard. We need connection, feedback, encouragement, fresh perspectives, and new ideas. This is not the time to be a lone wolf.

2. YOU HAVE SOMETHING WONDERFUL TO CREATE: Yes, it's true! You are onto something. You are being called! You feel it in your bones and have known it for a while. Simply put, you have a gift to share with the world or at least your family and friends -- a service to provide.

Now is the time to get it out of you head and into the marketplace! Free the Genie can help facilitate that process.

3. ALL OF US GET STUCK FROM TIME TO TIME: This just in! All people with compelling projects and great ideas eventually run into walls. It comes with the territory of creating something new.

But here's the thing: those walls are often no more solid than a thought, assumption or belief. Free the Genie is designed to help you go over, under, around, or through those walls -- and, on a good day, prevent you from building those walls in the first place.

4. YOUR UNTAPPED CREATIVITY IS ACCESSIBLE: Every single human being on planet Earth is creative. Everyone. The only problem is, sometimes we are not in touch with just how creative we are.

Know this: Your mind, imagination, and ability to create are boundless.

Free the Genie can help you enter into that state of boundlessness or, at the very least, knock on it's door.

5. IDEAS MAY BE A DIME A DOZEN, BUT A SINGLE IDEA CAN BE PRICELESS: One idea. That's it. That's all it takes. One juicy, yummy, out-of-the-box, brilliant, actionable idea. And that is precisely one of the outcomes you can expect from a Free the Genie session -- a way for you to open the doors of grand possibility.

6. IT DOESN'T TAKE A LOT OF TIME: Most struggling innovators and people in transition assume they need to invest a lot of time to crack the code. This is not always true.

How long does it take to start a fire -- not one to burn your house down, but one to warm you on a chilly night? Sometimes, all you need is a spark. Free the Genie provides that spark.

7. IT'S FUN: There's enough density, darkness, and boring Zoom meetings in the world these days. We don't need any more. That's why Free the Genie sessions have been designed to be engaging, inspiring, and fun.

Ever wonder why the words AHA and HAHA are almost spelled the same?

Stop spinning your wheels, procrastinating and defaulting to the "same old, same old." Now's the time for a breakthrough. Now's the time for Free the Genie.

What people are saying about Free the Genie
Our clients
Idea Champions

CONTACT: genie@ideachampions.com

NEED MORE INFO? genie@ideachampions.com

Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 05:38 AM | Comments (0)