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Get Smart — Like Einstein!
Dear Readers,
I promised that our next post was to be on ideas on how to foster the creative collaboration that is foundational to innovation in organizations. I also had some other posts lined up for some logical progression.
However, my time will be very limited for the next several weeks because a U.S. government training project for our returning military personnel is calling upon my creative skills. Imagine that! 😉 — Did I mention that I design and deliver training programs?
In the meantime, I will share a couple of articles that I find of interest that tie directly into what we're exploring together in this forum, which, in simple mathematical formulation can be summarized as:
Curiosity + Creativity
x Good Management (Respect + Support)
= GENIUS!
(Yes, I actually made that up on the spot, and math isn't even my strong suit. 😉 )
Look for themes below that tie back to previous posts. Again, it can all tie back to our earlier posts on the 2010 IBM CEO report on best practices for organizations that want to thrive and key points we reviewed from How to Think Like Leonardo da Vinci:
- Einstein never squelched the innate curiosity that we all were born with. He just loved to learn and explore; that was his primary drive.
- He didn't grow up in a family who's main preoccupation in life was looking good and fitting in. Modus operandi such as that does not generally foster original thinking. Integrity does.
- He wasn't afraid to experiment and (gasp!) fail as a means of learning what didn't work, so he could ultimately uncover what did.
- He used "whole brain thinking" with the music; let his mind wander with daydreaming and unrelated things while his subconscious continued to problem solve; he was suspicious of the convergent "single answer" thinking encouraged in many of our schools and organizations; and, I like this one, he believed we could learn about the spiritual realities (or, for those who prefer, God) by paying attention to the world around us. — A very worthwhile pursuit.
Namaste! EnJOY!
How Einstein Got So Smart – 10 Learning Hacks |
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Einstein…the Failure?Before you get the list of Einstein’s learning habits, consider some interesting facts about his early life. These things set the stage for appreciating his educational philosophy a little more.
These things represent just a taste of the irony about his early life. Looking back – in light of his eventually recognized genius – these facts even seem humorous. 10 Things Einstein Did to Get So SmartFrom what I can find, no one has compiled details about how Einstein actually studied. I doubt that his true genius was even observable to the eye anyhow. The real accomplishments went on inside his mind. I suspect his brain looked no different than ours; and genetically, nothing seemed remarkable. So, to benefit from his example, we need to look as much at his character and philosophy about learning.
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After talking with Jennifer Blaine's "Dr. Amir" in the previously posted podcast, it occurred to me that I'd like to explore creativity in various cultural contexts. Such an undertaking may have to evolve over time. In the meantime, a friend following this blog forwarded me photos of these amazing feats of imagination and artistry that capture iconic images from around the world.
These photos remind me that there are so very many things right in front of our eyes that we only see in limited, utilitarian (convergent) fashion — until someone else's mind's eye helps us to see them for some of the other wonderful possibilities that they possess. Even if it sometimes takes an ad agency to remind me of this, in cases such as these, I am just grateful.
To see more of these images: http://www.google.com/search?q=at%26t+hand+ads&hl=en&client=safari&rls=en&prmd=ivns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=DG2cTYuGJ5P1gAem5tH_Bg&ved=0CCAQsAQ&biw=1134&bih=595
To watch a short video about the process: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5AgK6bEd7M
For a break away from talking about creativity, I'm passing along the links below to some wonderful videos on the subject. They're all just 1-2 minutes (time noted in parentheses). They've been grouped into what I see as a natural progression:
The problem with limited, fixed thinking; a look at what inspired creativity and innovation can cause in our world; some delightful applied examples; and a few interesting tips for cultivating your creative thinking, a couple of which I'd not heard before.
I hope you enjoy them as much as I have. As always, please share: with me, with others following this blog, and with friends! Cheers!
The Problem:
- The Creativity Company – Create your own box (:57)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1yYB85ArHE&feature=related
Inspiration:
-
OCAD – What Can Creativity Do (2:53)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdlBJ-q-4JE&feature=related
-
Think different (1:07)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dX9GTUMh490&NR=1
Some examples:
- Think Outside The Box (1:02)
-
Think Outside the Box – (1:29)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJpeavMTVr8&feature=related
A few suggestions:
-
How To Stimulate the Creative Process (1:46)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPC8e-Jk5uw&feature=related
- Adapting to Change & overcoming Fear
- Ambiguity and embracing the Unknown
- Apple and/or Steve Jobs
- Business Reports: 2010 IBM CEO & 2010 BCG
- Changing Cultures to become Innovative
- Collaboration vs. Silos
- Continuous Improvement or Process Improvement
- Creative Arts & Innovation
- Creative Genius among Staff
- Creative Problem Solving
- Creative Thinking Practices & Exercises
- Creativity/Innovation
- Critical Thinking
- Curiosity & Asking Questions
- Divergent vs. Convergent thinking
- Employee Engagement
- Fun and innovation
- Hierarchy vs. Innovation
- How to Think Like Leonardo da Vinci
- Innovation & the Economy
- Innovation in Government
- Innovation in History
- Integrity; Following own drummer
- Langdon Morris
- Leadership & Management Best Practices
- Learning from Mistakes
- Lifelong Learning and innovation
- Mentoring and innovation
- Model Innovative Organizations
- Podcasts on innovation
- Processes and Structures for Innovation
- Redefining Innovation
- Scenario Planning
- Six Sigma and LEAN vs. innovation
- Social Change and Innovation
- Spirituality in Workplace and innovation
- Trust and Respect in Engagement and Innovation
- Types of Innovation
- Weirdness and Creativity
- What-iffing
- Whole Brain Thinking
- YouTube Videos