Sandbox International

Training Your Creative Brain (Part One)

Can creativity be taught? There are several schools of thought regarding creative learning, but according to Dr. Robert Epstein out of Harvard, the answer is a resounding yes. Historically it's been tough to overcome the obstacles and make creative learning happen, though. From an early age, the "man" has beaten us down by telling us that the rules are more important than self-expression. You remember how it went: "Little Jimmy, stop drawing outside the lines. You want your mom to hang your picture on the fridge, don't you?" Gosh, I get the sweats just thinking about that pressure. The good news is that there is hope for us all. It's possible to train yourself to stay in peak creative shape. So, stop waiting around for those moments of serendipity to hit you on the head like Newton's apple, and take advantage of these steps to creative growth. According to Epstein's Generativity Theory, the first step you need to take on the road to creative genius involves catching those "aha" moments before they escape your memory. As ideas occur in your brain, write 'em down for Pete's sake. J.K. Rowling wrote her initial notes for Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone on napkins in her local diner. Look at her now. She is richer than the Queen! Capture those fleeting moments of brilliance before they are Lost like Flight 815:

Keep an idea journal by your bed to write creative thoughts from your dreams and other stages of sleep. Artists like Dali found inspiration from overnight imagination.
Carry a sketch book to jot down notes or sketches throughout the day.
Remember your witty repertoire with a digital voice recorder.
Utilize mind mapping software online like FreeMind to record your ideas.
Get a tattoo. Permanent but effective.

Tattoos aside, use tools to capture moments that might help your creative psyche. They will help you make your ideas more real, and help form important connections later on (more to come on connections in Part 3 of this series). Stay tuned for more tips on how to train your brain to be more creative. If you are like me, you need all the help you can get.

The Creative Economy

Phil McKinney recently posted a blog entry on the creative economy, where he discussed the implication that the information age is being replaced by a new era driven by creativity. I think our Sandbox All-Stars would agree that an influential creative entourage is here to stay. The creatively intelligent continually make significant contributions in education, science, business and the arts. Phil posed the question, "How would you define the creative economy and measure its impact?" In my opinion the creative economy encompasses a broad group of professionals, including those in the creative industries, that are making innovative contributions in their respective fields. At Sandbox, we often get feedback from potential idea generators, "But I'm not that creative!" Unable to paint a Picasso? No sweat, that doesn't mean you necessarily lack creativity. A certain level of creative intelligence lies within each one of us...educators, students, mothers, engineers, financial planners, writers, service professionals, and tech geeks alike. The common thread linking the creatively intelligent is the ability to think divergently and forge connections that spark new ideas. These ideas drive measurable results including: groundbreaking patents issued, new-to-the-world products launched, and revolutionary services provided. These measurable results are going to continue to push the limits of the innovation frontier and usher in the newly coined "Creative Economy."

Commoditization: Baaad. Creativity: Gooood.

Have you ever noticed that products that used to be cutting-edge (and really expensive) inevitably seem to evolve into every-day items that compete on price? Think about how novel DVD players were a few years ago. Now, anyone can pick one up at a retail store for well under $100.

Commoditization is a challenge every product seems to face, and nowadays even service industries face the risk of commoditization, as well. Once-novel products, services, and experiences, over time, become copied, reinvented, and repackaged, to the extent that the novelty or innovative aspect loses its power... and thus, the associated price premium.

So how does an organization avoid its offerings becoming commodities? The answer is in creativity and constant innovation. Recently Fortune magazine highlighted this concept in its article Stay Globally Competitive: Be like Google, using Google as an example for leveraging creativity to avoid commoditization. Fortunately, the article offers that creativity (even in an organizational sense) can be learned. That's good, because innovation as an organizational need isn't going anywhere soon.

PS - As a bonus read, check out The Experience Economy for more insights on avoiding commoditization. Happy reading!

Madison Given Creativity and Innovation Nod

Some of us like to think that Madison is the center of the universe. And occasionally those feelings are legit, especially when our favorite big small city is given a national media nod. Fast Company recently named Madison as a Startup Hub in its Fast Cities 2007 issue. Along with fellow Startup Hubs Austin, TX, Tucson, AZ, and London, UK, Madison was nominated for housing companies that are creating change. It's no secret that Madison is making its mark on the innovation map. Last week Jellyfish.com, a local company that created an innovative advertising model around online shopping (not to mention Smack), was acquired by Microsoft. Earlier this year, Madison's Tomotherapy, a company that delivers groundbreaking radiation therapy systems for treating cancer, had the largest IPO in Wisconsin history. Madison was one of 30 urban centers recognized for being an epicenter for creativity and business opportunity. Fast Company identified Madison's thriving biotechnology community, world-renowned stem cell research and top notch tech-transfer program. Add prominent cultural opportunities, a diverse nightlife, a bustling university scene and natural beauty to the mix; it's no surprise that Madison attracts a talented pool of diverse and creative professionals and students. Historically, Madison has been classified as a enterprising city. It ranked #1 in the small-size cities category of Richard Florida's creativity rankings in Rise of the Creative Class. Florida's creativity index was used to develop the Fast City rankings. To learn more about the Fast City rankings and read up on other Creative-Class Meccas and Culture Centers, click here.

Breaking News: Customers Overlooked

In the new article The Customer: An Overlooked Component of the Innovation Process, Arizona State University marketing professor Stephen Brown states that customers are often overlooked in corporate innovation processes. It's hard to believe, I know! However, there are many examples of firms that are on the forefront of co-creation. Dr. Brown cites companies such as Ikea, YouTube, and Wikipedia as examples of organizations that have redefined customer involvement and have successfully engaged customers in developing innovative solutions. Brown further states that organizational innovation is no longer solely the role of internal team members, but instead should include external groups to develop valuable new products and services.