Cameron Meadows looked at the magic kettle in his hands and felt worried. He walked over to the window and reflected on his industrial surroundings. He had always loved beautiful Oxford with its putrid, panicky parks. It was a place…
First, some facts. 70% of us work in open plan offices. However, 60% of us say we’re more creative in private environments. But then, once we’re in these quiet places, 30% of us choose to collaborate. Confused? Here’s more. Open…
Did you know that Steve Jobs learned to dance? He took dance lessons whilst studying at Reed College in Portland, Oregon. (Actually, he’d dropped out of formal study, but he hung around campus and attended classes that interested him.) He…
How many of your workmates have a creative outlet? Do they play bass guitar in a country band? Or bass drum in a pipe band? Are they sculptors or woodworkers? Are they Irish dancers or Swiss yodellers? Are they in an…
Look at this blackboard. What do you see? Can you see the chalk dot? It’s not that difficult, is it? In fact, it’s blindingly obvious. Congratulations. Your sight is great. Do you also see the cigar butt? What about the…
“Nick, I’m going to have to let you go.” Nick isn’t happy. “Letting me go is a mistake.” “What do you mean, a mistake? We’re just not getting the best from you. Your productivity has dropped. Your commitment and passion…
What if you were 75 and had embroidered all your life. Worsening arthritis eventually makes embroidery too painful. You put down your needle, but your creative passion continues to burn fervently. You look for another creative field that will be…
Have you ever run out of ideas? I have. For someone who makes a living from coming up with ideas, coming up with no ideas is a big deal. If you’ve ever been stuck for ideas, what did you do?…
Have you heard the phrase, “She has a mind like a steel trap”? If not, it’s a compliment. It describes someone with the ability to grasp complex ideas quickly. There are two ways to grasp complex and unfamiliar ideas quickly….
In most jobs, you’re not paid to think. Yours might be an exception. It’s not just jobs. Throughout our lives, thinking has rarely been encouraged or rewarded. From a young age, what was rewarded was obedience. Eat your food. Stop…