This is the sixth in a series of 16 daily posts celebrating my 16th anniversary in business with 16 lessons I've learned. Scroll down to read others, or read the introductory post here.
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Creativity and innovation has been something I've done more than dabble in over the past 16 years. I think I have always been interested, but while I was still at Chevron, I had the chance to teach a two day creativity and innovation workshop that I loved. It spurred my thinking, peaked my curiosity and got me on a learning path about creativity and innovation.
I've studied the subject, read about and applied many techniques - both for myself and for our clients. I've taught, wrote and spoken on the subject, and developed some techniques myself.
Through all of this, I've learned some important things. . .
All of us can be creative.
We have the capability at birth. Look at kids. They get a new toy, but play with the box! They have imaginations, ask curious questions (a necessary precursor to creative thought) and aren't afraid to ask those questions or try new things.
You were that kid once. You didn't lose those skills, you lost the behaviors and habits that allowed your creativity to be exposed. It is still inside, ready to be tapped. We just have to allow it to come out - and maybe practice some too (this is where creativity exercises and techniques help us most).
When we allow ourselves to think and be more cretive, good things will happen to us. I highly recommend it, AND . . .
Creativity itself is just part of the game.
As adults, in business or in trying to solve any problem or meet any challenge, fnding cretive ideas and solutions are really important! Ifwe don't create the ideas, we can't possibly try them. If we don't get the more creative approaches into the conversation they can't be used.
So . . .
Creativity is fun, but innovation makes the difference.
We can't get the big innovations without creative ideas and practices, so we must cultivate our creativity. But we can't make creativity the goal (at least in terms of creating success for ourselves and in our organizations). Creativity is a wonderful waystation - and fablously fun and rewarding endeavor, but it isn't the end game.
Because . . .
Innovation is about action.
And I can prove it. Ever had an idea and later you saw that idea being used, or the product on the shelf? Your idea was great, obviously, but it is of no real value (other than the excitement of the initial creative process) unless you take action on the idea - unless you take a risk, and take some action.
Innovation is about action.
So . . .
I chose to talk about innovation as my personal lesson today, because today we are unveiling the third part of our 16th Anniversary celebration. this is the most creative part of the celebration - an online live streaming television show where you can ask me questions, I will share thoughts and ideas, you can listen to special guests and have the chance to learn about 16 surprises I will announce during the show.
This idea was a bit different (and the seed of the idea came from Jenny Pratt), but once we took action on it, we had other ideas, other streams of thought, and it all began to come together.
Today in Illinois the impeachment trial of Gov. Rod Blagojevich begins. Today in Chicago, the Hard Rock Hotel begins a promotion called: "Blagojewhichever You'd Like" package. (you can read all about it here: Hotel Turns Blagojevish into Publicity Scandal.
At some level, this post is about marketing and public relations. But really only on the surface. Just barefully underneath that transluent surface is the fact the the Hard Rock Hotel created something new by looking for opportunities.
Look a little deeper and you see that they not only looked for opportunities, but they looked for them in unique ways and made new connections between a situation and their need (how to book more meetings in a down economy).
This is the essence of creativity. Perhaps as you read this you see a way you can use this current scandal yourself. Muchmore importantly though is looking at the example for what it really is - creativity gained from looking for opportunity, seeing it, and seizing it!
Last week I attended the 2007 Author Pow Wow sponsored by 800-CEO-Read. At the end of the two day event the participants were asked to share a single word that encapsulated their feelings and thoughts about our time together.
Words included: fun, invogorating, energy, relationships, genersoity, memorable, learning, and fattening (that was right on Ben). I chose the word Remarkable. The group chuckled at my choice, but it truly is the best word I could have chosen.
Consider this - a highly creative and fun environment thanks to The Catalyst Ranch in Chicago, over 20 business authors working to hone their craft and learn about the publishing and marketing of books, along with experts and gurus from across the expanse of publishing, as well as the 800-CEO-READ team. This group included:
Jack Covert Melinda Cross - Concepts Content Copy Sally Haldorson Jon Mueller Kate Mytty Joy Panos Stauber - Stauber Design Studio Todd Sattersten Aaron Schleicher Dylan Schleicher Rebecca Schlei
I want to thank everyone involved - the efforts of everyone form the staff at the Ranch, the the 800-CEO-READ team, to the speakers and gurus, to my fellow authors. Each one helped to create this amazing learning experience. All of my expectations for the event were met and surpassed thanks to everyone else.
The lesson here for everyone?
When you have a chance to hang out with and learn from other cool and smart people, make sure you do whatever you have to do to make it happen - it the experience will expand your thoughts, infuse you with energy and change your life if you let it.
When I am interviewed about creativity by master publicist and best selling author Rick Frishman.
You can join this tele-seminar, titled Remarkable Creativity! Enhancing Personal and Group Creativity at no cost, except the cost of your phone call.
At the end of this session you will: - Recognize your creative potential. - Be able to list at least 7 strategies of creative geniuses. - Apply at least 5 new techniques to help you generate more (and more creative) ideas. - Enhance the creativity of your colleagues, staff, clients and business partners. - Leave with an action plan to increase your creativity immediately.
Just call 620 294 4000 at 8 pm Eastern Time tonight (Wednesday Nov 28) and enter 222089# when prompted for a passcode.
I'll try to post some key ideas that come up during this session later tonight or tomorrow.
When I read this quote, I shook my head an said "YES!" Even though no one was around. Buckminster Fuller was a smart guy and this quotation only confirms that fact:
"You never change the existing reality by fighting it. Instead, create a new model that makes the old one obsolete."
-- R. Buckminster Fuller
While resistance isn't a negative thing, only energy to be understood and channelled, this thought takes resistance out of the picture. When we create a new model that is compelling and provides an extremely desirable picture of the future, we bypass resistance build energy quickly.
Don't try to create change - create something so compelling and so new that the old is obsolete.
Unleashing Your Remarkable Potential is Kevin Eikenberry’s guide to helping you have amazing success while developing your professional and personal potential.
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Welcome! This was the home of my blog from March 2004 – November 2009. For my more recent writing to help you become more effective and successful, join me at our new blog – Leadership & Learning with Kevin Eikenberry
Unleashing Your Remarkable Potential is Kevin Eikenberry’s guide to helping you have amazing success while developing your professional and personal potential.
Welcome! This was the home of my blog from March 2004 – November 2009. For my more recent writing to help you become more effective and successful, join me at our new blog – 
