Creangelism - Spreading The Word Of Creativity
by: Gregg Fraley
This article is a plea for something I call Creangelism, or creative evangelism. Let me explain. I speak at the coolest creativity conferences in the world.* It's incredible fun speaking and being with people who believe in the power of creativity and creative problem solving. Walking around the meetings I am empowered by the lack of judgment, the acceptance of ideas, the acceptance of me, and frankly, the love that I feel coming from everyone. When I return from these conferences re-entry into the real world is sometimes quite a shock. The real world is full of judgment, non-acceptance, ignorance, and downright cruelty. Creativity is a remote thought for the vast majority of people. Everyone is creative, but not everyone uses their creativity, in fact, it's an unopened treasure chest of the most useful resource we all have. The re-entries from creativity conferences to the "real" world got me thinking about who's interested in creativity and who's not. It got me thinking of who needs more creativity and who already has an ample amount. It got me thinking about who reads creativity and innovation books, who reads books about imagination, and who reads books about problem solving. It got me thinking about those people whose most adventurous reading is a romance novel, a comic book, or nothing at all. It occurs to me that the world is divided into two. On one side we have educated people who read books about imagination, creativity, marketing, innovation, etc. They get on well with each other mostly. They have problems, but they have resources, they cope, they conquer, they thrive. Ask them if they are creative and they'll say, oh yeah, sure, that's me. On the other side we have people struggling with everyday things. Things like making enough money to pay the rent and put food on the table. They are either barely coping, or in fact, are failing, and sliding down the ladder into a sea of hopelessness and helplessness. They don't read books about creativity - furthest thing from their mind. Do they need creativity and creative thinking? In the worst possible way! Do they think they are creative? Generally, no. Books about creativity, generally speaking, preach to the choir of those already believing, already empowered. They seek improvement and good on them, but they are polishing silver as opposed to making a fork. They are refining their creative thinking tools and techniques. The people who need to learn creative thinking the most are the ones who are least likely to stumble across it, least likely to hear the word. Creative thinking is the ultimate self-empowerment tool. The sad news is that most creative people keep it to themselves. They don't teach others, don't take the tool to the people who need it most. I call for creative people to be Creangelists, that is, spread the word of how to think more creatively, to the world. Yes, creative thinking can be taught. Ask those who have gotten the training how it has impacted their lives. Like religious evangelists sometimes the message will not be received well, so, we must not preach. We must show people how to think more creatively by helping them solve the challenges of their lives. Not by solving them, but by revealing how to think up their own solutions. It's like a micro loan of ideas. I tried Creangelism with newly released prisoners in Chicago. I mentored several guys and one in particular was open enough to give creative thinking a try. He was about 40 at the time, and had been in prison for 20 years. Life on the outside was scary and new. We met for coffee and we worked through his early serious challenges, finding work, finding decent housing, dealing with relationships, etc. using creative thinking techniques. I believe he learned how to solve his own problems in large part due to these working creative problem solving sessions. Six years later he's a qualified electrician with his own business. He has a specialty of installing big screen televisions and he can't handle all the work he's getting. Right now he's hiring. Of course, it doesn't always work out this way. But by teaching this man how to fish I gave him a tool to feed himself for the rest of his life. So, if you are creative, share your knowledge of creative process with those who need it. Be a Creangelist. * Like the Creative Problem Solving Institute (CPSI), the European Creativity Association (CREA), and the American Creativity Association (ACA)
About The Author
Gregg Fraley is the author of Jack's Notebook, a Business Novel About Creative Problem Solving - the first business fable about deliberate creative problem solving and personal innovation. Fraley is a recognized expert on creativity and innovation who speaks internationally and consults with many Fortune 500 companies on new product development.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Failure or Success ?
Do You See Failure or Success?
by: Heather Dominick
I remember attending a meditation workshop with Mark Epstein, a well-known 'Buddhist psychologist.' He told a story about a meeting he had with Ram Dass, spiritual teacher and author, where Ram Dass had asked Mark Epstein about his work with his patients. As Mark talked about his work, Ram Dass interrupted him and asked, "Do you see them as already healed?" I was so struck by this story. As a coach and healer of businesses, I saw the clarity in this question. So often as solo-service professionals it is easy to focus on our success by looking at ourselves (what we are doing, creating, visualizing, etc.), but the results are incredible when we turn the focus on those that we serve. What do you see when you look at your clients or customers? Do you see failure or success? When I worked as a high school teacher--in moments when my students were working on their own--I would say to myself, "The light in me sees the light in you." I really felt that. I could see my students succeeding long before they could see it or could even venture to believe it. However, I knew as their teacher it was my duty to hold that vision and energy for them and then guide them through the action steps of getting there. It always worked. I have countless high school teaching success stories. I see that same (if not more--I've learned a lot in the past few years) success for the private and Boot Camp clients I work with now. I literally see them as a successful magazine owner, professional organizer, coach, meditation expert, Feng Shui practitioner...and the list goes on. It continues to work. I ask you to begin to apply this to your own business. Here are 3 steps to begin SEEING success in those that you serve. 1)Change the way you look at things and the things you look at change. In Dr. Wayne Dyer's book, The Power of Intention, he sites that, "It turns out that at the tiniest subatomic level, the actual act of observing a particle changes the particle." This is a clear example of energy affecting energy. If I look at you and see your success, then you begin to create more of and be success! How great is that? So when speaking to a prospect, customer, or client, instead of questioning your abilities (wondering if you'll get the sale or joining them in their woes), the most powerful action you can take is to change the way you are looking at the situation. See them as happy, joyful, peaceful, well, successful...and more. You will be effecting a change that will result in more success and abundance for the both of you. (It feels so much better than worry and doubt!) 2)Be constantly giving. The energy of success is constantly giving and the supply is limitless. When you can come from this place in your own business, you begin to attract more into your life. I know when I first heard this, it was hard for me to grasp. Mostly, because I used to come from a place of giving, but have one eye immediately on making sure that I was compensated and at the same time convinced that I wouldn't be. Guess what? I wasn't and I felt a whole lot of resentment at the same time. When I shifted my attention to giving for the sake of the success of those that I was serving and simultaneously confidently took care of what I needed for myself and my business (instead of waiting for someone else to do just do it), there was more success ALL around. 3)Detach from the outcome. When you are able to SEE success, you don't need to be attached to the outcome because you KNOW that it's going to be successful. Whenever you are caught up in accumulating (I have to get this client; I have to sell to this customer), then you lose sight of what your main goal is--to see the success of those that you serve. Find out exactly what's going on for the person that you're speaking to. Ask them and ask yourself, what do they need? The answer to this question is usually multi-layered. (For example, prospects that come to me may need more income from their businesses, but they also need to move through the blocks they've unconsciously set up for themselves that's keeping them from getting more money). So, you then SEE them as getting their needs fully met and begin the process of working with that person, so you can help make it happen. Call To Action: 1) Ask yourself, how do I see my prospects, clients, or customers? Be honest. Just let the answer come. No judgment. It will give you a lot of information. 2) With whatever answer you get now, ask yourself, "How can I improve?" How can I see this situation differently? 3) For one day focus only on those you serve and their success. Write down the difference in how you feel, the results that your clients get, and anything else that pops up.
About The Author
Heather Dominick Ready to move through your own business barriers and blocks while being held in the highest energy or support and success by a powerful group of like-minded entrepreneurs? Yes? Then join the EnergyRICH® Business Boot Camp. Here's where we cover every piece of the inner (the energetical) and the outer (practical) approach to building a successful business.
by: Heather Dominick
I remember attending a meditation workshop with Mark Epstein, a well-known 'Buddhist psychologist.' He told a story about a meeting he had with Ram Dass, spiritual teacher and author, where Ram Dass had asked Mark Epstein about his work with his patients. As Mark talked about his work, Ram Dass interrupted him and asked, "Do you see them as already healed?" I was so struck by this story. As a coach and healer of businesses, I saw the clarity in this question. So often as solo-service professionals it is easy to focus on our success by looking at ourselves (what we are doing, creating, visualizing, etc.), but the results are incredible when we turn the focus on those that we serve. What do you see when you look at your clients or customers? Do you see failure or success? When I worked as a high school teacher--in moments when my students were working on their own--I would say to myself, "The light in me sees the light in you." I really felt that. I could see my students succeeding long before they could see it or could even venture to believe it. However, I knew as their teacher it was my duty to hold that vision and energy for them and then guide them through the action steps of getting there. It always worked. I have countless high school teaching success stories. I see that same (if not more--I've learned a lot in the past few years) success for the private and Boot Camp clients I work with now. I literally see them as a successful magazine owner, professional organizer, coach, meditation expert, Feng Shui practitioner...and the list goes on. It continues to work. I ask you to begin to apply this to your own business. Here are 3 steps to begin SEEING success in those that you serve. 1)Change the way you look at things and the things you look at change. In Dr. Wayne Dyer's book, The Power of Intention, he sites that, "It turns out that at the tiniest subatomic level, the actual act of observing a particle changes the particle." This is a clear example of energy affecting energy. If I look at you and see your success, then you begin to create more of and be success! How great is that? So when speaking to a prospect, customer, or client, instead of questioning your abilities (wondering if you'll get the sale or joining them in their woes), the most powerful action you can take is to change the way you are looking at the situation. See them as happy, joyful, peaceful, well, successful...and more. You will be effecting a change that will result in more success and abundance for the both of you. (It feels so much better than worry and doubt!) 2)Be constantly giving. The energy of success is constantly giving and the supply is limitless. When you can come from this place in your own business, you begin to attract more into your life. I know when I first heard this, it was hard for me to grasp. Mostly, because I used to come from a place of giving, but have one eye immediately on making sure that I was compensated and at the same time convinced that I wouldn't be. Guess what? I wasn't and I felt a whole lot of resentment at the same time. When I shifted my attention to giving for the sake of the success of those that I was serving and simultaneously confidently took care of what I needed for myself and my business (instead of waiting for someone else to do just do it), there was more success ALL around. 3)Detach from the outcome. When you are able to SEE success, you don't need to be attached to the outcome because you KNOW that it's going to be successful. Whenever you are caught up in accumulating (I have to get this client; I have to sell to this customer), then you lose sight of what your main goal is--to see the success of those that you serve. Find out exactly what's going on for the person that you're speaking to. Ask them and ask yourself, what do they need? The answer to this question is usually multi-layered. (For example, prospects that come to me may need more income from their businesses, but they also need to move through the blocks they've unconsciously set up for themselves that's keeping them from getting more money). So, you then SEE them as getting their needs fully met and begin the process of working with that person, so you can help make it happen. Call To Action: 1) Ask yourself, how do I see my prospects, clients, or customers? Be honest. Just let the answer come. No judgment. It will give you a lot of information. 2) With whatever answer you get now, ask yourself, "How can I improve?" How can I see this situation differently? 3) For one day focus only on those you serve and their success. Write down the difference in how you feel, the results that your clients get, and anything else that pops up.
About The Author
Heather Dominick Ready to move through your own business barriers and blocks while being held in the highest energy or support and success by a powerful group of like-minded entrepreneurs? Yes? Then join the EnergyRICH® Business Boot Camp. Here's where we cover every piece of the inner (the energetical) and the outer (practical) approach to building a successful business.
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