UNLEASHING YOUR CREATIVITY ALVERNO COLLEGE April 26, 2012 CHRISTINE HARRIS

CREATIVITY QUOTES Curiosity is the most powerful thing you own. James Cameron So many of our dreams at first seem impossible, then they seem improbable, and then when we summon the will, they soon become inevitable. Christopher Reeve An essential aspect of creativity is not being afraid to fail. Edwin Land The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt. Sylvia Plath Creativity can be described as letting go of certainties. Gail Sheehy Creativity comes from a conflict of ideas. Donatella Versace Creativity is piercing the mundane to find the marvelous. Bill Moyers

The I C I Continuum Imagination – conceiving of what is not Creativity - applied imagination Innovation – novel or unique creativity If you think up a new way to put foods together you have used your imagination; if you make up a new recipe for those foods you have used your creativity; and if that recipe advances the culinary arts you will have been innovative.

Personal Creativity Is not based on whether or not you can draw, play an instrument, take a photograph, design a new website More simple and profound At its core personal creativity is about – - your willingness and capacity - to explore unfettered - open to energy around you - passion within you - excitement of the unknown around you

STEVE JOBS Creativity is just connecting things. When you ask creative people how they did something, they feel a little guilty because they didn’t really do it – they just saw something. It seemed obvious to them after a while. That’s because they were able to connect experiences they’ve had and synthesize new things.

Believe You ARE Creative Don’t ask ‘How creative am I’ ? Do ask ‘How am I creative’ ?

A CREATIVITY TOOLKIT PERSONAL Daydream – allow time to let your mind wander Think like a child – imagine yourself as a 7 yr old Pretend you’re someone else – look from other shoes Laugh – take time to be silly Take a walk – without electronic devices, physically explore Think in bed – ruminate in your drowsy state Be bold – pretend you have super powers Take a nap – disconnect for a while See a play/concert – get lost in another’s expression Create a wall of images – build your own creative story

A CREATIVITY TOOLKIT, cont. Workplace Disrupt the daily grind – take a new route to work Tape record your ideas – while in your car to work Don’t compete/collaborate – solve a problem with someone with complementary skills Get ahead – stop procrastinating and tackle the big projects Go offsite – give yourself a new space for the old problem Bring in blue – research shows that blue surroundings boost creativity Exercise – break up the day and get the adrenalin going Ask more questions – less assumptions, more ‘how’ & ‘why’

THE POWER OF ONE

The Power of One Never underestimate the power of a small group of committed people to change the world. In fact, it is the only thing that ever has. Margaret Mead

Contact Information Christine Harris Chief Connector Christine Harris Connections Milwaukee, WI