I am a huge fan of TED. I’ve never been in person but have watched countless inspirational video’s.  TED is amazing, and, TED is a puppy, a youngster, compared to CPSI.  CPSI is the Creative Problem Solving Institute and it’s the longest running creativity conference in the world, 55 years. If you think you know creativity, think again, and get your…self…to CPSI. It’s coming up in June (21st – 24th in Boston) so still time to register and attend.

They have featured keynote speakers like Dean Kamen (inventor) and Sarah Miller Caldicott (author and grand daughter of Thomas Edison),  but the real power of CPSI is in the cross-pollination that occurs between participants and leaders. It’s hard to say if you learn more in the courses or over beers.  Did I mention it’s also a lot of fun?

CPSI was founded by Alex Osborn the inventor of brainstorming and his work was furthered by the irrepressible genius, Sid Parnes. Together, they created a model for creative problem solving that is called CPS. CPS is one of those not-so-widely-known systems that, well, can create miracles — real innovations and real solutions to complex challenges. CPS has been a well kept secret of the Fortune 100 for many years.

If you are a business person and reject the idea of going to a “creativity” conference, I can only say the following:  a.) Innovation does not happen without creativity, full stop. b.) Creativity can be taught, and if you don’t think so, you just don’t know, and,  c.) your life and career could change, for the better, if you attend the CPSI conference.

Hype? Maybe. But I’m not getting paid to say so, in fact, I’m paying them. I’m leading a team building intensive. I can only tell you that there’s a reason why 200 professional practitioners, volunteers, people at the top of the consulting heap, pay their own way, and work for free at CPSI. They work for free, teaching the 600 odd participants CPS and other creativity and innovation systems, tools, and techniques. MAybe because most of them owe their careers to what they learned at CPSI (and they go to keep learning). I know I do.  I’ve been 24 times in the last 26 years and I learn something profound every time I go.   Write to me if you want to know more,  but the best innovation tip I can give is simply to attend CPSI.  See http://www.cpsiconference.com.

For other perspectives on this thing called CPSI, check out these bloggers in the CPSI blog party/tour:

Jonathan Vehar http://innovationblogsite.typepad.com/newandimprovedinnovation/

Amy Basic http://segami2.blogspot.com

Renee Callahan Hopkins http://www.innosight.com/blog/

Missy Carvin http://filedundermissylaneous.blogspot.com

Maggie Dugan http://maternal-dementia.com