Okay, I’m not the greatest cartoonist. I try. Self expression means doing things you aren’t so good at sometimes, just for the fun of it. So, by posting this drawing I’m giving you permission. Drawing is one of those skills that most people associate with creativity, as in, if I can’t draw I’m not creative.  Well, that’s a myth, but drawing is fun, and a grand form of self expression. If you haven’t read it yet, pick up the classic book on drawing by Betty Edwards, Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain.  I promise you, it will be an eye opener, especially for those of you who repeat the mantra “I can’t draw.”  Yes, you can!

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  I was in Paris over the weekend for a family celebration. While there we made a side trip to the cities primary tourist attraction, the Eiffel Tower.  It was a Sunday morning and we went early to get in line to go up the tower.  My 12 year old step son had never been and was quite excited, and it was fun for Caroline and I, two jaded old-timers, to be with someone getting such a kick out of it.   While we waited in line a funny thing happened — Greenpeace activists somehow unfurled a huge yellow anti-nuke banner. For a few precious moments it time, it was perfectly positioned in the middle of a ring of stars newly

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I just returned from a long weekend in Paris.  I was there doing a keynote at the CREA Universite conference on creativity “fun-damentals.”  I’ve written a book about creative process but it’s clear to me that before a process can be highly effective one must practice the fundamentals.   What are creativity fundamentals?  Simple things really, here is my list from the talk I gave at the conference: Writing things down in a notebook. Keeping lists of ideas. Regular review of your ideas to add onto lists, rule out some, take action on some. Always seeking new stimuli, to be in constant learning mode. An open mind that practices deferral of judgment as a way of life. To be an instigator

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Just became aware of the untimely death of newsman TimRussert.  He fell victim to a heart attack this past Friday, June 13. What a shame, what a loss for journalism and all fair-minded Americans.  He was a voice of reason in the journalistic scene and was respected by both sides in the USA.  Simply because he was honest, well informed, tough, fair, and he asked great questions. Two lessons to learn from his sudden death of a heart attack. One, competency in one area does not mean you aren’t blind in another.  Tim was clearly overweight and at risk, and he knew it. The wise person would have modified his behavior instead of depending on drugs to prevent disease.  Tim

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Okay, maybe a bit of an overstatement. I say it because my “experience” of Starbucks has gone from a “highlight of my day” to one of avoidance. Why do I see Starbucks as dead? Because when I go its dirty, crowded, and often staffed by dizzyheads who don’t leave enough room for milk. And, this hurts the most to say, the coffee itself has slipped. I still find good cups at Starbucks, but not always. Visionary founder Howard Schultz is back at the helm because results have suffered. Awareness is the start of a return to greatness. Apple came back from the doldrums, maybe Starbucks can as well. I’ll never forget my first Starbucks. They opened their first Chicago location

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I recently spoke at the APDF conference in New Orleans and had the opportunity to see the Katrina devastation up close and personal. It’s still a real mess. Entire neighborhoods wrecked, and worse, government regulations, corruption scandals, massive neglect, and general disincentives that are preventing people from rebuilding or investing. The most eerie thing was seeing the fronts of houses marked with spray paint. When the national guard searched for bodies they made coded markings indicating how many dead were inside each house. As I rolled by in a bus I saw people sitting on their porches in front of these marks. As an American I am frankly ashamed at how we have let down the people and the city

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It’s great when you find out something you’ve been preaching for years is, like, actually true. What I’m blogging about is the idea that new habits, new stimulus, is a great way to enhance your creative capacity. Usually I talk about it in connection with the concept of Tolerance for Ambiguity. I advise people to not only tolerate ambiguity but to invite it into their life by always trying new things that “stretch” how you view the world and how you think. I say that this opens doors for ideas to enter your consciousness. I have evidence that what I say is true of course, and, it… turns out I’m not the only one saying this. A great article was

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Quick blog on a topic I often have the urge to rant about, customer service. According to the experts if you want to benefit from positive word of mouth your business has to provide Wow! customer service. Average doesn’t cut it, and bad service actually generates negative word of mouth. I recently bought tickets online to go see Iron Man. I was foaming at the mouth to see this film and was really looking forward to it. I showed up at the Cineworld in High Wycombe and, oops, there was a fire in the theatre (nobody hurt) and I was prevented from even getting within 100 yards. Things happen, I was glad everyone was safe, and so went elsewhere to

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News reports of the vast numbers of children, particularly in the USA, who are receiving anti-psychotic drugs is alarming. The number of kids taking these drugs has doubled in the last five years. I’m not a medical expert but clearly something is wrong here. I believe the reason for the increase in these prescriptions is a combination of not enough parental attention, the need to control naturally energetic children, and a drug industry that is only too ready to provide a solution. I’m sure these drugs have there place, but the numbers are so starkly wacky that this screams inappropriate prescribing. Kids have lots of energy, but what they need is exercise, attention, and avenues for self-expression. Their excess energy

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It’s weird and otherworldly. It’s kinda now, kinda wow, and definitely ground-breaking in the industry. What’s happening is the main character in my business parable has decided to have a real-time existence in Twitter. Call it Flash Fiction, call it a miracle, call it a reason to live, but those who accept his invitation — his name is Jack Huber — will be getting 140 character or less messages from a fictional character who is concerned with creativity, problem solving, photography, and his girl friend Molly Dunne. Just thought everyone should know, it took me by surprise. Don the Idea Guy gave me this idea because, well, that’s what he does. If you want to get Jack’s Messages, let me

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