Author Topic: Work is a four-letter word  (Read 2321 times)

Portia

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Work is a four-letter word
« on: October 05, 2006, 09:50:52 AM »
Well I'd like to talk about work, but I want to procrastinate first :D

Just saw this on MSN UK and wanted to savour it and share. {I made some comments as i read it}

How Can I Be More Creative?

by Barbara Reinhold

One of the best ways to increase your own CQ (Creativity Quotient) {why do they drum up these daft terms? the term in itself is so limiting}, and hence be more productive in your career {why can't I just enjoy my career, why do I have to be more productive?}, is to regress a little and be more like you were as a kid. Did you know, for instance, that on psychological tests of creativity, only 5 percent of people 18 and older registered in the "creative" range? Among 17 year-olds, 10 percent scored "creative." But among 5 year olds, more than 90 percent demonstrated the creativity to suggest innovative ways of looking at situations and the ability to dream up new ideas.

The best news here is that creativity can be taught. In fact, you can boost your own creative capability just by practicing various forms of sideways thinking. Here are 10 "creativity boosters" that corporate creativity trainers teach their clients to help both individuals and work teams stretch their own imaginative powers:

Ask "what if" questions. (What if teachers got paid based on how well their students performed? What if executives got paid based on how well they understood the people who work for them? What if supervisors were elected?)

Daydream whenever you can. Just see what wild ideas you come up and jot them down on note cards. (And keep these cards in a file box of your wild ideas.)

Try your hand at cooking a meal creatively, without any recipes.

Do jigsaw and crossword puzzles.

Watch three-quarters of a movie on video, then turn off the VCR and imagine your own ending.

Interview people in your work group about some of the inventions they'd like to see happen.

Imagine changing places with someone in your office for a day -- what would you get to do differently?

Imagine that you've just won a month-long trip anywhere with the person of your dreams. But you have to choose the place in the next five minutes and leave tomorrow. Where will you go and why?

Go to or rent a foreign language film with a friend, one where neither of you knows the language nor are there subtitles. As you watch the film, share with each other what you think the main characters are probably saying, feeling and thinking, based just on their expressions and body language.

Eat a food you've never tasted for lunch or dinner today. Let the new taste sensations roll around on your tongue and try to imagine a "story" to go with them.

So what's the point of this? The point is to get you out of your accepted, expected and brain-dulling ways of experiencing the world. In order to succeed as grown-up leaders where we work, we must find ways to take ourselves back in time to a long-gone way of seeing and experiencing things afresh. Here's to being five years old again, at least once or twice a day!
_____________________________________

Now there's an interesting job! corporate creativity trainer :? :?:

What I'd really like to do is go and work for Penn & Teller or similar. I just tried to access the TV part of their website and it said nope, sorry, you're not in the US, you can't access this. Unbelievable. Censorship or copyright? i don't know. I know some of it is on youtube though :D

penelope

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Re: Work is a four-letter word
« Reply #1 on: October 05, 2006, 03:07:04 PM »
Acting like a 5 year old really annoys those around me  :lol:

This was refreshing, thanks P

WRITE

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Re: Work is a four-letter word
« Reply #2 on: October 06, 2006, 11:34:40 AM »
work avoidance- that's a good name for the internet. No, I did come on to get some music and send an email but somehow I opened voicelessness and my practical productivity tails off. Ok- structure. 10 minutes messing around then back on focus!

Acting like a 5 year old really annoys those around me 

 :) well five year olds can be pretty obnoxious sometimes! But-

I have found myself just flinging back on the coach or bed lately with absolute delight at something which happened- I remember those carefree moments as a child, when I was watching the clouds, or saw budding trees or heard music.

It was like 'nothing's all bad'. Even my grandfather who was I suspect N and there was something creepy none of us would be in the same roon with him, he gave me tapes of classical music and began my lifelong passion.

I remember 'conducting' the 1812 in my bedroom mirror. I do direct frequently now, but I still never conducted an orchestra in real life. Another dream to realise?!

Ok- back to work!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Portia

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Re: Work is a four-letter word
« Reply #3 on: October 06, 2006, 11:40:08 AM »
Ha! Dang!  I’m avoiding my own thread!!!! :D

Now that’s funny.  8)

Another day, I’ve got to er….do something, somewhere, I’m sure…

((((((((((((((5 yr old playful Pb))))))))) ((((((((((((((conductor Write)))))))))))

<logs off, patter patter, kettle on, stomach looks curiously in to cupboard..>

workin gurl

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Re: Work is a four-letter word
« Reply #4 on: June 10, 2007, 11:10:27 PM »
How do you all get through the really dreadful days with Ns??

Dream?  Imagine you are in a better place?  Imagine them vanishing?  Getting lost?

WRITE

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Re: Work is a four-letter word
« Reply #5 on: June 10, 2007, 11:17:38 PM »
make work play....okay, timely advice from the world procrastination champion....see I haven't even hit 'post' yet....

isittoolate

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Re: Work is a four-letter word
« Reply #6 on: June 10, 2007, 11:21:41 PM »
Ah! What I do now is watch "Are you smarter than a 5th Grader?"  and I find it so much fun.

I know most of the answers and I feel young again
--but tonight I learned there are THREE teaspoons in a tablespoon, no TWO (as I was guessing)

This is a great way to renew what we already learned but most times never think of. I LOVE it!!


teartracks

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Re: Work is a four-letter word
« Reply #7 on: June 10, 2007, 11:22:43 PM »

Oh Portia,

I'd be happy having  a goat farm!  :D]  

tt