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Tips: 9 Ways To Be More Creative

Posted: 01/26/2012 2:30 pm

Think about how much our world has changed over the past decade. Innovation has transformed the way we work, live, communicate, and play. The future promises even more change. Innovation might seem to be a force beyond our control, but it doesn't have to be, as I show in my book, "The Little Black Book of Innovation " [Harvard Business Review Press, $25.00]. Innovation - something different that has impact - is a discipline. It can be mastered; it can be managed. Decades of academic research and practical field work have highlighted simple steps that allow anyone to more reliably spot and seize opportunities for innovation.

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While innovation is more practical than many realize, it is still hard work. So it's always worth starting with a simple question: Is it time for innovation? Recent struggles from the U.S. Post Office and Eastman Kodak highlight a paradox of innovation: by the time it becomes clear that you need to change, it is too late to do what is necessary to change. That means starting early. Look for early signs that suggest a looming need for innovation. Run a scenario to assess what might happen if you don't change. Write a premortum - a letter to yourself from five years in the future explaining how you waited too long to innovate. Remember, once it becomes obvious you need to innovate, it's too late.

Flickr photo by radioedit
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Think about how much our world has changed over the past decade. Innovation has transformed the way we work, live, communicate, and play. The future promises even more change. Innovation might seem to...
Think about how much our world has changed over the past decade. Innovation has transformed the way we work, live, communicate, and play. The future promises even more change. Innovation might seem to...
 
 
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11:38 AM on 01/30/2012
I love Apple products (got em all, used them since the mid 80s) but I have to wonder why the man who liked to quote "Great Artists Steal" got upset when Gates and Google and Samsung and Palm stole the ideas he had already stolen.
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Sixtracks
Pleased to Meet Me
10:15 AM on 02/01/2012
It wasn't the theft per se, but the complete lack of style that they exhibited in their adaptation of said theft.
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JayMonaco
09:14 PM on 01/27/2012
Nice! "Ten Vague Suggestions on how to Accelerate the Decline of Western Civilization"! Not quite creativity, but equally as helpful.
03:00 PM on 01/27/2012
As a designer I was prepared to dislike this article, maybe because there is often a lot of junk on here these days, what was it, 10 Amazing Illusion Paintings or something? Awful.

And when you see this topic, especially as a headline, it's usually a miss, but this was very good and very right on!!!

Well done Mr. Anthony!
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jlab
02:55 PM on 01/27/2012
The second picture shows St. Steve the immaculate, torturer of Chinese slaves and anger management dropout.

Clear proof that these tips use a definition of creativity that I despise.
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JayMonaco
09:12 PM on 01/27/2012
F&F
02:42 PM on 01/27/2012
Good tips!
02:40 PM on 01/27/2012
Not what I think of as "creative." (If you're in maerketing or motivational consulting maybe....)
01:36 PM on 01/27/2012
Great tips. Can't wait to own my own business in the next few years
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Tom Weidermeijer
If you're easily offended... try to laugh more : )
01:20 PM on 01/27/2012
1. Don't put all your faith in a mythical being will provide, take care of and has a plan for you. Take action yourself and use your mind to think rather than believe what crap is presented to you.