Originality Over-rated?

Rich Hopkins posted an article recently on his public speaking blog, "Stand and Deliver" that said "Originality is overrated".

I could not let that statement go unchallenged.

His primary premise is that "there is nothing new under the sun" and that holding yourself to the high standard of "originality" in all your speeches may prevent you from achieving your goals.

He points out that there are plenty of cases where originality is not required and, in fact, repetition is a good thing. I have to agree that not everything has to be 100% original every time... practice means doing the pretty much same thing over and over again so that you get better. But if you are doing it the exact same way every time, does it really get better?

If there is not an original element in each practice... something that you try to make the speech better or improve your efficiency or comfort with the material... aren't you locked into mediocrity at best? Without originality (even in repetitive practice), you won't improve.

I like do Rich's suggestion to not get stuck on 100% originality and would add one key point...

Everyone is an original and every event is unique.

Building on the past is what made our civilization great but the real key is each and every small piece of originality that we bring to all we do.

No, Originality is not overrated. If anything, it is underappreciated since there are so many way to be original... and I would like to thank Rich Hopkins since he found an original way to get me to write this post.

I'm sure no one has ever written a "counter-point" post to another post about originality before... right?

At least not on this blog... today !

Failure... the price of Creativity !

... and Success !

Great post on Creativity...

Over at Zen Habits, they had a post with some good ideas about creativity...

http://zenhabits.net/2009/08/the-little-but-really-useful-guide-to-creativity/

Isn't it "cheating" to use someone else's creative output?

Creativity is not always about your own ideas as much as it is about recognizing the great ideas of others ... and adding your own ideas to make theirs even better !

Think Synergy vs. Scarcity !

The Zen Habits post also started with an interesting quote...

“The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources.” - Albert Einstein

Not sure I agree with Albert on this ... but I like the idea of having sources ... and leveraging them as much as you can !

What are your sources for creativity? When was the last time you recognized someone else's good idea ... and gave it a boost?

d.Mark "Dave" Wheeler

Marshal Sylver PISSED ME OFF !

First, some background...

I attended the Turning Point Seminar and Total Prosperity seminar in Orlando, FL this past week ... both featuring and presented by Marshal Sylver. Marshal is a former Las Vegas Stage Hypnotist who has moved into the self development seminar business with a full range of personal and business development seminars.

His general point of view...

We are all in a trance of some sort or another. We use our own words to program our subconscious minds which drives our actions and, eventually, our results. (I will be posting more about this in the future on this blog.)

How Marshall Sylver PISSED ME OFF !!!!

I was on a lunch break from the Total Prosperity seminar and after eating, I had gone up to my hotel room on the 9th floor of the hotel to relax until the seminar resumed. After chillin' (and checking some emails), I packed up my notepad and headed out of the room to take the elevator back downstairs to the seminar.

I pressed the "down" button and waited. Eventually, one of the 4 elevators chimed and the doors opened. I walked in and who was there ... Marshall Freakin' Sylver ! (And his beautiful fiance, Erica). We were the only people in the elevator and I was a bit surprised to have the opportunity to spend a few fleeting seconds with someone who knew so much about human nature and how the mind works. I think I said "Hi". He certainly knew that I was part of his seminar since I still had my nametag hanging around my neck.

The elevator went down one floor... two floors... and I knew I should say something, but I could not think of the right thing to say. Eventually, I blurted out,"I am really enjoying the seminar." Eventually, the elevator stopped at another floor and someone else got on. I added, "I have not yet signed up for Financial Prosperity [the next seminar in the series focused on building a 8 figure business]". Marshall simply responded, "You will." [And I probably nodded my head since I was planning on signing up but had not figured out the finances yet.]

The elevator gets to the main floor, we all get out and go our separate ways. Marshall goes on to lead the next 2-3 hours of the seminar and I head back to my seat in the 4th row. It wasn't a long walk back to the seminar... but I was already starting to get pissed off for missing this opportunity. I could have told him about my consulting/seminar website, www.TheWorldsMostCreativePerson.com, or my real estate investment company, New Start Home Buyers LLC, but I remained silent.

The seminar started back up and I was a more than just a little disappointed in myself. As the afternoon wore on... I simply got PISSED that I had missed my chance in the elevator.

The Total Prosperity seminar focuses on skills that entrepreneurs need to be successful and that afternoon, in the course of the discussions, one of the other attendees mentioned the importance of "an elevator speech". Oh sure, RUB IT IN !

Opportunity for redemption...

I figured that my only opportunity had past and that it would be unlikely that I would have a chance to give a pitch to Marshall at the seminar or otherwise develop a business relationship with his company. I could not have been more wrong.

On the second day of the seminar, Marshall described a $200K property that he knew of that was selling for $80K and he asked the class if there was anyone who would want to purchase it. Immediately all the hands went up, including mine.

This is precisely the type of investment that New Start Home Buyers LLC is looking for and I knew that I had an advantage over others in the class. I pulled out my neon orange business card that says (in the biggest letters possible), I BUY HOUSES ... CASH !!! I held it up as Marshall explained more about the opportunity. Finally, he asks again... who wants this opportunity? My hand (and card) went up... and this is when it happened...

Can you close the deal today?

Marshall sees that my card says "CASH" and asks, "Can you close on this deal today?" I was taken aback by the question and I instinctively answered, sadly... "No". Marshall's next question was the one that really PISSED ME OFF !!!

He asked, "Is there anyone here who has the financing?" and immediately I realized that I had missed another opportunity! I should have said, "YES" and figured out where to get the money once I had the deal. The room was filled with at least a hundred people who could have given me the money (for a portion of the profits, of course.) Again, I was kicking myself and pissed off that I had missed that opportunity.

Marshal's fault?

As you can see, Marshal really didn't do anything wrong. He simply presented me with chances to get pissed off at myself for missing the opportunities when they were right in front of me... which, in the long run, is probably the best lesson I could take from the seminar.

Prepare for opportunites ... and TAKE THEM when they appear!

So, if you were looking for an article about how Marshall Sylver started a fight or insulted me... well, you will have to keep searching. Aside from pissing myself off, the Turning Point seminar and the Total Prosperity seminar were well worth the investment I made in both time and money.

I can only hope that you give Marshall a chance to piss you off too !

Good luck !

D.Mark "Dave" Wheeler

www.TheWorldsMostCreativePerson.com

Approaches to Creative Outsourcing

Seth Godin, author of Purple Cow: Transform Your Business by Being Remarkable and many other business books, had an interesting post recently about two different ways to outsource creative projects.  The two forms are "blank slate" vs. "inside the box" (although Seth calls them "clean sheet" and "strategic mission").  The "blank slate" refers to a very basic set of instructions to the creative talent and relying on them to come up with something that you like while the "inside the box" refers to a clearly defined set of parameters for the project.

The strategic mission takes more preparation, more discipline and more difficult meetings internally. It involves thinking hard without knowing it when you see it. It's also the act of a mature individual, earning his salary.

The clean sheet of paper is amazing when it works, but involves so much waste, anxiety and pain that I have a hard time recommending it to most people. If you're going to do this, you have an obligation to use what you get, because your choice was hiring this person, not in judging the work you got when you didn't have the insight to give them clear direction in the first place.

What if you could combine the two approaches?

Every project, at some point, is a "blank sheet" and the question is simply when you decide to bring a creative talent into the process.  The sooner you involve the talent, the greater chance you will get an outstanding result.

Why would you get better results?

Because people who wear the label of "creative talent" (whatever that means in your situation) have tools or ways of thinking that they bring to the table which are often outside the realm of "typical business".  They are also a pair of objective eyes who can see your problem in a new light and question some of the basic assumptions that may be causing the problem or, at least, holding you back from achieving an outstanding result.

It's not about the box.

While Seth Godin's blog post kicked off the discussion, his short post didn't really capture the full spectrum of possible working scenarios available when outsourcing creative project work.  Most creative types actually work well when they are given "a box" to work within and the best actually rise to the challenge of finding a creative solution that fits.  On the other side, if creativity is applied to the creation of the box the results can be, in the words of Seth Godin, "amazing".

What's worked for you?

D.Mark Wheeler

Founder,

www.TheWorldsMostCreativePerson.com

Values and the 10-10-10 concept from Suzy Welch

Have you heard about the 10-10-10 idea (as discussed in Suzy Welch's book by the same name)?  

Have you ever had a difficult decision to make and needed some way to put your alternatives into perspective?  To take away some of the confusion from all the options and consequences that were swirling around in your head?

The basic idea of Suzy's 10-10-10 method is to use 3 time horizons as a decision making tool.  

What would be the implications of your decision in 10 minutes (near term), 10 months (mid term) and 10 years (long term)?

If you watch the video of Suzy on the Today show with Matt Lauer (clip is available on Suzy's website), she mentions the importance of understanding your values as part of the 10-10-10 decision process.

"Thinking about those consequences in each of those timeframes is not as powerful if you don't bring your values to it.  How do I want to live?  It is not a device.  It is a way to shape your life and that happens when you bring your values to it."

Do you know what your values are?  Are you living your values?

If you are wondering what your values truly are, click here to learn about a"tool" under development called Value Discovery™ Cards that help you identify values that you are currently living as well as the values that you want in your life (but may not currently have IN your life).   

If you have a good handle on your values... you can use the 10-10-10  method to help you make better decisions !

Creativity all around us...

Did you realize that there are opportunities to boost your creativity all around you?



One aspect of creativity is the ability to see things in a different way and because we often get into a rut where we simply do things the same way over and over again without thinking about them, it is important to break your pattern.



Take your living space for example. Do you always sleep on the same side of the bed? What would it feel like to wake up on the other side of the bed some morning? (Assuming someone is not already there ... although that might be interesting too!)



I noticed this phenomenon when I used one of my guest bathrooms today. I rarely, if ever go in there, but it gave me bit of a shift of perspective and helped me generate this blog post.



I know what you are thinking ... Shift Happens ! (or were you thinking that this post should be flushed?)



Seriously though... when was the last time you opened your eyes to the new experiences all around you? Take a new route to work ... or come home "the long way". Whatever it is, it will help rejuvenate you and... in the end... it will boost your creative energy !



Give it a try !

d.Mark Wheeler

“I took the road less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.”
Robert Frost quotes (American poet, 1874-1963)

Creativity vs. Innovation ... by Hugh Macleod

One of my favorite bloggers about creativity (and marketing) is Hugh Macleod and his recent post explains his current view on the subject...

"Innovative" is an "external" word. It can be measured. It generally talks about things that have been tested properly and found to have worked in the real world. "Creative", however, is more of an "internal" word. It's subjective, it's murkier. It's far harder to measure, it's far harder to define. It's an inward journey, not outward. Which is why a lot of people in business try to keep the word out of their official lexicon, preferring instead more neutral, more externally-focused language like "Value", "Excellence", "Quality" and yes, "Innovation".

The trouble is, of course, that approach doesn't work as well any more. In this globalized, hyper-linked, internet-enabled world, "Boring" has suddenly become a very expensive luxury.

Do you REALLY think Apple is afraid to use the word, "Creative"? Do you REALLY think Steve Jobs goes around his office yakking on endlessly about "Value, Excellence, Quality and Innovation"? No, of course he doesn't. Apple's UTTERLY AMAZING design, business and marketing prowess comes from the UTTERLY AMAZING creative fire in their collective belly, not the other way around.

I want to make limited-edition prints that somehow, even in a small, indirect way, helps make companies and individuals less afraid, and more willing to be CREATIVE, more willing to embrace the CREATIVITY that they already have.
Because economically and spiritually, that is ultimately where our future lies, even if that idea sometimes terrifies us.

Go Hugh !

Here's a good idea...

Seth Godin comes up with lots of great ideas, usually related to marketing, but sometimes he strays into other areas... such as conference calls.

Seth's idea:
Combining a conference call with an online chat room. This helps overcome the problem of multiple people talking over each other on a conference call and not knowing who is speaking.

Click here for Seth's post.

Do you have a great idea to share with the world?

Blogger Hugh Macleod latest thoughts on Creativity

As Hugh says, "You either get it or you don't. You either feel it in your bones, or you don't. There's nothing to explain."

Here is a link to his blog...

http://www.gapingvoid.com/Moveable_Type/archives/004900.html

Top 5 ways to name your company

As any entrepreneur starting out knows, the name you apply to your business is a critical part of the startup process. Sure, you could change the name later, but you are probably going to invest in business cards, signs and a website based on the name you come up with for your company so you would prefer to do it right the first time.

Here are the top 5 ways to come up with name for your new company (in no particular order)....

1) Brainstorm associated words based on the vision you have for your company. This is a good exercise because it may also help you clarify your vision at the same time. Once you have a list of words associated with your vision of the company, you can brainstorm words associated with those words. The key is to not filter yourself prematurely... let the words flow because a poor word may lead you to a better word which might lead you to the perfect name for your company.

1a) Word combinations sometimes expand the possible name choices but try to stick to two word combinations at the most. Multiple words start to sound like a sentence and while that may make it easier to find a matching website name (longer names are less likely to be taken), it will sound less like a company and more like a tagline.

2) Naming Software is available that can help you generate name options. These are usually based on a powerful thesaurus and maybe even a search function to see if names have been taken. Examples include NameRazor, NameBuilder and others.

3) URL searches now include alternatives to your selected terms and they can offer ideas for alternative names. Since you will want to own the "dot com" web address for your company (and probably some of the variations on the main site's name), it is good to do a quick search based on some of the words you came up with in your brainstorming sessions.

4) Umbrella vs. Specific Names sometimes trip up some companies. An umbrella name may sound "grandiose" or give the impression of a larger company than you really are (e.g. Worldwide Plumbing or Global Cleaners) but you should be careful not to confuse your customers, especially if your business will be local. Specific names can also limit you since they tie you into a specific location or product. If you name a shop "Nuts R Us", it may be difficult to expand into other foods or hardware (depending on what types of nuts you are talking about). In general, I tend to lean toward the larger names as long as they give a good impression of the market you are trying to serve.

5) Focus Groups are another way that you can expand the possible name choices. These can be used to test possible names (if you have time) or they can be done informally to expand the brainstorming process. In any case, be aware that you are probably dealing with a very small subset of your customers or potential customers so there is a real chance that they may not represent the feelings of the majority of your customers. (Especially if your family is part of the group.) Be careful with Focus Groups!

In the end, it is your decision and it is one that you will probably have to live with ... or at least pay for.

Nothing says that you can't change the name of your company or create a new company but the effort that is put into getting a great name from the start makes the whole process of building your business that much more enjoyable.

Create a better world !

d.Mark


Additional Resources:
Trizle.com (http://www.trizle.com/topics/684-how-to-name-your-company)
This site also includes ideas for what to do once you have a name for your company.

Positioning: The Battle for Your Mind, 20th Anniversary Edition by Al Ries

Naming the World: And Other Exercises for the Creative Writer

Why is the home page "blank"?

Some people have wondered,

"Why is the home page at www.TheWorldsMostCreativePerson.com
"blank" when you first load it up in your web browser?"

Answer:
The blank page represents one of the greatest challenges for the creative person. Before the first stroke of a pen (or mouse), there are unlimited possibilities and often the number of choices will overwhelm an artist or writer ... until they step back and create an image in their mind.

On the flip side, it is often easier to be creative in situations which are tightly constrained (or at least appear to be constrained). These boundries give the creative person something to push against, overcome or simply ignore on the way to a creative solution.

Are you staring at a blank page? Is your life a blank page?

Create a Better World !

First "Free Sample" Question

Sent on Fri, Apr 3, 2009 at 9:46 PM:

Dear D. Mark,

Please help. I am a creative guy and that is my problem. I have so many ideas that I want to implement but not enough time or money to implement them all.

How do I vet out the ideas to determine which one are worth taking to
the next level?

Thanks so much,

Bewildered in CT

********************************************************

Dear Bewildered,

It is great to hear that you have plenty of ideas! Many people struggle to come up with ideas (or at least ones that they are excited about implementing) so you are lucky that the "faucet of ideas" is turned on for you!

There are a number of ways to "vet out" your ideas and decide which ones are worth taking to the next level.

Potential Value
Some people look at the potential value of each idea and take the one that has the highest potential. This would seem to make sense, but it does not address how the implementation will affect everything else in your life.

Urgency
Everyone has urgent problems and if one of your ideas addresses something urgent, it is tempting to implement it first. While you certainly need to address urgent problems before they become even larger problems, it is important to determine whether the problem is truly urgent or just "urgent because someone else said it was urgent". Many urgent problems, when analyzed a little, are seen as someone else's problem or a problem which will fade away. I assume that you can determine the difference between truly-urgent and urgent-for-someone-else so I will move on to the final key.

Importance
If you have a good sense of value and urgency for each idea, the deciding factor for implementation is each idea's importance towards your life's goals. You probably have a number of goals and a number of ideas in each category which is probably what is making it difficult to decide on a particular idea to implement.

I would suggest doing my Value Discovery Exercise so you have a clear picture of the hierarchy of what is important to you. Decisions are made based on our values and by clearly understanding the order of your values, you will be able to prioritize your ideas and their implementation. The Value Discovery Exercise is also part of my "Vision Development Workshop" which helps participants use their newly identified values to create a strong personal vision for their life. This vision helps keep them focused and on track toward the life they want to achieve.

Additional Resources:
Book: The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Steven Covey.

As soon as they are available, I will be sending you out a set of our Value Discovery Cards as a gift for being the first person to submit a Free Sample request using our new website.

Create a Better World !

d.Mark Wheeler
http://www.theworldsmostcreativeperson.com/

Welcome to The World's Most Creative Blog

"Sounds like someone is a little full of themselves"

That's what some people have said when they read the title of this blog and the accompanying website, http://www.theworldsmostcreativeperson/. But what they don't know is that there is a creative person inside each of us ... if we just had the tools and leverage to bring it out.

It's all about YOU !
That's what this blog is all about... bringing out creativity to solve your problems. Nine times out of ten, you already know the answer to your problem but it takes someone who is more objective to help you realize it.

Free Sample:
Please use the "Free Sample" signup page on http://www.theworldsmostcreativeperson.com/ to submit your questions. If we are able to help you, and you agree to let us publicize it, we may post your example on this blog so others can benefit from the solution as well. If your problem is sensitive, we understand and will treat it appropriately. If your business needs contractual confidentiality, please visit our consulting page at http://www.notewordy.com/TWMCP/Consulting.html.


Medical, Financial and Legal problems...
We are not doctors, lawyers or accountants so all advice should be reviewed with a licensed professional in these areas.

Responsibility:
You are also responsible for the solution to your problem... we can only advise and suggest alternatives. You need to recognize that while we present solutions... the ultimate solution will come from your actions! We can't do it for you!