Russ Schoen

Do you think looking at the logo of apple computer can make you more creative?

Russ Schoen — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 14:14:31 +0000

Can being exposed to branding make you more creative? If so, which do you think might make you more creative? Exposure to the Apple logo or IBM logo? To find out, check out this short article on branding from the New York Times! Enjoy.

New Teleclass Offered November 3rd, 2008!

Russ Schoen — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 15:04:38 +0000

Perhaps like me, you have gotten caught up in the constant news cycle screaming economic crisis! Well last week I made a choice to focus my energy on what I want and to tap my own creative thinking to create something new and of value. One great result of that choice is that I am now collaborating with Leslie Sann, Living By Design coach extraordinaire in offering a NEW teleClass:

WHAT! SO WHAT. NOW WHAT?

Here’s a description of the teleclass.

"What! So What. Now What?

It’s not the resources you have that make you wealthy but your resourcefulness.

Leslie and Russ will help you mine your inner wealth by harnessing your creativity and ability to innovate. They will assist you create an awareness that who you are is your greatest resource as well as empower you with a plan so you can take action now.

If you’d like to:

- look at what is current in your life

- face your fears and the turbulent times in grounded ways

- connect to your inner resources and resourcefulness

- discover the POWER TOOL that will open you to opportunities that are available right NOW

- learn 5 easy steps to move you from fear to action

- leave the call with a clear future state and an action plan

- and much more . . .

The cost of the call is only $10. There are a limited numbers of lines for this call so sign up soon. If you cannot make the live call please register anyway. You will get access to the MP3 recording for you to listen to anytime. Only those registered will have access to the MP3 recording.

Hope to "see" you on the call!

Do you think creativity can be managed?

Russ Schoen — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 14:28:54 +0000

Do you think creativity can be managed at all? If so, what’s the difference between managing creativity and managing for creativity? Please leave a comment and then check out this month’s Harvard Business Review.

HBD has a brilliant article on just this topic, leading for creativity. Do yourself a favor, take 15-20 min and read this article. The people you work with, (and maybe just maybe the organization you work for or with, will thank you too!) Click here to read the article!

Check out Seth Godin’s blog - “is effort a myth?”

Russ Schoen — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 14:11:17 +0000

A blog entry by Seth Godin caught my attention the other day. He asked a simple question, is effort a myth? Seth then went on to give the following tips for how to spend 120 minutes devoted to effort… worth a read.

"With that forewarning, here’s a bootstrapper’s/marketer’s/entrepreneur’s/fast-rising executive’s effort diet. Go through the list and decide whether or not it’s worth it. Or make up your own diet. Effort is a choice, at least make it on purpose:

1. Delete 120 minutes a day of ’spare time’ from your life. This can include TV, reading the newspaper, commuting, wasting time in social networks and meetings. Up to you.

2. Spend the 120 minutes doing this instead:

Exercise for thirty minutes.
Read relevant non-fiction (trade magazines, journals, business books, blogs, etc.)
Send three thank you notes.
Learn new digital techniques (spreadsheet macros, Firefox shortcuts, productivity tools, graphic design, html coding)
Volunteer.
Blog for five minutes about something you learned.
Give a speech once a month about something you don’t currently know a lot about.
3. Spend at least one weekend day doing absolutely nothing but being with people you love.

4. Only spend money, for one year, on things you absolutely need to get by. Save the rest, relentlessly."

to read the whole blog entry from Seth’s website, click here!

What you can learn about innovation from shoes! Huh?

Russ Schoen — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 17:00:01 +0000

Even in this economy, there are some businesses that thrive… what’s one of the keys? The company’s innovation culture. Check out this story about zappos.com (a shoe company) that was aired recently on nightline and learn a few things that they do really well. Now ask yourself, for your business what lessons you could apply? Happy Viewing!

Stuck on a problem, take a nap!

Russ Schoen — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 16:22:19 +0000

Want a creative breakthrough? Why not be deliberate and tap the power of the nap. According to a recent article in the New York TImes, "people are more creative after sleep, but they don’t know it."

To read the whole article, click here!

Ingenious Thinking Tools now available for purchase!

Russ Schoen — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 11:59:51 +0000

Want to energize your next meeting? Looking for materials to support your ideation sessions and/or your innovation training programs? Then check out the ingenious thinking materials. Available for purchase now. Click on the images below or here to learn more!

What to do when your meetings resemble a Dyson™ Vacuum Cleaner…or

Russ Schoen — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 16:16:51 +0000

How to design meetings that spin out greatness!

“If you had to identify, in one word, the reason why the human race has not achieved, and never will achieve, its full potential, that word would be ‘meetings’.”
– Dave Barry, “Things That It Took Me 50 Years to Learn”

“Meetings are like vacuum cleaners.” – Anon.

Think about the last five meetings you attended. Would you say they were all productive? Engaging? A good use of your time?

Chances are that at least one in three of those meetings was a complete waste of your time and if so, you are not alone.

In survey after survey, the top complaints about unproductive meetings are:

to read the rest of the article I wrote for the newandimproved.com newsletter, click here!

Got a great idea…? want to make the world a better place? Check this out

Russ Schoen — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 13:53:01 +0000

Google just announced a plan to fund great ideas that make a difference in the world to the tune of millions of dollars. Called 10 to the power of 100, its aim is to fund ideas that help the most people on the planet. To read the article about the project on cnn.com click here. To link directly to the google site that explains the project, click here. Do yourself and the world a favor, submit an idea!

Quote for today!

Russ Schoen — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 08:13:54 +0000

Thought is cause: experience is effect. If you don’t like the effects in your life, you have to change the nature of your thinking.

– Mariannne Williamson