Author Archive

CPSI Conference #5

For 2.5 days I am immersed in an intensive Creative Problem Solving program called Springboard. How ironic considering my business entity name! This program adds to the discipline of the process I already use (IMPACT(c)) to help people get ideas out of their heads. Part of the process is to complete an assessment called FourSight where we identify ourselves as Clarifiers, Ideators, Developers, or Implementors and identify our primary, secondary, and tertiary identifiers. I know I'm in the right business because I am an Implementor, Clarifier, and Ideator (primary, secondary, and tertiary). As with any assessment we've learned what our characteristics are, what we need, and how we must interact with people who are otherwise. The application to my clients is that once I identify "what" they are, I can better facilitate their progress through their strengths and help to supplement their weakest areas. The benefit is a better-facilitated Idea Success session with (hopefully) more-targeted results for clients.

CPSI Conference #4

CPSI Expert Forum Session: "Visual Thinking – Drawing Out the Best in Your Brain". Facilitated by Jon Pearson –

"See how to picture your thoughts and double your thinking. Go beyond words to the place from which words spring. Learn simple ways to tap the river of images flowing beneath verbal thought. Explore six levels of imagination. Discover rapid, “off-road” drawing techniques that mimic how your brain actually thinks. Learn how to draw “poorly” well and multiply the ideation power of any group."

If you can't draw, this process is for you! And the more conceptual you are, the better you can be at this creative process. Jon encouraged us to avoid drawing iconic characters (like a heart for "love") to represent how we feel. How we feel, rather than what we're thinking, was the focus of this workshop. We had to draw on paper – with squiggles, lines, circles, and other special shapes – that which we were feeling based on a scenario given to us by Jon. I expected to learn more how to put people's concepts into visuals through symbols, shapes, and very crude figures similar to Dan Roan's "Back of the Napkin" book. Instead we learned to express our hearts through our drawings. Doing so revealed very personal insights and opened discussions that carried into the rest of the evening in small groups at the mix-and-mingle (with a beer or wine libation to help the conversation along).

I surprised myself by volunteering to share my drawing with the class. Our facilitator told us to pick a word that means something to us and then draw how we visualized that word in our hearts. I picked the word "freedom". I drew arrows outward from a circle and shared that that meant I felt freedom in being in business for myself (as opposed to working for a corporate entity). While running a business for myself is not easy by any means and many times stressful, it is a freeing rather than a suffocating stress. My second drawing consisted of arrows inward into a circle. Jon interpreted the drawing as attacks on me but I interpreted it as the freedom to be "all about me". The beauty of drawing conceptually is that discussion ensued as to how this was freedom. I shared that throughout my life as an only offspring I felt a world view of "it's all about me" – not in a negative, entitled way but in a confident, empowering way. Yet people in my life view this as my being selfish because the world is not all about me. Freedom to me is the ability to feel that it's all about me inside, allowing me to be giving to and share with others. Seems contradictory but that's freedom to me. All of this in text doesn't come across the way the drawings did. And that's the beauty of visual thinking.

Applying this to ideas, having clients draw in abstract ways can open deeper conversations about why an idea is important to them to be implemented, and the more heart-centric aspects of their idea details they need to examine for implementation. I need to work on how to facilitate such a tool in order to be effective at using it. But that's the point of my being here at this conference…to gather more tools under my belt from which I can pick and choose as I work with people through individual coaching and group programs. Some tools and techniques I'll adopt; others perhaps not. Knowing they're at my disposal is my valued lesson.

CPSI Conference #3

First lesson of the day: Strategic Play is the name of a company as well as a process for using Legos(TM) to facilitate the creative process. In this class we used a fixed and measured set of Lego(TM) bricks and accessories to learn to work through concepts and communicate them. We experienced sample situations where we put together structures and abstract shapes to represent ideas we had in our heads that using the learning aids (they're not called toys) helped draw out of us. What was fascinating was how 5 of us at the table interpreted one set of directions or one concept given by our instructor 5 different ways.

Progression was the name of the game. We started with simple concepts that we translated by creating simple structures. As each exercise presented an ever-more-complex concept we had to convey, our structures got more complicated. Using these bricks and special pieces provides a kinesthetic and 3D experience that draws out what's in our heads. The real value of the exercises comes with discussing what we conceptualized. The discussion is made easier by referring to the structures we built, with laughter a huge part of the equation. We established ground rules for the session to keep us focused, help us respect each other's processing, and hold us accountable to achieving our goals.

I see how I can apply the tools and process to helping clients and students get their ideas out of their heads. At times someone comes to me with an idea they need to work out and put into action. They have trouble defining the idea and communicating the concepts involving the idea. If I would "distract" them by providing a scenario relating to their idea, then have them create a structure based on their response to the scenario, I then have them explain what and why they created that structure. In the answer comes the idea detail that gets them going and subsequent questioning can bring out more information. Using this tool is a non-threatening way of pulling idea details out and exploring other aspects of their idea.

CPSI Conference #2

Talk about spontaneous creativity! I've experienced a very tip-of-the-iceberg improv experience and I think the ice is broken. Quickly! I've been hugged (and those of you who know me well know that I have a low tolerance for a lot of hugging!) I've identified myself as a super-hero (Speedo…because my foot is heavy on the accelerator). And horror of horrors…I volunteered before knowing what I volunteered for and ended up the only Black person in a foursome with three White guys having to do a rap…and I was one of the worse rappers in the group! What fun.

What did we get from this experience? First – a lot of laughs, which gets the brain unlocked and receptive to new experiences. Second – overcoming fear of a new environment. The horror we feel when faced with the unexpected ("What are they going to ask me to do in front of everyone?") turns out to be overrated. Making a fool of myself in front of everyone early on gives me permission to be more comfortable facing new situations tomorrow ("They've seen me looking silly already; what else have I got to lose?") And finally, I already feel more a part of the overall experience just a few hours after walking in wary and not knowing what to expect. Plus I have a "hug mentor" who has committed to keeping me safe from too many hugs, but is dedicated to having me experience just enough hugs to help me be a part of the group!

http://www.cpsiconference.com/home

CPSI Conference #1

Have you ever been both scared to death and excited about going into a totally new situation that you put yourself into for your own good? That’s how I felt earlier today as I landed in Buffalo NY for the CPSI (Creative Problem Solving Institute) Conference…the 52nd annual one at that. I had no idea something like this has been around for so long. I didn’t know who would be attending; how many people to expect; what they would be like; how I would be accepted; and more. I might seem confident and sure of myself on the outside, yet sometimes I have to overcompensate on the outside to convince the inside.

While I’m in the idea implementation business, I have never been to a conference specifically devoted to creativity, ideas, and making a difference in many aspects of the world. I’m here for my own personal & professional development as well as to make a ton of connections so that I am more effective for my clients and students. The list of presenters and instructors is truly impressive – leaders in academia, business, non-profits, and entrepreneurship. Names like Mary O’Bara-Deveraux, Ph.D (world-reknown futurist & business forecaster); Charles Clough (leader of the “pictures generation”); Tim Hurson (founding partner of ThinkX Intellectual Capital delivering productive thinking programs worldwide). I’ve already met two National Speaker Association speaker colleagues from the New England area whom I’ve not met before, and someone from Argentina as well as Trinidad.

So what am I here to accomplish? (1) To learn some of the science and research behind the processes I lead. I know they work because my clients say they do and I witness their “a-ha” moments with my guidance. But there’s so much more behind the “why they work” and understanding that will help me be more confident about my processes. (2) To establish relationships with thought leaders and facilitators who understand creativity AND systems that help with facilitating the creativity process. We “idea people” can get all the ideas we want. But it helps to have systems and tools to help others with their ideas. Sometimes the “do’ers” are challenged with being teachers because we don’t realize the processes we use for ourselves. I am always working to be a better facilitator and teacher. (3) I envision being one of the facilitators / presenters here one day and am here to learn the lay of the land for doing so.

Tonight there’s an improv mixer for getting to know each other. I’m pushing my envelope the first evening…improv! How terrifying.

http://www.cpsiconference.com/home

“Unleash the Possible!” – @ The CPSI Conference

Day01 of CPSI (Creative Problem Solving Institute) Conference 2013 "Unleash the Possible!". Ice-breaker / mixer session included four of us volunteering for what we had no idea. Since this is a creativity conference, we had to get creative on the spot. Turns out we had to do a rap that had to include 3 specific items – (1) exuberant enthusiasm, (2) the animal giraffe, and (3) the words "stretch your mind". Now that we've looked silly in front of everyone, we have little more to lose the rest of the conference. Great way to step out of our comfort zones and test our creativity muscle. We are, after all, creativity and ideas experts!

Watch the video here

An Elephant Ate My Idea

There is an adage that tackling a big challenge is like eating an elephant…you do it one bite at a time. While I cannot fathom
eating an elephant, I've had to tackle big challenges more times than I can count.

Your big idea might seem like eating that elephant…a lot to tackle all at once. Try tackling your big idea as a series of smaller ideas. Each small idea, once complete, adds up to the big idea over time.

Take that book you've wanted to write. After years of "wanting", your hands are still empty. So chop that 250-page book idea down to 20 12-page chapters or 12 20-page chapters, plus front matter (foreword, table of contents, acknowledgements, and preface) and back matter (bibliography, sources, index, appendix, bio, contact info). Set a goal for yourself to write a chapter every 2 weeks. In six months you have your book! That elephant…err…book will be one great meal that fills you to satisfaction, with pride.

Idea Discovery: Article – Act On Ideas, Regret the Worst Emotion

Make your IMPACT(c) … one idea at a time!

Here's my Idea Discovery for today to help you do just that.

I read this article recently, "Act On Ideas, Regret the Worst Emotion" by Josh Linkner, contributing columnist for the Detroit Free Press and realized how much it aligned with my book "Hey! That's My Idea" and my IMPACT process and I wanted to share it with you. Sometimes you have to take risks when it comes to implementing your idea. If you don't take a chance, someone else might and you wind up losing a golden opportunity. Does this sound like you or someone you know? Don't be the one saying Would've, Could've, Should've. Follow your passion!

Read the article here. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

My goal is to serve you with resources and strategies that help you clarify, organize, and implement your ideas.

Stay connected with me for more Idea Discoveries.

IdeaSuccessNetwork.com

Sylvia Henderson, Your Idea Coach

Author: "Hey, That's MY Idea! How to Communicate and Get Recognized for What You Know and Think"

Idea Discovery: Website – Trend Hunter

Make your IMPACT(c) … one idea at a time!

Here's my Idea Discovery for today to help you do just that.

While surfing the net, I came across this very interesting and innovative website with some social media attributes, Trend Hunter. Trend Hunter touts themselves as the "world's largest, most popular trend community" and has a team of individuals who search the globe for cutting edge trends, news, ideas and pop culture. Trend Hunter has been featured on popular television stations and even has their own "Trend Hunter TV"

You could spend literally hours looking through this site, which you can join using a log-in/password. I think you will really enjoy this site. It may spark your very own TRENDY IDEA! Check out Trend Hunter here.

My goal is to serve you with resources and strategies that help you clarify, organize, and implement your ideas.
Stay connected with me for more Idea Discoveries.
IdeaSuccessNetwork.com
Sylvia Henderson, Your Idea Coach
Author: "Hey, That's MY Idea! How to Communicate and Get Recognized for What You Know and Think"

Idea Discovery: Blog – From Idea to IPO: Where Do Ideas Come From?

You don't always need to "invent" something new to be successful. Sometimes, just improving on an idea that's already successful is all it takes for YOU to be successful. I really enjoyed reading Daniel Newman's (Co-founder and CEO of EC3) blog "From Idea to IPO: Where Do Ideas Come From? published by The Huffington Post.

Once you have that idea in your head and are ready to make it successful and profitable, let me help you with my IMPACT process, where you follow a step by step approach to implementing those terrific ideas.

You can read his blog here. Enjoy and Please share!