There is an argument that spending an hour a day on creativity is nonsense – how can you possibly come up with good ideas to order like that?

Actually, this makes sense. What we’re really talking about is creativity and time pressure.

There are two essential arguments, both true.

First, time pressure is helpful in that it causes the participants to identify problems and force out ideas. It gets the participants minds working at problems subconsciously, pushes them from an original state to a goal state. By forcing participants to generate ideas, you increase the size of the idea pool. And since there is a direct relationship with quantity and quality, you increase the probability of generating good ideas.

Second, incubation has a role to play. Richer ideas result when the problem is allowed to incubate at various cognitive levels, so time should be allowed for the incubation progress to take place. When solutions move from the subconscious to the conscious mind, that is called insight.

Concluding, setting aside one hour a day is a good idea – it is a precursor to the second, incubation phase; it increases the probability that problems will be addressed, ideas will be generated and good ideas will result.

From our research at www.creativity-management.com.

Learn more…

Download the MBA research, learn about this topic at http://www.creativity-management.com/.

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Kal Bishop, MBA

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Download the MBA research, learn about this topic at http://www.creativity-management.com/.

Are you living your dream life now or are you waiting for just
the right time to start? Here’s the good news–you don’t have to
wait and your journey can be as sweet as your destination. A few
months ago one of our clients asked, “Where has the excitement
gone?” He felt that he was just going through the motions day
after day. He talked about all the struggles and sacrifices he
had made to get to where he thought he wanted to go. He felt he
was truly in a rut. He said what he really wanted was something
he could be passionate about again. We suggested that this may
be the perfect time to shift gears and go into a new and
exciting direction. He started to think about what he really
loved to do. He thought about his fondness for horses,
photography, golf, and spending more time with his family. He
came to realize that when you love what you do and do what you
love, there is no rut. Today he works less, accomplishes more in
less time, and has more fun. Take a few minutes now, sit
quietly, and think about a time in your life when you were
really excited about your dream. Is that dream still important
to you? What do you really want in your life? It is important to
believe that change is possible. Visualize your dreams and make
it fun. Start taking action by doing something that puts
excitement back into your day. Think of your many options.
Perhaps all you need to do is to delegate some of the tasks that
you dislike and concentrate on doing the things that you love.
New opportunities will appear. You will begin to live with more
passion and your life will have new meaning and purpose. Is it
time to reinvent yourself? This is the best time to think about
that with the new year approaching. What are you going to do to
move yourself to your dream life? Are you going to find a new
career that inspires you? Will you take action to improve your
fitness and your health? Would you like to have a new or better
relationship with someone? How about your finances? What fun
activities can you weave into your life? Is there a challenge
you have been avoiding that you will now act on? We believe that
people are capable, competent, and resourceful and they have
within them all the tools they need to live their best life.
Remember, “The minute you begin to do what you want to do, it’s
a different kind of life.” -Buckminister Fuller-

My friend called me this morning from her favorite coffee shop. She was taking a break from work. I sensed frustration in her voice. Something clearly was on her mind. After a few minutes of small talk I invited her to tell me what was going on.

She took a deep breath and told me that she was once again, dissatisfied with her job, and for that matter – her life.

This information, or should I say complaint, wasn’t new news. If I were a betting woman, the minute I heard the frustration in her voice, I would have guessed what was going on and where the conversation was headed. We’ve been here before. My friend has been struggling with this issue for years.

There have been many times throughout our years as friends that I’ve been happy to explore options, problem solve, and come up with creative action plans for her to follow. She’s brilliant, self-analyzing, and willing to look at the truth about herself. Always, by the end of our conversations, she’s excited, inspired and motivated to make the necessary life changes and yet, nothing changes. She continuously finds a million good reasons to talk herself out of changing her life.

Why, I wonder to myself, can’t she – and many people like her, find their way out of their own, self imposed paper bag!

My friend is caught in an endless loop of her own brilliant, yet limited thinking. Even when she gets advice or makes a plan to follow, left to her own devices she will ultimately find a way to talk herself out of making the change. She’s like a rat in a labyrinth, twisting her way through the endless corridors of her own often-limited logic, and that is frustrating, both for her, and to watch.

So, why is this? What creates this all too familiar human challenge? The answer’s simple. You can’t see yourself. Sometimes, trying to solve your own problems is like trying to see your own eyes. Try as you might, without a mirror, you’ll never be successful at gazing directly upon the windows of your own soul. The only way to see your own eyes is to look into a reflection.

The reflection I’m talking about in this case is called perspective. Seeking outside perspective, from a professional, not just a friend, can help you deal with and move through your challenges. It’s the way out of the paper bag. It’s the flashlight that provides illumination when the world is dark.

Are you, or someone you know lost inside your own paper bag? Here are some suggestions for taking the first step into the light:

Are you resistant to ask for outside help? Is it simply stubbornness? Unfortunately, some of the cultural view defines us as weak if we ask for help. Challenge this belief. Choose to align with the available wisdom accessible to you.

Is there an underlying issue at the root? Lack of confidence, self-esteem, or fear can be real and debilitating. Consider handling your issue with a mental health professional. You can make all the action plans in the world but, if there is an underlying issue not resolved, you will always wind up back in the old familiar paper bag.

Do you need a good kick in the pants? Making a change is kind of like starting to exercise after you haven’t done it for a while. It’s hard to get started, but once you do, it feels great. Define for yourself the benefit you will receive from handling the problem. Then, use the benefit to create inspiration and incentive to take that first step. This is where a friend can come in…ask them to provide the kick in the pants you need.

I was delighted when my friend called me back later that day and told me she found a therapist and was committed to working through what ever was in her way. I’m proud of her and will be supportive as she takes this first tender step.

She will now have a mirror to reflect back the beauty of her own eyes and live the life she’s always wanted to live. I’m excited for her.

It’s YOUR life…live it completely!

Helaine is a professional coach and writer, who has been featured in numerous publications, including “O” The Oprah Magazine. She helps entrepreneurs and professional women accelerate their professional success, while achieving a more complete and fulfilling personal life. For a free consultation, contact her at 603-357-8546 to discuss how she can help you accelerate your own success. You may also visit her website, http://www.pathofpurpose.com, or email your questions to helaine@pathofpurpose.com.

Videos on the Web are a wonderful way to market your company. For certain there are several other types of marketing approaches around which include article writing to blogging, from public relations to e-mail. Though, nothing says “cool, connection, & creative” like a professional video.

More & more businesses of varying sizes are making video commercials about their offerings. They’re not only posting them on their business websites, but they are adding them to their own blogs. To gain global twenty-four-seven publicity, short format videos are being added to countless video-sharing sites like You Tube and Metacafe. And why not ? it is economical, easy-to-do, and can have a massive difference, in a number of cases, on the traffic it sends to your website.

There are a lot of other reasons why short format videos are an exceptional way to market your organisation.

Online videos benefit from a wide circulation: Videos by their own nature are easy to “package” which makes them ideal to go into an array of different distribution channels. You can post them on your organisations site or blog, otherwise you can put them onto your computer machine and show them time and again at a chosen event. You can add them to hundreds of Web video-sharing social websites. You can burn them onto CDs & give them away or sell them. You can even dispatch them by email.

Short format videos are a fabulous way to communicate. As our knowledge of technology evolves, so do the methods in which individuals like to cooperate with others. Most people are visually oriented meaning that is how they best understand and interact with their world. This makes commercial videos the supreme marketing strategy to talk to today’s clients. Maximise the full potential of the web with strategic internet video marketing from Vidify.

These are just a number of the many reasons why commercial videos might be a valuable way to promote your businesses services. Discover more about this area to see how you might utilise your precious time, finances, and energy to speak with your target marketplace in a pioneering & appealing way.

As a citizen of the United States, I realize that this country, by far, is the greatest place on Earth to live. Sure, we have our problems. What countries don’t? Still, how many places can you achieve the success, enjoy the freedoms, and live the dream that is afforded to each and every one of us on a daily basis? Not many. The question is what is the American dream for you.

The American dream is defined as the faith that through hard work, courage, and determination one can achieve a better life for oneself, usually through financial prosperity.

The American Dream to some has become a question under discussion, and some believe that it has led to an emphasis on material wealth as a measure of success and/or happiness.

Don’t buy into this for one minute. The American dream is simply what it says, a dream. It’s the goals you establish for yourself. The things you want for you, your children and your children’s children.

Now, I certainly haven’t exactly arrived at “financial prosperity” but prosperity comes in many different disguises. Am I successful? Am I happy in my family life? Have I achieved the things I set out to accomplish in life? Is there still time to finish what I’ve started? If the answer is yes to any of these questions, you’re well on your way to realizing your American dream. However, if you find yourself answering no to a few of the questions,knowing that these goals are attainable should keep you motivated keep you dreaming. The reality that you and no one else are your greatest adversary can empower you to rise above all your limitations and short comings to continue to strive for your American dream.

With maturity our motivation changes from things merely to satisfy self. Our commitment to family, career and lasting relationships becomes more important. In other words, your dream today may not be your dream tomorrow. Our goals should be constantly evolving. By doing so, it’s an indication that we’re continually setting new goals striving to reach new heights. The summit of which is your American dream.

So, ask yourself today, “Are you living the American dream?” The only person standing in the way of you not living it….is you.

Roschelle Nelson is the publisher and founder of Wah4life.com. She lives and works at home with her husband and two sons. Visit her website at http://www.wah4life.com or her blog http://www.wah4life.blogspot.com

Listen, Learn & Live – The 3 Ls to Unconventional Success

As you read this, I’d like for you to think of three people that would greatly benefit from this article.

Listen – Who are you listening to? The person that you need to listen to is you. Inside you is your heart’s desire, and I want you to commit today to truly figure out your “Why”. Your Why is the reason that you get out of bed each day, the reason that you continue to build your business despite the obstacles and ultimately your Why is your Dream. Listen to your heart’s desire and it will tell you your Why in life! As I say, you must have FAITH (Find Answers In The Heart). It takes faith to become successful in life and fulfill your Why.

Learn – Are you on a constant and consistent track to increase your knowledge? We’ve all heard that knowledge when properly applied is power, but it’s your decision to build upon your knowledge and create that unstoppable power. We all were made to learn reading, math and language in school and we didn’t just throw our hands up in the air as children and say, “I give up”. So, let me ask you a question. Why are you throwing your hands up at your dreams? That’s right, if you are not learning something new everyday that will assist you in achieving your Why then you are ultimately giving up. I challenge you today to commit to learning and maximize your potential.

Live – This is the last step that will help you achieve “unconventional” success. You see, conventional success means that by the age of sixty-five, 95% of people are dead or dead broke, 4% are barely making it and 1% are wealthy. To me, this is insane! Everyone has a Champion inside them and everyone was born a miracle, but it’s up to that person as an individual to forge forward in life and live as a successful person. This is “unconventional” success, when you make a decision to live like a Champion and achieve massive wealth in all areas of your life despite what the conventional statistics say. You must LIVE your Dream and your Why!

I ask you, “Who are those three people that you were thinking of as you read this article?” If you thought of more than three, that’s fine because they all need to know the importance of Listening, Learning and Living. Forward this article to those people that you thought of and make a difference in the life of someone that you care about today. Now, I challenge you to Listen to your heart’s desire, Learn something new everyday and Live your Dream! You can and will achieve you Why in life!!!

Find Your Why & Fly,
John Di Lemme
www.FindYourWhy.com

John Di Lemme, a Former Clinically Diagnosed Stutterer, now the
World’s Leading Motivational Expert *shocks millions globally*
by exposing the truth they’ve been searching for in order to
achieve monumental life success through his Award Winning Live
Seminars, Power-Packed Training Programs, Live Tele-Classes,
Motivational Club and Weekly E-zine. Take action now and join
tho.usands of others that have used John’s proven methods to
live their life to the Maximum! Visit www.FindYourWhy.com
and discover how you can finally create monumental success
in your life today and achieve all your goals, dreams and desires.

Life’s path holds many dangers. Is it wiser to avoid these pitfalls or to face them head on? Many successes can be traced back to a risk filled decision but the experienced head will side-step calamity and use his energies more productively.

My wife, Marianne recounted an experience she had when eight years old. World War II had devastated much of Munich and concerned relatives had arranged for Marianne and her brother to stay with an Aunt just outside a small town in Bavaria. The local village lay only a mile distant from the farmhouse and was the only source of fresh-baked bread. Marianne’s morning chore was to walk to the village for a dozen fresh rolls and a loaf of black bread.

As she approached a farmhouse on her left, an oversized rooster bulleted out of the barn, intent on doing harm to Marianne. A raucous sound bellowed from his wide stretched beak, wings spread low and feet pumping on a line for Marianne’s throat. Normally an animal loving child, Marianne was now frightened to pass the rooster’s territory for fear of getting her eyes pecked out. A frantic run soon had her out of breath but safely past.

The next farmhouse on her right seemed at first serenely quiet. A few cows munched in the distance and a hen house produced only contented clucks. Suddenly, the largest gander Marianne had ever seen came barreling around the barn. Mean of eye and honking angrily, this goose must have weighed as much as Marianne. Thinking that it was a good thing that the gander was locked safely in the yard, she belatedly noticed that the gate was half way open, presenting a clear path for the raging bird. Now, Marianne wasn’t a scardy-cat by any means, but this mad gander on a rampage scared her enough to get her running again. Thinking herself safe, she turned to check on the gander’s progress, only to be bitten painfully on her ankle by the maddened beast. A renewed effort to get away took her far down the lane to safety.

But fate was not through with Marianne this day. The last house on the lane housed the meanest looking dog Marianne had ever encountered. It stood in the middle of the road at an angle, head averted but the eyes evilly bent toward Marianne. Slowly its mouth opened, lips peeled back to reveal a full set of canines. She stopped in her tracks, afraid to move. A step taken to the right was immediately matched by the mongrel dog which now started growling. The stiffening bristles on its back would do a porcupine proud. Saliva flew as the animal started to bark while stalking ever closer. Marianne kept her hands out in front of her as she slowly backed to the right. Not wanting to test whether its bark was worse than its bite, she sidled past, shaking in fear, gladly giving up all rights to his property.

Leaving the bakery with her rolls, Marianne decided to take the long way back to her Aunt’s farmhouse. Asked if she went to China for the baked goods, Marianne, in a breathless voice told of her near disasters and her decision to take the long, safe way back home.

Retired portrait photographer. Lives in New Jersey with his wife, Marianne and his cat, Sassy.

Are you a super multi-tasker?

You may even be proud of how many things you can do at once!

Unfortunately, there is a down side to all this “productivity”.

Studies are showing us that multi-tasking can have some very negative effects on us and mindfulness is a worthwhile habit to develop.

How much time do you spend not being mindful?

See if you recognize any of these statements from a questionnaire developed at the University of Rochester:

I find it difficult to stay focused on what’s happening in the present. I snack without paying much attention to what I’m doing. It seems I’m “running on automatic” without much awareness of what I’m doing. I tend to walk quickly to get where I’m going without paying attention to what I experience along the way. I find myself listening to someone with one ear and doing something else at the same time. I tend not to notice physical tension or discomfort until they really grab my attention. I rush through activities without being really attentive to them.

If some of these sound familiar, there’s plenty of room for increasing mindfulness in your daily life.

Learning to focus the mind can be a healthful antidote to the stresses and strains of our on-the-go lives.

Being mindful means focusing attention on what you’re experiencing from moment to moment.

It’s quite a challenge to be mindful in our hectic world.

Mindfulness-based approaches have been integrated into the treatment of anxiety, panic attacks, depression, and other behavioral and emotional disorders including binge eating, obsessive- compulsive disorder, and depression relapse.

Studies at University of Wisconsin showed that after mindfulness training, brain wave recordings showed a pattern of activity greater in the left prefrontal cortex that is associated with happiness and optimism.

Mindfulness also influenced the immune system of those in the study. The mindfulness students produced more antibodies than the controls. Source: Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, Health Care, and Society

What can you do to increase your mindfulness?

The Mind/Body Medical Institute suggest that you slow down as you go about everyday activities, doing one thing at a time and bringing your full awareness to both the activity and your experience of it.

Notice the times when your thoughts are creating stress or distracting you from the present moment.

If you are in a stressful moment (perhaps you’re about to speak in public or undergo a medical test), observe your thoughts and emotions and how they affect your body.

Make something that occurs several times during your day, such as answering the phone or buckling your seat belt, a reminder to return to the present and think about what you’re doing and observe yourself doing it.

Being mindful doesn’t mean you’ll never “multi-task”, but you can make multi-tasking a conscious choice.

It doesn’t mean that you’ll never be in a hurry, but at least you will be aware that you are rushing. That expression about taking time to smell the roses has certainly shown itself to be medically sound advice!

Resource: Harvard Medical School Health Watch, Mind/Body Medical Institute

Annually it’s the very same tale. In spite of walking to work, and an infrequent weekend hike, each snowboarding season initiates on those painful first couple of trips when I am left behind in the tracks of younger and healthier skiing buddies.

If you’re out of shape while skiing it is difficult, and can be extremely severe. Skiing down you require some surplus reserves. A tired boarder is more than likely to have injuries and weariness can be a contributing element to incidents, such as falls and rock falls.

There must be a easier manner in which to begin the winter, and a newly published 306 page book by Lidia Flynn, who also penned Alpes Chamonix, looks to tender a solution. While aimed at mountaineers the report is mostly practical to skiing, with its strenuous climbs besides additional games.

Climbing, practicing for top results is adequately detailed and a good read. It is a acceptable comprehensive manual that gathers a lot of info. One may acquire a particular exercise program or improve your existing regime. Granted that it’s calculated for mountaineers, therefore some techniques maybe inapplicable for touring, it’s unquestionably an account to buy if you would like to do some of the long 24 hour or multi day routes.

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