How Can Lateral Thinking and Creativity Transform Your Everyday Problem-Solving?

Dear all,

If we analyze the sources for lateral thinking, one thing that stands out is common sense.

Regards,

Rajat

We Need a Severe Outbreak of Common Sense

by Rick Sidorowicz

I could be taking all this revolutionary stuff too seriously, but it seems that you hear and read more and more of all the admirable intentions and nice rhetoric but see very little of it applied. It might have something to do with some of the extraordinary neurophysiological mechanisms operating in the mosaic of the minds of executives - but then again, it might just be a case of insecure egos and a fear of the unknown. Is it really so complicated? What on earth would we do if it were indeed more simple.

We need a serious outbreak of common sense. What on earth is so complicated and complex about treating people with dignity and respect, providing information so they can make informed and intelligent choices, giving people the tools, resources, and authority to do their jobs, and trusting them to get it done right and on time? And is it really that much of a leap of faith to see that if you treat your employees that way - they will tend to treat their customers that way too?

Is it really that obvious and simple? Anita Roddick, founder of The Body Shop has this to say about her success, "... what's so hot-shit about putting up products that are good and visually exciting and effective and having staff well trained and loving the product?" "It's not extraordinary. It's obvious!" Is it really so simple? Absolutely! We need a severe outbreak of common sense - and perhaps a 'common sense revolution.'

Want to solve your multi-million dollar 'positioning' problem? Ask a group of eight-year-olds what they think of shopping in your store. "Boring," was the response I got and they were right on the money. Mega bucks on media advertising? How about a critique from an eleven-year-old that the ads were quite dumb and not at all believable - not even funny. The creative talents of an agency and $1.2 million later to discover what a bunch of kids from around the corner could have told you in a five-minute conversation. But still, we need focus groups and more research to guide our thinking. (because it's so complicated!)

Where does all this complexity and clutter come from? Are the minds of senior managers and executives just so complex that they can no longer grasp fundamentals - the simple truths - the basics? Is it because it just has to be complex to appear to be important, or astute, or executive? Can simple co-exist with exalted?

The answer must be to simplify and apply... our common sense; to stop strangling ourselves with information, research, statistics, and superfluous jargon. Solving any problem requires stripping away all of the extraneous information - the clutter - and getting to the heart of it - the meat - the fundamentals. And believe it or not, those with less experience in the complexities of the executive suite often have the clearest perspective. So do your customers - (if you asked them) - and your suppliers (if you asked them too.) It's really not all that complicated!

Jack Welch - mega value creator at GE gets to the heart of it in the following quote:

"Insecure managers create complexity. Frightened, nervous managers use thick, convoluted planning books and busy slides filled with everything they've known since childhood. Real leaders don't need clutter. People must have the self-confidence to be clear, precise, to be sure that every person in their organization understands what the business is trying to achieve. But it's not easy. You can't believe how hard it is for people to be simple, how much they fear being simple. They worry that if they're simple, people will think they're simple-minded. In reality, of course, it's just the reverse. Clear, tough-minded people are the most simple."

Thanks Jack.

This is a bit long and needs patience when reading, so please read when you have time.

DISCOVER YOUR CREATIVE MIND

You may have heard that your mind is like an iceberg, with 9/10ths of it below the level that we can see. You may also have heard that most people do not use 90% of their brain. You can learn to explore and use that portion of your mind which is out of view for most people.

The inner part of your mind is a fascinating place. It holds all of your hopes and dreams, your fantasies, and the seed of the future that you will create for yourself. Just as each plant has its foundation in the hidden soil of the earth, so too are your thoughts based on the inner part of yourself.

By learning what the soil is made of and the process of growth that occurs in a plant, a scientist can learn how to develop richer soils and healthier plants. By learning what goes into creating within the inner part of your mind and what the process of growth is for your thoughts, you can learn how to make your thoughts stronger and healthier, and enrich your existence.

As you begin to learn about creation, you will also naturally learn about your responsibility to yourself and in dealing with others. You will learn that only YOU can make the choices that really matter in your life, and to expect others to choose for you is to deny yourself the respect you truly deserve.

THE STRUCTURE OF MIND

Each thing that exists in the natural world has its own unique structure that serves to identify it from all other things. You are not likely to confuse a rabbit with an oak tree, for example, because their structures are so obviously different to your naked eye. Even rocks have different crystalline structures that help the expert tell them apart.

Our greatest advances in science have come about by learning the structure or makeup of things. Even now, tremendous amounts of time and money are being spent on research into the basic structure of sub-atomic particles, in hopes of liberating new secrets about the nature of matter.

The mind itself has a structure that is not immediately apparent to the untrained observer. Learning the structure of the mind is the important first step to really using your creative mind to its fullest potential. Each thing that exists is made of mind. Existence means existence in mind. When you learn how the mind is structured, you can begin to learn the cause and effect of each thing that exists. You will see that what many people call 'psychic’ senses are really just the learned ability to use the creative mind. The mind has three basic divisions. It is important to remember that most of the mind is not physical. The only part of your mind which is physical is the brain. Think of the divisions of your mind as like the layers of an onion.

The three divisions of the mind are the CONSCIOUS, SUBCONSCIOUS, AND SUPER-CONSCIOUS minds.

The outermost division of the mind is the CONSCIOUS mind. This division houses your brain and your emotions and, of course, is the physical division. This is the part of your mind that you use to perform your regular conscious activities. You use your conscious mind most of all when you are concentrating on learning new understandings. As you learn the reasons behind a pattern of thought or activity and practice this understanding over and over again, it gradually becomes a part of your subconscious mind.

For example, remember the first time you drove a car. Remember peering over the steering wheel at the road and constantly turning the steering wheel as the car weaved back and forth down the road? Now, when you get in the car, you may drive all the way to work without a single conscious thought about how to drive. An activity that used to be conscious is now almost entirely performed by the subconscious mind at your command.

Your SUBCONSCIOUS MIND is the second innermost division of the mind. The subconscious mind is like the genie in the lamp of Aladdin. It will perform the most amazing services for you if you know how to ask for them. Some of the things that the subconscious mind can do for you will seem like magic at first until you learn how they are accomplished.

The subconscious mind holds all of your past understood experiences, things that you have learned by practicing them over and over again, until they have literally become a part of your mind. One of the many miracles of the subconscious mind is how it keeps the physical body properly coordinated, adjusting hormone levels, respiration and heartbeat, digestion, and so forth. Your subconscious mind knows more about how to keep your body going than all the doctors in the world put together.

To use your subconscious mind to its fullest advantage, you need to understand how it works. The subconscious mind exists to provide you learning experiences. The subconscious mind responds to pictures. Whatever you place your attention on, whether it is a desire or a fear, your subconscious mind will create the experience for you. The subconscious mind does not have our conscious prejudices about pleasant and unpleasant experiences. It gives us what we ask for, and it assumes we are asking for something when we think about it. Remember, thoughts are things!

To create the things and experiences you desire, you need to learn to make clear mental pictures in your conscious imagination. Each picture serves as a kind of computer program for the subconscious mind. The stronger and clearer the picture, the more accurate your results will be. The subconscious mind is your servant. It is up to you to learn to program your subconscious mind to give you the things you truly desire.

The innermost division of the mind is the SUPERCONSCIOUS MIND. This is the part of the mind that provides the energy and overall direction for the rest of the mind. Your superconscious mind contains the blueprint for your expression as an individual. It is the part of your being which is closest to the Supreme Being, or God.

USING YOUR CREATIVE MIND

Your mind is always creating. In the same sense that your physical body constantly breathes, your mind constantly creates. You may not always be aware of your breathing or control the rate and depth of each breath, but your body continues to breathe from the moment you are born to the end of your physical existence.

In the same way, your mind creates unceasingly. It is the natural function of the mind to create, whether you are awake or asleep. Your subconscious mind has been creating events for you throughout your life. Indeed, nothing can occur in your life without the activity of your subconscious mind causing it to happen. Your subconscious mind will do only what you consciously or unconsciously tell it to do.

The most important thing to remember in using your creative mind is that nothing, I repeat, NOTHING, 'just happens' to you. Each event that occurs in your life has one cause, and that cause is YOU. It is up to you to make sure that the things you really want to happen in your life are happening. It is up to you to be sure that you are creating the things you intend to create.

CREATING WITH IMAGINATION AND WILL

Everything that exists in the physical began as a thought. Take a good look at your physical surroundings. Everything, from this paper you are reading, to the chair on which you sit, began as a thought in mind. Remember, thoughts are things!

To create something you desire, all you need do is imagine it and then begin the necessary activity to bring it into the physical. For example, let's say you want a new car. Imagine exactly the kind of car you want, the color, the make, the style, and the cost. Imagine yourself sitting in the driver's seat, driving down the road. Imagine the joy and satisfaction you get from driving your new car. Use all your senses to experience your new car in your imagination.

The next step is to use your WILL to bring your new car to you. What this means is making the decision to get the kind of car you want and then following through with this decision by going out to look for it. Since you know exactly what you want, your subconscious mind will take you directly to the car you are looking for.

KARMA

In creating with your imagination and will, it is important to remember to create EVENTS. Respect the free will of others, because if you don't, you will not get the results you really desire. Also, you would not like someone else trying to make you do things you do not desire to do. There is a rule of the game called KARMA, which ensures that "as you sow, so shall you reap". The intentions you are using in your creative activity are the same ones you will experience in return. Treat others as you would have them treat you.

BELIEVING

It is important, when creating an event, to practice 'believing'. Again, this is when you must use your will because it is not always easy to 'believe'. Do not be concerned or worried as to 'how' an event will come about. Anxiety can clog up the energy flow between the conscious and subconscious mind.

This is what Jesus meant when he said "Ye must be as little children". Children are natural believers and they have very good imagination skills. To children, anything is possible, until an adult convinces them otherwise. You must use your creative mind as a child. Believe that what you desire will become a reality. In fact, in your imagination, believe that your desire has already entered the physical. Believe that what you want to happen has already happened. In this way, you send a complete picture of the event to your subconscious mind, for the creation process to begin.

It is a good idea, while you are still new at creating what you want, to keep your thoughts and goals to yourself. It may come as a surprise to you, but many people do not want you to be creative. They want the people they know and the things they do to be as predictable as the sunrise in the morning. They would rather live with a predictable pain than take

Thinking like a Genius

http://www.studygs.net/genius.htm

The first and last thing demanded of genius is the love of truth. - Goethe

"Even if you're not a genius, you can use the same strategies as Aristotle and Einstein to harness the power of your creative mind and better manage your future."

The following eight strategies encourage you to think productively, rather than reproductively, in order to arrive at solutions to problems. "These strategies are common to the thinking styles of creative geniuses in science, art, and industry throughout history."

The practice of genius

1. Look at problems in many different ways, and find new perspectives that no one else has taken (or no one else has publicized!)

Leonardo da Vinci believed that, to gain knowledge about the form of a problem, you begin by learning how to restructure it in many different ways. He felt that the first way he looked at a problem was too biased. Often, the problem itself is reconstructed and becomes a new one.

2. Visualize!

When Einstein thought through a problem, he always found it necessary to formulate his subject in as many different ways as possible, including using diagrams. He visualized solutions and believed that words and numbers as such did not play a significant role in his thinking process.

3. Produce! A distinguishing characteristic of genius is productivity.

Thomas Edison held 1,093 patents. He guaranteed productivity by giving himself and his assistants idea quotas. In a study of 2,036 scientists throughout history, Dean Keith Simonton of the University of California at Davis found that the most respected scientists produced not only great works but also many "bad" ones. They weren't afraid to fail or to produce mediocre in order to arrive at excellence.

4. Make novel combinations. Combine, and recombine ideas, images, and thoughts into different combinations no matter how incongruent or unusual.

The laws of heredity on which the modern science of genetics is based came from the Austrian monk Gregor Mendel, who combined mathematics and biology to create a new science.

5. Form relationships; make connections between dissimilar subjects.

Da Vinci forced a relationship between the sound of a bell and a stone hitting water. This enabled him to make the connection that sound travels in waves. Samuel Morse invented relay stations for telegraphic signals when observing relay stations for horses.

6. Think in opposites.

Physicist Niels Bohr believed that if you held opposites together, then you suspend your thought, and your mind moves to a new level. His ability to imagine light as both a particle and a wave led to his conception of the principle of complementarity. Suspending thought (logic) may allow your mind to create a new form.

7. Think metaphorically.

Aristotle considered metaphor a sign of genius and believed that the individual who had the capacity to perceive resemblances between two separate areas of existence and link them together was a person of special gifts.

8. Prepare yourself for chance.

Whenever we attempt to do something and fail, we end up doing something else. That is the first principle of creative accident. Failure can be productive only if we do not focus on it as an unproductive result. Instead: analyze the process, its components, and how you can change them, to arrive at other results. Do not ask the question "Why have I failed?", but rather "What have I done?"

Michael Michalko is the author of Thinkertoys (A Handbook of Business Creativity), ThinkPak (A Brainstorming Card Set), and Cracking Creativity: The Secrets of Creative Geniuses (Ten Speed Press, 1998).

DO YOU THINK IT CANNOT BE DONE? - NEVER GIVE UP!



All of us at one time or another uttered this statement. “It cannot be done.?Let us talk about a person who heard this statement all through his life but he always believed that one could do anything if one is determined and focused to the task.

It was the year 1883, an engineer John Roebling got an idea. He wanted to build a bridge that could connect New York with the Long Island. Now, you ask yourself what would be the reaction that one would have to hear if you try to do something new. Yes, that is what our engineer heard.

* This is an impossible task

* It can't be done

* It is not practical

* It has never been done before

* You would do well to forget it

Engineers all around the world said that this was an impossible task and he would do well to forget it. But he did not and could not forget his idea. He shared his idea with his son, Washington who was also an engineer. And he was successful in convincing his son (after a lot of discussion and persuasion) that the bridge could be constructed. Now both of them sat down and started finalizing the project as to how this project could be completed.

Crew was hired and the process of realization of dream was started. Just after a few months an accident on the site killed John Roebling and left Washington crippled for life. He could walk and he could talk or move. Now, what would be the reactions of people after this?

* We told him so!

* Crazy dreams always end up like this

* How foolish to go on wild goose chase

* See what he has brought his life to

And after all only the father son duo knew how the bridge could be built and that is why all felt that the bridge project should be scraped. There was only one man who didn't feel so. Yes, Washington! He had a dream and he was going to realize it. As he lay on his bed in the hospital, he could see the sky and the trees outside. And he felt alive again. He could just move one finger and that is what he used to maximum impact.

He developed a code of communication with that one finger with his wife. It took a long time but at last he succeeded in developing this unique way of communication. He told her to call the engineers and used this way of communication with his wife to communicate to the engineers what needs to be done. The reactions that he got were as expected.

* He is again doing a foolishness

* He has still not learn from his mistakes

* When he falls again, he would understand

But as usual our Washington didn't listen to anyone and the work started. It took 13 years of continuous tapping of fingers by Washington to his wife till the bridge was finally completed. And yes, we call it the Brooklyn Bridge!

Successful people are not the ones who face the least trouble in lives. Successful people are the ones who know how to come out of hopeless situation in triumph in the most adverse situations. And as the saying goes, “Winners never quit and quitters never win!?You tell me how many excuses do you make not to go after your dreams?

Cheers,

Rajat

Creative Visualization

From Imagination To Reality - Attracting Success With Mind Power

by Remez Sasson

Creative visualization is the ability to use the imagination, see images in our minds, and make them come true. If we add concentration and feelings, it becomes a great creative power that makes things happen. Used in the right way, visualization can bring changes into our lives. The thought is the matrix or blueprint; the feelings provide the energy, the "electricity."

Sounds weird? Not at all!

This is the power of creative visualization. This is the power that can alter our environment and circumstances, cause events to happen, attract money, possessions, work, and love, change habits, and improve health. It is a great mind power. It is the power behind every success.

Imagine you have a genie at your disposal!

By visualizing an event, a situation, or an object, such as a car, a house, furniture, etc., we attract it to us. We see in our imagination what we want, and it happens. It is like daydreaming. It resembles magic, though actually, there is no magic here. It is the natural process of the power of thoughts.

Some people use this power in an unconscious manner in their everyday affairs. They are not aware that they are using some sort of power. They visualize their goals in a positive way and attain success. All successful people in all fields use it consciously or unconsciously.

Creative Visualization and the Power of Thoughts

How does it work and why? Thought is a power and has its effect on the material world. Thoughts, if powerful enough, travel from one mind to another. If we keep thinking the same thought, people in our environment perceive it and act on it, furthering, usually in an unconscious manner, the materialization of our desires.

When I have to confront some unpleasant situation, I visualize myself handling the matter easily and comfortably. I see the involved people as cooperative and friendly. And you know what? They are pleasant, and they want to help without even being asked. It is so because people are responsive to our thoughts, feelings, and behavior and react accordingly.

If you are naturally positive, then the way you approach and handle situations is such that attracts positive results. On the other hand, if you are fearful and negative, then you expect negative results and behave, look, and talk accordingly. Then you reap troubles.

We are part of the Omnipotent Power that has created the universe; therefore we participate in the process of creation. Bearing this thought in mind, there is no wonder that thoughts materialize. Stop a moment and think. You are part of the great Universal Power! Whatever concentrated thought you entertain long enough in your mind tends to materialize.

Thought is energy. By having certain thoughts in our minds and by concentrating on them and putting emotional energy into them, they become powerful. These thoughts induce some kind of pressure on the energy fields around us, causing them to move and act. The thoughts change the balance of energy around us, and in a natural way bring changes in the environment in accordance with them.

There is another explanation why visualization brings results. It may come as a surprise to most, but the theory of "Maya" - Illusion, which comes from the eastern philosophies, provides the explanation.

According to the Indian philosophy "Advaita-Vedanta" which in the West is called "Nonduality," the world is just an illusion and is not real. Thoughts arise which "create" our world. We constantly think and rethink our habitual thoughts, thus creating and recreating the same kind of events or circumstances.

This process reinforces our thoughts, which help to preserve the same "world" we believe we live in. By changing the tape or film, that is by looking at a different scenario - different thoughts, we create a different "reality." For us, it is a reality, though in fact, it is just a dream we call "reality."

By changing our thoughts and mental pictures, we change our "Reality"; we change the "illusory" world we believe we live in. We are not employing magic or supernatural powers when creating and changing our life and circumstances. It is not something "Material" that we change; we only change our thoughts, which are the world.

It is like dreaming a very realistic dream and then switching to a different dream. We are not awakening, just changing the dream. This explanation has to be read and reread and pondered upon in order to understand its full meaning. The other articles on this website may help you understand the philosophy involved here.

Rest assured that you can employ the power of visualization, even if you do not accept what you have just read or it seems too complicated or far-fetched. Yet, understanding and accepting the above, at least in theory, will help you achieve results faster.

So why not change your dreams to something more satisfying?

For example, you are living in a small apartment and need a larger one. Instead of brooding about your fate, that you haven't enough money, and that you have to continue living in a small apartment, change your thoughts. That is all that is necessary.

See yourself in your imagination living in the apartment of your dreams. It does not matter if you haven't enough money. Just imagine yourself living in your "new" apartment and see it as a reality. The opportunity or way will present itself. The power of thoughts will work for you too.

Many books and articles have been written on the subject, and each new book or article opens to the reader a new viewpoint. Each book may mention something that the other did not. In order to understand the subject fully, it is advisable to read several books.

Overcoming Limited Thinking

Creative visualization can do great things, but for every person, there are some areas that he may find hard to change, at least in the immediate future. This is a great power, but there are some limits to using it. These limits are within us, not in the power.

Very often we limit ourselves and cannot look beyond a limited circle. We limit ourselves by our thoughts and beliefs. The wider we can look at the world and ourselves, the greater are our possibilities. Any limits are within our minds, and it is up to us to rise above them.

It may take some time until things start to change. Simple, small demonstrations of this power may come fast, but bigger results may need a longer time to happen.

The time and effort put forth in this study are really worthwhile. Have faith and patience, and results will start appearing.

A Personal Example of Creative Visualization

Sometimes what we visualize materializes fast, at other times it may take longer. There are various reasons why this happens.

Years ago, before I got married, I decided to visualize a date. I imagined myself sitting in a restaurant and talking with a girl. I concentrated on this image several times during the day, several minutes each time.

The next day, a girl working in the same place where I worked asked me if I could come to her desk. I hardly ever spoke with her, maybe just saying good morning. I went to her desk, and she asked me whether I had a girlfriend. When she heard that I did not have one, she proposed to introduce me to one of her girlfriends.

She gave me the phone number of the girl, whom I called the same day, asking her to meet me. We met and sat in a restaurant, exactly as I visualized. All this happened within about 24 hours. Surprising, isn't it? This power can sometimes work real fast.

Oh, you are curious to know what happened with that girl? Well, nothing, because she was not the type of girl I was looking for. I rather used the power of visualization haphazardly, not thinking about the qualities, looks, etc. I just thought about meeting a girl, a wish that came true.

Guidelines for Creative Visualization:

Define your goal.

Think, meditate, and listen to your intuition before you start.

Ascertain that only good will result from your visualization.

Sit alone in a quiet place, where you are not disturbed.

Relax your body.

Breathe rhythmically and deeply several times.

Visualize the object or situation that you desire.

See in your mind a clear and detailed mental image of what you desire to get or accomplish.

Use in your imagination all the five senses, such as sight, hearing, touch, etc.

Put feelings and emotions into what you are doing.

Practice at least twice a day, about 10 minutes each time.

Persevere in your action until you succeed.

Entertain only positive thoughts, feelings, and words.

Always stay positive.

During the day, when negative thoughts and doubts arise, replace them with good positive thoughts. As each negative thought comes, look at a positive one instead.

Keep an open mind so that when the opportunity to materialize your desire arises, you will recognize it and take advantage of it.

After concluding your visualization session, say with concentration and earnestness: "Let everything happen in a harmonious and favorable way for all involved."

Use the power of imagination only for your and others' good. Never try to use it to get something that belongs to others. Never try to hurt with this power. You may succeed in this way for a while, but you will have to pay a big price for these kinds of actions.

Nature always aspires to balance. What we do to others, sooner or later returns to us. If we do good deeds, this affects our lives favorably. If we inflict harm, we receive it back. It is not that some outer power punishes us. The retribution is already within our actions. It is a cosmic law. It is like a boomerang; what we do returns back to us.

It is important to acknowledge that most of the time things happen in a natural way. If you

Ideal workplace: An excellent place for Group Creativity & Innovation.

A conducive work environment means happy staff and productivity.

Winning Ways: By DATIN T.D. AMPIKAIPAKAN

What is your idea of a happy workplace? And what would the best workplace be like?

I raised this question at one of my workshops. A participant had asked about the importance of the workplace environment on the staff's attitudes. Is there a correlation?

One of the participants had read that Google (in the United States) has become the No. 1 place to work in. We also discussed what qualities make that company so special. If you see the facilities they offer to their staff, you will understand why no employee at Google wants to go home!

The following are some of the beliefs behind what Google does and how they treat their employees:

- Life is beautiful
- Lend a helping hand
- Appreciation is the best motivation
- Work and play are not mutually exclusive
- We love our employees and we want them to know it
- Good company everywhere you look
- Innovation is our bloodline
- Uniting the world, one user at a time
- Boldly go where no one has gone before
- There is such a thing as a free lunch after all

Based on the above, Google has created optimal working conditions for its staff. On top of their standard package of fringe benefits, the employees get free gourmet meals (there are 11 gourmet cafeterias). There are also snack rooms (filled with cereals, confectionery, nuts, fresh fruit, and drinks), gyms, laundry rooms, massage rooms, a hair salon, and a car wash center. In addition, there are commuting buses, an on-site doctor and dentist, a choice of medical programs, and company-matched stock options. Employees are entitled to maternity and paternity leave. It is just about everything a hardworking employee would want.

Above all, the leaders at Google have found the "magic" formula: treating people with respect and supporting their creativity. Of course, they hire the best people - creative, principled, and hardworking individuals.

At my workshop, there was consensus that the work environment does create positive - or negative - working relationships which, in turn, affect people's attitudes. We then discussed how Malaysians viewed such a work environment. What if an organization provided such benefits and expected staff to work independently? Will there be real productivity - or abuse? Here's what some of the participants said:

- "I'm sure no one will be working then! Our colleagues will be eating all the time. As it is, they are MIA (missing in action). With no control, they will disappear altogether."
- "The system will be abused! Why do you think there is a clocking-in system in our offices? We are not disciplined and tend to take advantage of the system."
- "I think we underestimate our employees. The reason they develop bad attitudes is that they don't get respect from the bosses. The shabby treatment makes them unproductive. We are not appreciated for our hard work. So why should we break our backs doing our work?"
- "If my company took care of me this way, I would not want to go home, either. If my company gave me so much, then I'd work hard since they've put their trust in my ability. Sure, I will give my best."
- "What are we working for? A good life, good benefits at work, respect and regard for our effort, and appreciation for the work we do. I will be the best."
- "Our employees think the bosses owe them a living. They do not appreciate what the company does for them. When you give them too much, they'll begin to think that it is their right and not a privilege. Even basic privileges that are in place are being abused by the staff. Imagine what will happen if so much is given. The company will go bankrupt because the cost will be high and productivity will never rise."
- "This will work if we have really stringent hiring criteria and the 'hire and fire system.' Then there won't be any abuse because people know that if they do not perform, they will have to leave."
- "Imagine having fun at work! Our bosses do not understand that when we enjoy what we do, there is no stress. But some offices are like a mortuary - silent and dead!"
- "My boss has created a department that's a bit like Google. We all have breakfast together every day and he pays. We come to work an hour before the office starts and discuss not only issues in the office but also our personal lives. We all communicate well with one another. Our staff meetings are great! We come prepared and we make decisions collectively. If we disagree with the boss, it's OK; many times, our decisions have become his. I am lucky that my boss is great!"
- "In my company, all meals are provided. As the boss, I have people who love to work here. There is camaraderie, mutual respect, and understanding among the staff, and they take care to maintain and enhance the image we have created. My hiring criteria are stringent. I look for the best."

It takes a very special kind of organization to create a work environment that is conducive and challenging for the employee. Employees need to grow and thrive. Having a job is not enough. Does the employee have a chance to better himself/herself? Has the employer discovered the staff's abilities and developed them? Are there opportunities for employees to learn and progress? Is there fair play at work? Do you feel that the company nurtures and trusts you to deliver the product or service?

There's no ego in looking for the best practices to build credibility. But then when we have bosses who think they know it all, how will we ever improve?

Dear all,

I am sorry for not posting articles on this subject for quite some time, and today I received quite a few private messages to share knowledge on Lateral Thinking. One of the important tools is OPTICAL ILLUSIONS.

An optical illusion is always characterized by visually perceived images that, at least in common sense terms, are deceptive or misleading. Therefore, the information gathered by the eye is processed by the brain to give, on the face of it, a percept that does not tally with a physical measurement of the stimulus source. A conventional assumption is that there are physiological illusions that occur naturally and cognitive illusions that can be demonstrated by specific visual tricks that say something more basic about how human perceptual systems work.

Look at the attachment and tell me what you see!

Cheers,
Rajat

Hi all,

Look forward to your response to the quiz "Five Gallons."

You are mixing cement, and the recipe calls for five gallons of water. You have a garden hose providing you with all the water you need. The issue is that you only have a four-gallon bucket and a seven-gallon bucket, neither of which has graduation marks.

Find a method to measure five gallons.

Chak De India!

Rajat

Dear all,

I would like to share this inspiring article which appeared on rediff.com: http://www.rediff.com/money/2007/oct/03inter.htm

Best Regards,
Rajat

'If you don't innovate, someone else will'
Govindkrishna Seshan in Mumbai
October 03, 2007

India is the 11th country on his agenda this year -- and the diary's still open. But Robert Tucker doesn't find the constant travel exhausting. Instead, the corporate innovation guru uses the opportunity to study how innovation is being practiced in different markets and then offers the examples as case studies.

A former professor at the University of California, Los Angeles, and now the president of California-based consulting firm The Innovation Resource, Tucker is the author of several bestselling books on the subject, including Winning the Innovation Game, Managing the Future, and Driving Growth Through Innovation.

More here: http://www.rediff.com/money/2007/oct/03inter.htm

Hi Folks,

Came across an interesting article on The Square Watermelon in HR e-groups.

Courtsey: Veda Srinivasan Suraj

Infosys Leadership Institute, Mysore

Contact: 91 821 4070855, Mobile 91 99455 15409

The Square Watermelon

Japanese grocery stores had a problem. They are much smaller than their US counterparts and therefore don't have room to waste. Watermelons, big and round, wasted a lot of space. Most people would simply tell the grocery stores that watermelons grow round and there is nothing that can be done about it. That is how I would assume the vast majority of people would respond. But some Japanese farmers took a different approach. If the supermarkets wanted a square watermelon, they asked themselves, "How can we provide one?" It wasn't long before they invented the square watermelon.

The solution to the problem of round watermelons wasn't nearly as difficult to solve for those who didn't assume the problem was impossible to begin with and simply asked how it could be done. It turns out that all you need to do is place them into a square box when they are growing and the watermelon will take on the shape of the box.

This made the grocery stores happy and had the added benefit that it was much easier and cost-effective to ship the watermelons. Consumers also loved them because they took less space in their refrigerators which are much smaller than those in the US meaning that the growers could charge a premium price for them.

What does this have to do with anything besides square watermelons? There are a few lessons that you can take away from this story which help you in all parts of your life. Here are a few of them:

Don't Assume: The major problem was that most people had always seen round watermelons so they automatically assumed that square watermelons were impossible before even thinking about the question. Things that you have been doing a certain way your entire life have taken on the aura of the round watermelon and you likely don't even take the time to consider if there is another way to do it. Breaking yourself from assuming this way can greatly improve your overall life as you are constantly looking for new and better ways to do things. This was one of the most difficult things for me to do because most of the assumptions I make, I don't even realize that I'm making them. They seem perfectly logical on the surface, so I have to constantly make an effort to question them.

Question habits: The best way to tackle these assumptions is to question your habits. If you can make an effort to question the way you do things on a consistent basis, you will find that you can continually improve the way that you live your life. Forming habits when they have been well thought out is usually a positive thing, but most of us have adopted our habits from various people and places without even thinking about them. I have changed a large number of habits that I have had after taking the time to question them and continue to do so. Some of them I have no idea where they came from while others I can trace to certain people or instances in my life. It's a never-ending process, but by doing this, you can consistently strive toward making all aspects of your life more enjoyable instead of defaulting to what you have now.

Be creative: When faced with a problem, be creative in looking for a solution. This often requires thinking outside the box. Most people who viewed this question likely thought they were being asked how they could genetically alter watermelons to grow square which would be a much more difficult process to accomplish. By looking at the question from an alternative perspective, however, the solution was quite simple. Being creative and looking at things in different ways in all portions of your life will help you find solutions to many problems where others can't see them. I am not a creative person, but I've found that the more that you look at things from different perspectives, the more creative I have become. It's a learned art and builds upon itself.

Look for a better way: The square watermelon question was simply seeking a better and more convenient way to do something. The stores had flagged a problem they were having and asked if a solution was possible. It's impossible to find a better way if you are never asking the question in the first place. I try to ask if there is a better way of doing the things that I do and I constantly write down the things I wish I could do (but currently can't) since these are usually hints about steps I need to change. Get into the habit of asking yourself, "Is there a better way I could be doing this?" and you will find there often is.

Impossibilities often aren't: If you begin with the notion that something is impossible, then it obviously will be for you. If, on the other hand, you decide to see if something is possible or not, you will find out through trial and error. Many of the lessons above are what I used to create my online income. As I've said many times, it's not easy, but it's certainly not impossible. Even for those of us that are not A-List Bloggers, creating a full-time online income is quite possible as I have shown.

Take away the lessons from the square watermelons and apply them to all areas in your life (work, finances, relationships, etc.) and you will find that by consistently applying them, you will constantly be improving all aspects of your life.

Regards,

Rajat

Dear all,

Recently my boss spoke about the theory of destructive creativity by Joseph Schumpeter. Indeed it is the model which is followed by the MNCs from US in their worldwide strategies in Business.

It is an interesting read..

Companies that once revolutionized and dominated new industries – for example, Xerox in copiers or Polaroid in instant photography – have seen their profits fall and their dominance vanish as rivals launched improved designs or cut manufacturing costs. Wal-Mart is a recent example of a company that has achieved a strong position in many markets, through its use of new inventory-management, marketing, and personnel-management techniques, using its resulting lower prices to compete with older or smaller companies in the offering of retail consumer products. Just as older behemoths perceived to be juggernauts by their contemporaries (e.g., Montgomery Ward, Kmart, Sears) were eventually undone by nimbler and more innovative competitors, Wal-Mart faces the same threat. Just as the cassette tape replaced the 8-track, only to be replaced in turn by the compact disc, itself being undercut by MP3 players, the seemingly dominant Wal-Mart may well find itself an antiquated company of the past. This is the process of creative destruction.

In fact, successful innovation is normally a source of temporary market power, eroding the profits and position of old firms, yet ultimately succumbing to the pressure of new inventions commercialised by competing entrants. Creative destruction is a powerful economic concept because it can explain many of the dynamics of industrial change: the transition from a competitive to a monopolistic market, and back again.It has been the inspiration of endogenous growth theory and also of evolutionary economics.

Creative destruction can hurt. Layoffs of workers with obsolete working skills can be one price of new innovations valued by consumers. Though a continually innovating economy generates new opportunities for workers to participate in more creative and productive enterprises (provided they can acquire the necessary skills), creative destruction can cause severe hardship in the short term.

There are numerous types of innovation-generating creative destruction in an industry:

• New markets or products
• New equipment
• New sources of labor and raw materials
• New methods of organization or management
• New methods of inventory management
• New methods of transportation
• New methods of communication (e.g., the Internet)
• New methods of advertising and marketing
• New financial instruments
• New ways to lobby politicians or new legal strategies (though many economists would argue that this last is not a genuine example of creative destruction, so much as an example of using force of government to prevent more innovative or lower cost competitors from selling to one's customers)

Regards,

Rajat

Hello all,

Came across an interesting article..

Everyone likes excitement and fun. It's the thing that brings joy and happiness. When people bubble with personal energy, others enjoy being around them. Such bubbly people become the center of attraction at all times. Companies & Business firms like to hire a staff that brings zest to the establishment. Some restaurants chains, for example, train their staff to form an impromptu ensemble and sing "Happy Birthday: or "Happy Anniversary" to their customers on special occasions. It produces more than noise. People keep coming back. This is not just a gimmick but also a sure road to attract more customers and higher sales. Would you not like it if you were in a restaurant and the staff suddenly came up to you and started singing happy birthday? Think of how special they have made you feel.

One restaurant, knowing how people respond to excitement, devised a special plan. When a customer ordered a sizzler dinner, the chef placed the meal on a hot steel plate. Then, just before the waiter left the kitchen, he would drop an ice cube on the platter. A simple but effective trick to attract attention.

The waiter was instructed, "Walk slowly to the table. We want everyone to hear the sound of that hot platter." It wasn't the steak that was sizzling, but the ice. The plan worked like instant advertising. If customers were in the process of ordering, they'd hear that sound and choose a sizzler. The sizzle produced the sale. The instant innovation and creativity led to higher sales and more satisfied customers.

Today, Creativity and innovation have become a crucial factor so think creatively. Ask yourself, "How can I add some excitement and zing to what I plan to deliver?" Its not just the “ahhh” feeling but the great “wow” factor of deliverance.
A single thought can change everyone's life and this single thought can bring about a change for the better. It can happen anywhere, with friends, in office, at home, on the street or wherever you would like it to happen.

Regards,

Rajat

Dear all,

Apologies for the delayed response to queries I receive in my private messages.

I recently received a query on creative thinking regarding the difference between Creativity and Innovation.

Creativity is typically used to refer to the act of producing new ideas, approaches, or actions, while innovation is the process of both generating and applying such creative ideas in a specific context, regardless of whether they are good, bad, or irrelevant.

In the context of an organization, the term "innovation" is often used to refer to the entire process by which an organization generates creative new ideas and converts them into novel, useful, and viable commercial products, services, and business practices. On the other hand, the term "creativity" is specifically reserved for the generation of novel ideas by individuals or groups as a crucial step within the innovation process.

Regards,

Rajat

Hi there,

I'm new here and I need your help, if you please. I'm looking for a lateral thinking test, scale, or measure. Many thanks.

High school,

Can you please elaborate on what exactly you are looking for? Lateral Thinking Quiz/test - yes, it is available on this forum. Please make use of the search tool on the top left. Lateral thinking scale - I don't have the same.

Regards, Rajat