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Blue River Press has more than 100 books and e-books in print and is distributed nationally by Cardinal Publishers Group.

Recent Posts

Were You Born Creative? Or Not?

Creative Minds A Regular Column by Anthony D. Fredericks Were You Born Creative?  Or Not? How often have you heard the following statements?  Alternatively, and more specifically, how often have you said these statements yourself?:  “I couldn’t draw a straight line if...

Saint Patrick’s Battalion

Proud and doomed, these rogue Irish gunners fought against those who they once fought side-by-side in order to defend Catholic Mexico against the U.S. Army that was attacking them. They would either hang as turncoats, win the battle, or die trying.

More Curiosity = More Creativity

As children we are innately curious.  Our thinking is unfettered and our horizons are limitless.  We are willing to explore our world without boundaries, without restraints.  But, as we mature, our upbringing, our education, and our workplaces force us to become logical, pragmatic, factual, and…well, considerably less curious.  Knowing the answers, rather than asking the questions, becomes the priority.  Know lots of “stuff” and you can get good grades, get a good job, and have a good life.

Creativity as a Corporate Goal

Indeed, there is a plethora of tales in which well-respected firms actively work against creative expression on an almost daily basis. In short, far too many businesses “talk the talk, but don’t walk the walk.”

Brainstorming is NOT Creative

It probably wouldn’t surprise you to learn that many organizations, when faced with a challenge, brainstorm it to death. “Let’s all get together in the Conference Room and we’ll throw a bunch of ideas up on the whiteboard and we should have this thing hammered out by lunchtime!” The prevalent thinking is that a bunch of people tossing random ideas at one another will eventually discover an idea that works.

Looking for Little Things

Guise makes two clear and penetrating points: “1) Doing a little bit is infinitely bigger and better than doing nothing, and 2) doing a little bit every day has a greater impact than doing a lot on one day.”  Now, let’s put that in terms of our personal creativity: 1) Looking for one little piece of creativity is better than doing nothing at all, and 2) looking for a little (creative) thing every day is much more effective and practical than trying to generate a very large idea every so often.