“Ideas are the currency
of the new economy.”
~Richard Florida

TRUTH
In 1971 the average person
encountered approximately
560
ad messages per day.
David Schenk, from the book ‘Data Smog’

TRUTH
By 1997 the number had increased to
3,000 per day.
David Schenk, from the book ‘Data Smog’

TRUTH
Today, the number is fast approaching
5,000
David Schenk, from the book ‘Data Smog’

Time To Get
Creative

“There are no rules around here.
We’re trying to accomplish
something!”
~Thomas Edison

The Creative
Process
1: Gather all your information
2: Let subconscious go to work
3: Don’t panic if ideas are slow to arrive
4: Ask ‘What if’
5: Record everything

Your Brain
Is smarter
Than You
Think

Your brain could learn 7 facts per
second, every second, for the rest of your
life and still have plenty of room left to
learn more.
Source: ‘How To Think Like Leonardo’
Author: Michael Gelb

Stronger, more intense emotional connections
are linked to memories prompted by scent.
Source: ‘How To Think Like Leonardo’
Author: Michael Gelb

By the age of 7, our brains are 95% of
their adult size.
Source: ‘How To Think Like Leonardo’
Author: Michael Gelb

Mental activity stimulates the creation
of neurons throughout your whole life.
Source: ‘How To Think Like Leonardo’
Author: Michael Gelb

The myth that we use only 10% percent of our
brains may have started with Einstein.
(Actually, we use it all.)
Source: ‘How To Think Like Leonardo’
Author: Michael Gelb

“An essential aspect of creativity
is not being afraid to fail.”
~Dr. Edward Land

Creativity at Work

2007 USA Today/Psychology Today Poll asked
business owners...
“What trait do you consider
most important when
hiring new people?”
28% 59%
Intelligence People who can
think differently

Participants in a Pittsburgh Plate Glass
creativity training showed a
300% increase
in viable ideas compared with those
who elected not to take the course.
Source: www.creativityatwork.com

At Sylvania,
several thousand employees
took a 40 hour course in
creative problem solving.
ROI:
$20 for
every $1 spent.
Source: www.creativityatwork.com

The Wall Street Journal
reported that a two year in-house
creativity course at General Electric
resulted in a
60% increase
in patentable concepts.
Source: www.creativityatwork.com

“Creativity isn’t what’s going
inside your head, it’s what’s
going on around it.”
~Edward DeBono

The Creative Mind
Wonderment
Retain a childlike curiosity with the world. Be curious.
Motivation
When an idea hits, have the courage to follow it.
Intellectual courage
Strive to go beyond the conventional.
‘We’ve always done it that way’
Relaxation
Take time to daydream & ponder

Stumbling Blocks
To Creativity
1: Fear of sounding silly
2: Not willing to expand your comfort zone
3: Ruts
4: Lack of passion
5: Fear of messing up

“Creativity is the ability to see
relationships where none exist.”
~Thomas Disch

“After all the statistics and calculations
are formulated the one element that breathes
life into marketing is good design.”
...Steve Jobs, Apple CEO

“In the absence of creativity life
becomes predictable, repetitious
and boring.”
~David Ogilivy

How to ruin a great concept
in three easy steps

“Don’t just settle for the
acceptable idea, push for the
more exceptional idea.”
~Bob Kuperman

Top 5
Myths about creativity

Myth #1
Creative people
always have great ideas.

Myth #2
Idea generating and thought is
best done alone.

Myth #3
“I don’t need a notebook,
I always remember my ideas.”

Myth #4
Drugs can help you be more creative.

Myth #5
“I’m just not the creative type.”

Thank You!