/* Denise Jacobs Web Directions
| Sydney, Australia 30 October 2015 */ >> Work Better, Create More

Who: @denisejacobs Where: @webdirections #wd15
What: #hackcreativity

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SXSW 2006!
h ps://www.flickr.com/photos/robweychert/113351226/

After writing this…

I had an epiphany
http://www.flickr.com/photos/44085287@N05/4055814772/

Creativity: powerful and empowering
http://www.flickr.com/photos/assbach/267598910/

Photo by Derek Kearney Shifted
my focus to what I love

Why I do what I
do http://TheCreativeDose.com/

Intro The State of the
Union

What’s our most important tool
for creating? http://www.flickr.com/photos/drachmann/327122302/

This one!
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3APSM_V14_D495_Side_view_of_the_brain_and_spinal_cord.jpg

Managers

Bureaucracy
http://www.flickr.com/photos/opensourceway/4749431435/

Clients
http://www.flickr.com/photos/clairity/154640125/

Time pressures
http://www.flickr.com/photos/indraw/4857101224/

Mentally overwhelmed
http://www.toonpool.com/cartoons/__62375#img9

Oppressed
http://www.flickr.com/photos/johannahobbs/2412291551/

“Houston, we have a problem…”
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:S70-34902.jpg

When we are in the
creative flow http://www.flickr.com/photos/myfear/289257055/

We are alchemists
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Faust_image_19thcentury.jpg

“Creativity is newness produced.” Sir
Ken Robinson, Out of Our Minds

It feels like
http://www.flickr.com/photos/torley/2761300969/

“Creativity is magical, but it
is not magic.” Dr. Charles Limb, Your Brain on Improvisation TED talk

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kosmotesto/3794445313/ “Creativity is all about
making connections and seeing patterns.” Bruce Nussbaum,Creativity Intelligence

Our Goals 1 Emancipate 2
Adjust 3 Practice Discipline 4 Generate & Execute

1
Emancipate

Mass hypnosis
https://www.flickr.com/photos/yxelle/5806302053

Habits and thinking to quit
http://www.flickr.com/photos/meddygarnet/4170136164/sizes/l/

Distractions
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nicksherman/529178002/

Multitasking is multi-taxing
http://www.flickr.com/photos/daquellamanera/3041235238/

Zeigarnik Effect
http://www.psychwiki.com/wiki/Zeigarnik_Effect

Communication addiction
http://www.flickr.com/photos/andersdenken/2082816707/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jepoirrier/422469526/ | http://www.flickr.com/photos/kristoferbjorkman/6910216819/ | http://www.flickr.com/photos/foreignoffice/2671039488/
Intermittent reinforcement

Internalized the critical voices
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikeapalooza/553545517/

Become monsters in your head
http://www.flickr.com/photos/epsos/4887528060/

Instead of Creativity
Source: Flickr

Destructivity
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kevygee/3265941065/

All due to Your Inner
Critic https://www.flickr.com/photos/acerriteno/3484093813/

( p.s. *Everyone* has these
thoughts)Photo: Denise Jacobs

“If your demons are such
that they fill the room the instant you contemplate creating, your studio will be too dangerous a place to enter.” Eric Maisel, author of Fearless Creating

How to ID your Inner
Critic http://www.flickr.com/photos/lambdachialpha/203904103/

“I should have done more
by now…” http://www.flickr.com/photos/automania/126698126/

“They’ll find out I’m a
fraud”

vs. “NAILED IT!”
https://www.flickr.com/photos/paul-drummond/3946893897

“It needs to be FLAWLESS”
http://www.flickr.com/photos/diepuppenstubensammlerin/7648792510/

“I’ll do it tomorrow…”
http://www.flickr.com/photos/irrezolut/2311904560/

Fears!
https://www.flickr.com/photos/tom_lin/3193080175/

Fear of failure
http://www.flickr.com/photos/laughingsquid/2717325940/

F.E.A.R. =
http://cdnpix.com/show/imgs/7a361666e107cd36656d5a66ea2e4e80.jpg

Or…
https://twitter.com/Phishtitz/status/474661495935365120

“Fear is not real. It
is a product of the thoughts you create. Do not misunderstand me. Danger is very real. But fear is a choice.” - character of Cypher Raige, After Earth http://culturecatch.com/files/images/after-earth.jpg

Hack >> Become a Fear
Alchemist http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Joseph_Wright_of_Derby_The_Alchemist.jpg

“The goal is to manage
anxiety so that our energies are used for the productive and satisfying (act) of creating, rather than the destructive and debilitating art of self-torture.” Clare Warmke, Idea Revolution

Banish Your Inner Critic!
https://www.flickr.com/photos/31505964@N08/4691019168/

“The parts of your brain
that are responsible for self-monitoring are literally turned off during creative endeavors….Creative people have mastered the art of turning off [the inhibitive] part of their brains to let their ideas flow more smoothly, unleashing their imagination.” Tina Seelig, InGenius

Hack >> Say NO to
Comparisons http://www.flickr.com/photos/suvodeb/2559017400/

“You cannot compare your insides
to someone else’s outsides.”

(Btw, this your new mantra…)
http://www.spunkysapphire.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/photo-1-e1406074730116.jpg

Hack >> Know the Impostor
Syndrome Paradox http://www.flickr.com/photos/x1brett/2279939232/

You will only experience impostor syndrome
when you are competent and skilled. (re-read this as many times as necessary.)

Breaking the loop

Hack >> Reassign duty
http://www.flickr.com/photos/shavawnmarie/1326123397/

Hack >> Amp up empathy
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wrote/2646295354/

Hack >> Maintain perspective
http://www.flickr.com/photos/daikrieg/1294053038/

Hack >> Reframe #FAIL &
mistakez https://www.flickr.com/photos/stevendepolo/4498817330/

“Failure is only the opportunity
to begin again more intelligently.” Henry Ford

http://www.flickr.com/photos/thirteenthnile/4546397775/ Change your body language,
change your mind

“Our bodies change our minds,
our minds change our behavior, and our behavior changes our outcomes.” Amy Cuddy, Your Body Language Shapes Who You Are TED talk

Hack >> Cop a Power
Pose

Stand up. Assume a pose
that embodies a sense of defeat, can’t do it, it will never work, “I suck/I’m no good/an impostor”, etc. Make yourself as small and powerless feeling as possible. Then, strike a power pose. Imagine yourself as a superhero looking off into the distance seeing your destiny of major creative butt-kicking. Alternate several times. Hold the power pose for as long as you can so that you can feel the change. #Exercise: Power Pose

2
Adjust

Adjust: Train Your Brain
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tiarescott/3211540197/

Left v. Right brain?
http://browse.deviantart.com/?q=left%20brain%20right%20brain&order=9&offset=48#/d10qlpq

Right hemisphere
h p://www.flickr.com/photos/lorelei-ranveig/2294885580/

Left hemisphere h p://www.flickr.com/photos/smi enki
enoriginals/4451172538/

Instead: Left + Right brain
= Creativity http://www.flickr.com/photos/47691521@N07/4639590640/

What are our brains constantly
producing? http://www.flickr.com/photos/cblue98/7254347346/

Know your Brainwaves

13-30 cps/Hz Waking alert conscious
thinking, external sensory focus, concentration. Computing, arranging, organizing, make sense of external world. Prolongation of beta can lead to exhaustion, anxiety and tension. Beta

8-12 cps/Hz Alert and lucid
but relaxed thought, daydreaming, light meditation, internal focus, receptive state, visualization, creativity, accelerated or super- learning, increased serotonin levels. Alpha

4-7.5 cps/Hz High states of
creativity, subconscious creativity, deep relaxation/ meditation, intuition, long-term memory, vivid visual imagery, creative inspiration, free idea flow, REM dream and deep sleep. Theta

0.1-4 cps/Hz Intuition and insight,
transcendental meditation, physical rejuvenation and healing, expansive awareness. Most often found in deep dreamless sleep and unconscious states. Delta

31-120 cps/Hz Hyper brain activity
and alertness, aha moment, super clarity, above average integration of sensory information, euphoria, sometimes anxiety. Gamma

Alpha: the gateway to creativity

Close your eyes and relax.
Breathe through your nose. Now place your tongue at the roof of your mouth, turn your eyes towards the ceiling underneath your eyelids. Take several deep, long breaths. As you relax, you are changing your brainwaves from Beta to Alpha. #Exercise: Enter Alpha

Explains everything

Hack >> Breathe to refocus
http://www.flickr.com/photos/guiniveretoo/1573049301/

Hack >> Be prone
https://www.flickr.com/photos/travalicando/125934143/

Hack >> Showers
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stevendepolo/3761878381/

Hack >> Space out/Daydream h
p://www.flickr.com/photos/frinthy/4680321558/

Hack >> Get physical
http://www.flickr.com/photos/miguel77/2728104156/

Makes a HUGE difference

“When your brain is supposedly
doing nothing, it’s really doing a tremendous amount.” Marcus Raichle, Neurologist

Intend Alpha
http://uniteunderfreedom.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Brain-waves.jpg

3
Practice Discipline

Exercise Discipline
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bizz0k0/3432638748/

Focus on meaningful tasks
http://www.43folders.com/2008/09/01/what-are-you-doing

Show up everyday
http://www.flickr.com/photos/anieto2k/8064533288/

And really commit to it
http://www.flickr.com/photos/deathtogutenberg/2976274920/

Hack >> Delegate
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gsfc/3645313261/

Freed me up

Delegation works

Clean-up habit fields
http://www.flickr.com/photos/risager/3452272176/

Habit what?
http://alistapart.com/article/habit-fields

Clean up your work habit
field by following the suggestions in the article “Habit Fields” by Jack Cheng. Create your equivalent of a “distraction chair” and move to it when you feel like you are inclined to surf the web, email, Tweet, Facebook, or engage in any other computer-related distraction. When you are ready to work again, come back to your desk. Rinse and repeat until your work habit field is clear again and no longer fuzzy. Hack >> Habit field reboot

Manage time
http://www.flickr.com/photos/paolocampioni/2168286027/

Single-task
http://www.flickr.com/photos/33498942@N04/6009639079/

Say NO to Distractions
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gideon/6582069/

RescueTime.com

HeyFocus.com

Added bonus

Tools RescueTime.com HeyFocus.com Browser Extensions
Google Chrome: Strict Workflow StayFocusd Firefox: LeechBlock Idderall Aids for digital blocking

Hack >> Pomodoro Technique
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lucamascaro/4975166968/

Hack >> Airplane/Do Not Disturb
mode http://www.flickr.com/photos/pieterouwerkerk/699475144/

4
Generate & Execute

Generate: Start the flow of
ideas http://www.flickr.com/photos/international-festival/3018718331/

Start with what’s there

Everything is a Remix “Mona
Lisa” by Paul Giovanopoulos, http://www.giovanopoulos.com/

Hack>>Get your Remix on!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/opensourceway/4812026355/

Hack >> Create constaints
http://www.flickr.com/photos/danielsilliman/4489863368/

Generate ideas
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kathb/3933087930/

Capture ideas
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rosengrant/3637839874/

Embrace disruption
Photo: Denise Jacobs

Write them down
http://www.flickr.com/photos/caitlinator/2826079915/

Sketch them out
http://www.flickr.com/photos/eoze04/4890376021/

Talk them out (& record
it) http://www.flickr.com/photos/jamescridland/3641402489/

Gather and curate your ideas
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gmanviz/3181410714/

Evernote Pinterest.com Delicious.com Flickr.com Gimmebar.com
Dropr.com Trello.com Diigo Tumblr Vi.sualize.us Tools to do so

“Creativity is more than a
great idea, it’s the determination to see the idea through to fruition.” Clare Warmke, Idea Revolution

Prototype
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mindmob/292609444/

Iterate
http://www.flickr.com/photos/deliciousblur/4165405018/

• Observe • Suggest •
Tinker • Review • Apply feedback • Reiterate The d.school production-iteration process

The stage is set for
Flow http://www.flickr.com/photos/sgeithner/5290115839/

How do you get there?

• Concept in mind: know
what you want to achieve and what it looks like • Practice in place • Cleared space • Time carved out and distractions eliminated • Necessary materials on hand All of the previous steps lead you here:

The Flow “Afterglow”
http://www.flickr.com/photos/fuzzylittlemanpeach/4633972431/

Epilogue
Liberation

Previously
http://www.flickr.com/photos/generated/2084287794/

Moving forward
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pulpolux/3317141795/

(Re)Gain Creative Confidence
http://www.flickr.com/photos/44085287@N05/4055807492/

“…the confidence that, when given
a difficult problem, we have a methodology that enables us to come up with a solution that nobody has before.” David Kelley of Ideo

What you produce is unique

Hack your habits >> Different
Results http://starchild07.deviantart.com/art/Brainwaves-44238823

Practicing different habits >> Transform
your life

“Creativity makes day to day
experiences more vivid, more enjoyable, more rewarding. When we live creatively, boredom is banished and every moment holds the promise of a fresh discovery.” Mihali Csikszentmihalyi, Creativity

Let out all of your
great ideas http://www.flickr.com/photos/anieto2k/8156999698/

Get your creativity hack on!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bibi/5448158773/

The End…? (or is just
the beginning?) http://www.flickr.com/photos/imuttoo/232100469/

My upcoming book! Banish Your
Inner Critic DeniseJacobs.com/InnerCritic 26 Effective Techniques for Unleashing Productive Creativity

THE CREATIVE DOSE A Creativity
+ Innovation Collective Work Better. Create More. Create Betterness. Creative Thinking & Problem-solving Creative Collaboration & Innovation Mindset Team Communication & Cohesion Speaking Skills & Executive Coaching TheCreativeDose.com @thecreativedose

DeniseJacobs.com à Sign up on
my mailing list here! denise@denisejacobs.com twitter.com/denisejacobs facebook.com/denisejacobsdotcom slideshare.net/denisejacobs Connect, Chat, and Collaborate! Photo used with permission: http://www.flickr.com/photos/aarronwalter/4629078087/

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Thank you!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wwworks/4759535970/