The document summarizes key points from Daniel Pink's book "A Whole New Mind" which argues that right-brain skills such as design, story, empathy, and finding meaning in work will be increasingly important in the future as jobs are outsourced or automated. It provides background on Pink and an overview of the 6 senses and right-brain skills that will be in high demand in the conceptual age, including examples of how businesses need employees with strong right-brain abilities.

1. “ A Whole New Mind :Why Right-Brainers will Rule the Future” Written by Daniel Pink ------------------------------------------------------------------- Jeff Opelia Critical and Creative Thinking 2 -17 -09

2. Daniel Pink http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhKLSTBSgwI Dan writes articles in the New York Times, Harvard Business Review, Fast Company and provides business reviews to many of the major news channels. For 2 years he was a speech writer for Vice President Al Gore. He currently lives in Washington, DC with his wife and 3 children. He has authored this books as well: “Free Agent Nation : The Future of Working for yourself”, and “The Adventures of Johnny Bunko: The last Career Guide You’ll Ever Need.” His next book will be published in 2010. He is a great speaker and author!! Check out his video!!! (Figure 0)

3. Left Brain Right Brain (Figure 1)

5. Right Brain Can a computer do what this girl is doing? What is she imagining at this time? Her right hemisphere is being used. This is R-directed thinking. (Figure 2) Could this girl be a student of Yours?

6. Left Brain These collogues are likely using their left side. Logical thinking to solve a problem. (Figure 3, Example 1)

7. The same people 35 years earlier…what side of the brain were they using then? Are you laughing? Yep! You are using your R-directed thinking! (Figure 3, Example 2) (Figure 4)

8. Using the Brain? Here are films of 4 of my 6th graders on a Saturday field trip. What side of their brain are they using most? Can you tell?

9. Test Yourself !! :) Here is a site to check if you tend to use your right brain more than your left. Try it!! It is entertaining and it may help you better understand yourself or your co-worker down the hall!! Have FUN!! http://www.wherecreativitygoestoschool.com/vancouver/left_right/rb_test.htm

10. Our life is full of abundance of new products at our fingertips, Asia has cheaper labor which companies will use in areas of left brain thinking skills, and we have automation to s all we want. Businesses are needing the skills of the right brainers to compete more than ever. (Figure 5) (Figure 6) (Figure 7)

11. The current i n formation age i n which access to information (read: knowledge, education) is the most important economic engine i s changing into the c o nceptual age, characterized by a new concern with context, patterns and emotion. And that shift is taking place mainly in our brains. (Visscher, April 2005) The consumers mind is changing, so those providing the consumers must change their clients. (Figure 8)

12. Farming/Industrial/Knowledge to CONCEPTUAL ERA 1700’s Late 1800’s 1900’s Now and the Future (Figure 9) (Figure 10) (Figure 11) (Figure 12)

13. 6 Senses Used In the Conceptual Age for Businesses and Society-- All are R-directed Thinking Activities Design - creation for eye appeal and spending! Story - used to communicate better Symphony - Small pieces into a Big Picture Empathy -Understanding what makes others tick. Valuable for the workplace and creating. Play - At work - we all need to laugh/Play which studies have shown raises productivity. Meaning - Pursue purpose and fulfillment of careers while lowering stress levels at work.

14. Design A simple word with a huge impact. People are not satisfied with usage anymore. They want something that is pleasant to look at as well. Design is a high-concept aptitude that is difficult to outsource or automate--and that increasingly confers a competitive advantage in business. (Pink, 2006) (Figure 13)

15. Story If you need to communicate, tell a story. Communication through a story makes it easier for others to remember the importance of what was said. The workplace needs storytellers. The Conceptual Age can remind us what has always been true but rarely been acted upon--that we must listen to each other’s stories and that we are each the authors of our own lives. (Pink, 2006) (Figure 15)

16. Symphony Putting pieces together into a the “Big Picture”--A R-directed thinking trait is needed in the Conceptual age. Many parts of a whole are awaiting someone to shape them into usable masterpiece! (Figure 16) (Figure 17) (Figure 18)

17. Empathy To be successful in today’s world, we must be able to place ourselves in each other’s heart and perspective thinking. This involves the use of the right brain thinkers! Empathy is neither a deviation from intelligence nor the single route to it . Sometimes we need detachment; many other times we need attunement. And the people who will thrive will be those who can toggle between the two. (Pink) (Figure 19)

18. Play Reduction of stress in the workplace and more creativity to improve productivity and collaboration! PLAY (Figure 20) (Figure 21) (Figure 21) (Figure 23) (figure 22) Figure 23

19. MEANING Working because it is a “Calling” instead of for its material benefits will help businesses and increase personal income and satisfaction. There’s a third form of happiness that is ineluctably pursued by humans, and that’s the pursuit of meaning…knowing what your highest strengths are and deploring them in the service of something larger than you are. (Pink, 2006) (Figure 24)

20. The BiG Picture The right brain skills in this era are in high demand because the workplace demands high productivity that the left brain can’t provide. We all have strengths in different areas. Workers who tend to use their right brain are now more valuable in many areas of the business world than ever before!!

21. To Help Sum it up!! MCNews : What’s the impact of the conceptual age on the workplace, particularly as it relates to the people you hire? Pink : You want to hire people who have the kind of right-brain abilities that can’t be outsourced or automated, and that satisfy some of the nonmaterial needs of this abundant age. If you peel that back, what you want is people who are intrinsically motivated. That is, they are doing what they love. And it tends to be right-brain activities that generate that kind of motivation. (McLaughlin, 2005)

22. What is your opinion? Are right brain skills in higher demand in businesses than before? Do you use your right brain in teaching more than your left? Do you have more left brain colleagues or right brainers? Which students need more right brain activities in your classroom? Are the needs of both the left brainers and right brainers being met? Are your classroom activities serving both?

23. Visscher, M. (2005). Revenge of the Right Brain. [Electronic version].Retrieved February 20, 2008 http:www.odemagazine.com/doc/23/revenge_of_the_right_brain Pink, D. (2006). A Whole New Mind: Why Right Brainers will Rule the Future. New York: Penquin Group (USA) Inc. A whole new mind. (2005, August) Mike McLaughlin, 4, 8 http://www.managementconsultingnews.com/interviews/pink_interview.php Pink, D. (2007, March). A Whole New Mind [video file] Video posted to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhKLSTBSgwI The Art Institute of Vancouver, Right brain vs left brain creativity test.(n.d.) Retrieved March 1, 2009, From http://www.wherecreativitygoestoschool.com/vancouver/ left_right/rb_test.htm References

24. References (Photos) http://www.danpink.com/about.html http://www.extensor.co.uk/articles/leadership_brain/brain.jpg http://images.google.com/images?q=girl painting&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wi http://www.joynersbusinessnetwork.info/newsletter/index.html http://www.courtneyjanssen.com/BeachKidsR.jpg http://www.foods4dogs.com/images/lifes-abundance-pet- food.jpg http://www.fas.org/irp/imint/docs/rst/Sect6/750x750_asia_m.jpg

25. References (Photos) http://webtys.com/pics/h_automation.jpg&imgrefurl = http://neuronarrative.wordpress.com/2008/11/06/all-the-people-you-are-an-interview-with-author-rita-carter/ http://www.enterprisect.com/pictures/page_11.html http://www.ouhsd.k12.ca.us/lmc/hhs/indusrev.htm http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=190865603 http://www.asktog.com/columns/069ScottAdamsMeltdown.html http://assets.hulu.com/shows/key_art_design_e2.jpg http://www.radioanywhere.co.uk/displayStation.php?station=1

26. References (Photos) http://trinitytrails.com/main.htm http://teamworksweb.com/aboutyou.htm http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2008/may/09/feddeck-moves-up-with-symphony/ http://www.familylinks.org.uk/nurturing/images/4c_empathy.gif http://www.pjlighthouse.com/2007/08/ http://webpub.allegheny.edu/student/s/slosara/weblog/

27. References (Photos) http://www. panhala .net/Archive/Laughter.html http://www.organicvessels.com/sections/storefront/window2.html http://people. howstuffworks .com/laughter.htm/printable http: //angelatesta . wordpress .com/2009/01/12/what ’ s-the-meaning-of-life/