The Creativity (R)evolution
Denise R. Jacobs
That Conference
Wisconsin Dells, WI
13 August 2013
I am:
@denisejacobs
This fine event:
@ThatConference #ThatConference
I’m talking about inciting a:
#creativityrevolution
For the Twitters
Conferences
http://www.flickr.com/photos/toprankblog/2280204274/
Ideas!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sjliew/1286367571/
Dense networks
http://www.flickr.com/photos/thelastminute/3114650732/
The microcosm
http://www.flickr.com/photos/44568283@N02/4097561067/
People are neurons
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wellcomeimages/5988150008/
The initial excitement
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ableman/543078380/
Taken over by habit
http://www.flickr.com/photos/irrezolut/2311904560/
How to take it home? Sustain it?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/debord/4932655275/
And Chief Instigator
Photo by Derek Kearney
After writing my first book
Photo: Denise Jacobs
I had an epiphany
http://www.flickr.com/photos/44085287@N05/4055814772/
Creativity is critical
http://www.flickr.com/photos/designandtechnologydepartment/4771136128/
I’m not the only one who thinks so…
http://business.time.com/2013/04/26/the-time-creativity-poll/
Creativity (R)Evolution!
All gatherings are opportunities
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stella12/6899795110/
Nurture the Creative Spark
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cdoublew/2668216943/
The Roots of (R)Evolution
Who here feels like they are creative?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/carbonnyc/3135103537/
“Creativity is all about making
connections and seeing
patterns.”
- Bruce Nussbaum,
Creativity Intelligence
What is the “creative spark”?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ogil/1507585665/
Everyone has it
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kaptainkobold/4812035672/
Betterness?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nextconference/3504568830/
(R)Evolution != Revolution
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stargardener/7037360553/
Two ways
http://www.flickr.com/photos/boklm/486678763/
1 Tool + 1 Outlook = 2 Awesome
The inspiration
Our model: the coral polyp
http://www.flickr.com/photos/drthompson/3689420515/
Builds rich environments
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/de/Coral_Reef.jpg
Creates new land forms
http://images4.fanpop.com/image/photos/23300000/Coral-Reef-Torres-Strait-Island-australia-23340592-1600-1200.jpg
Tiny Habits
http://tinyhabits.com/
The structure
http://www.flickr.com/photos/anetq/8543067943/
1.  In the positive
2.  Present tense
2 modifications
Congratulate yourself
http://www.flickr.com/photos/clappstar/6297835482/
Big results
http://www.flickr.com/photos/anetq/8543069503/
Open Space ethos
http://www.flickr.com/photos/deanmeyers/6685423387/
From Spark to Flame
Two levels
http://www.flickr.com/photos/atoach/2924362071/
The Personal
Are you a terrorist to yourself?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/koomatuomio/4182554398/
You are the gateway
http://www.flickr.com/photos/eschipul/4396790244/
Yes, it’s all about you being “self-ful”
http://www.flickr.com/photos/siutou_amy/2306794554/
The Oxygen Mask Theory
Love what you do. Do what you love.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jmscottimd/616642026/
“The only way to be truly satisfied is
to do what you believe is great
work. The only way to do great work
is to love what you do.”
-  Steve Jobs,
2005 Stanford Commencement
speech
By nurturing your own spark
http://www.flickr.com/photos/aguslepe/5512044294/
It becomes magic
http://www.flickr.com/photos/95268887@N00/3527584479/
Opens you up
http://www.flickr.com/photos/eelssej_/413385838/
Self-ful transfroms to
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kara_allyson/5358611092/
Selfless
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mazgrp/2050810720/
Start with Why
http://www.flickr.com/photos/annnna/2228189828/
Recognize your brilliance
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jonathan_hamner/3386076488/
Don’t focus on your weaknesses
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jonathan_hamner/3386076488/
You will only improve
10-15 %
(and it will be painful)
Need help? Channel your inner kid
Photo: Denise Jacobs
Pro-tip: get help from the masters
Photo: Nick Garza
Hint: it will feel like play!
Photo: Nick Garza
Feed your soul, don’t kill it
Shift into the habits you want to develop
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rene_ehrhardt/2762573549/
Think of several topics you are a bad-
ass in. Write up some talk
descriptions based on your interests
and expertise.
Be courageous and share them with
peers.
Homework: Write a talk description
Think of 1-2 tiny habits you will do to
nurture the spark ignited at this
conference.
Homework: Tiny Habits to Nurture the Spark
Your spark deserves to be protected
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cdoublew/2663137942/
The Social
We need to get our Group on
Photo: Denise Jacobs
Mo’ people, mo’ creativity
http://www.flickr.com/photos/international-festival/3019543830/
Escape your silo
http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeemick/5106610165/
Building 20 at MIT
Listen
http://www.flickr.com/photos/theory/3193684688/
Really listen
http://www.flickr.com/photos/theory/3193684632/
Be generous
Photo: Denise Jacobs
Emotional Bank Accounts
http://www.slideshare.net/lcaum/emotional-bank-accounts-and-trust
“Creativity is social…and comes out of
small teams of twos and threes and
fours and fives and sixes. Instead (of
brainstorming) you need “magic
circles,” small teams of people who trust
each other, are familiar with each other,
and play together.”
- Bruce Nussbaum,
Creativity Intelligence
Get your Improv on
http://www.flickr.com/photos/roel1943/5740295789/
Accept the offer, start where you are
http://www.flickr.com/photos/zen/3446600695/
Use this structure
Make your partner(s) look good
http://www.flickr.com/photos/31246066@N04/4597640798/
Builds trust
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wrote/2646295354/
Collaborations get increasingly stronger
http://www.flickr.com/photos/schipulites/5407946699/
Eating my own dogfood: Power-Push Writing
Photo: Anna B. Scott
Think of 1-2 tiny habits you will do to
cultivate a culture of creative
collaboration around you.
Homework: Tiny Habit of Creative Collaboration
Viva La Revolution!
Yeah!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/flickerbulb/53116195/
Personal fulfillment (aka Happiness)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pocait/2847866615/
“(Almost) everything we know
becomes old and out of date.”
- Dave Thomas,
That Conference keynote, 2013
Bigger than just yourself
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7730492@N03/4957946157/
What we do is HUGE
http://www.code.org/
Team and company creating Betterness
Eudaimonia = Human flourishing
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bohman/174718774/
At this conference, with you
http://www.flickr.com/photos/moqub/2745092532/
Encourage the eco-system
We canevolve creatively
http://www.flickr.com/photos/opensourceway/6005503875/
Only one way to go
http://www.flickr.com/photos/fragmented/2734290118/
Make the switch
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joeathialy/3397362215/
‘Nuff said.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/20872388@N06/5572306965/
My articles for further reading
netmagazine.com/features/
four-secrets-enhancing-
creative-productivity
alistapart.com/articles/
reigniting-your-creative-spark/
alistapart.com/articles/
banishing-your-inner-critic/
My books!
The CSS Detective
Guide
CSSDetectiveGuide.com
InterAct With
Web Standards
InterActWithWebStandards.com
My chapter:
“Learning with the
Web”
Smashing Books #3 &
#3 1/3
SmashingBook.com
My chapter:
“The Missing Element
of Redesign: Story”
DeniseJacobs.com
denise@denisejacobs.com
twitter.com/denisejacobs
facebook.com/denisejacobsdotcom
I Speak, Write, and Evangelize Creativity!
Photo used with permission: http://www.flickr.com/photos/aarronwalter/4629078087/
And finally…
http://www.flickr.com/photos/27620885@N02/2609974180/

Creativity (R)Evolution - ThatConference 2013