Denise R. Jacobs' presentation at Hackapalooza emphasizes the importance of creativity, innovation, and a growth mindset for developers. She encourages individuals to embrace their creativity, learn from experiences, and collaborate effectively to solve meaningful problems. Jacobs provides strategies to overcome creative blocks and foster an environment conducive to creative thinking and productivity.

1. Possibilities
Infinite
Denise R. Jacobs
GEEKon Hackapalooza @ Groupon | Chicago, IL
25 July 2015

2. @denisejacobs
#Geekon #Hackapalooza #Groupon
#infinitepossible

3. Get the slides, y’all!
Creativedo.se/geekon-ip

4. Photo by Derek Kearney
From Front-end Dev à Creativity Evangelist

5. à Founder + Chief Creativity Evangelist
http://TheCreativeDose.com/

6. Hackapalooza FTW!
Photo: Joshua Campsey

7. 1,1,2,3…
https://www.flickr.com/photos/bdunnette/143567420

8. It’s the new Black
http://www.flickr.com/photos/designandtechnologydepartment/4771136128/

9. Time Magazine Creativity Poll, 2013
http://business.time.com/2013/04/26/the-time-creativity-poll/

10. IBM CEO Study, 2010
https://www-03.ibm.com/press/us/en/pressrelease/31670.wss

11. Survey of 684 Developers
https://www.flickr.com/photos/ter-burg/8812567121

12. http://www.flickr.com/photos/carbonnyc/3135103537/
We have it, then we lose it.

13. This is Water.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/seotaro/2101165162

14. “The new scarcity: the time, energy,
and brainpower of bright, creative
people.”
- Mary Poppendieck, “Think For Yourself”

15. Passion for accuracy
Analytical
Thinking critically
Learn quickly
Problem solvers
Curious
Gifts of developers

16. “A lot of enterprises could be a lot more
successful if they pay attention to the developer
rather than…the enterprise [itself].”
– Delyn Simmons, Head of Developer Platform at Intel Services Division

17. You’ve been lucky

18. You’ve been able to experiment
http://blackhistoryheroes.blogspot.com/2010/07/george-washington-carver-scientist-and.html

19. Get ideas flowing

20. And
https://www.flickr.com/photos/eschipul/4239849264/

21. “Play is how we invent and
experiment.”
– Josh Clarke, “The Web Gets Real”

22. Pursue stupid ideas
http://www.flickr.com/photos/laughingsquid/142398084

23. Because they may have legs
StartSometihingStupid.com

24. Inspired to be more innovative

25. How to move forward?

26. The Dark or the Light

27. It starts with One
http://www.flickr.com/photos/33498942@N04/6009639079/

28. The pattern of nature

29. We are part of this pattern
https://www.flickr.com/photos/124263610@N08/14201837570/

30. The Golden Ratio
https://www.flickr.com/photos/gdvan/14910785913

31. Everything comes from this divine unfolding
https://www.flickr.com/photos/rammorrison/2718543921

32. What direction should you go?

33. Making one solid choice is the beginning

34. The paradox of choice
http://www.flickr.com/photos/x1brett/2279939232/

35. CHOOSE
https://www.flickr.com/photos/buttersponge/4955768144

36. Non-Creative or Creative?

37. http://www.flickr.com/photos/barretthall/3036598475/ & http://www.flickr.com/photos/carbonnyc/3135103537/
Who here is creative?

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

39. Child, please.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mahalie/276780530/

40. Your experience this week has shown you that

41. Internal fears = Inner Critic
Photo: Denise Jacobs

42. In Tibetan, creative = natural
https://www.flickr.com/photos/norte_it/2340805781

43. Creativity ≠ Trying to be Creative
http://www.theprofessionalcreative.com/take-the-first-step-to-become-creative/

44. Trying ≠ Practicing

45. http://www.wallpaper4me.com/images/wallpapers/do_or_do_not_w1.jpeg
“Try not.
Do, or do not.
There is no try.”
– Yoda

46. “If I try to be creative, rather than just
accepting that I am creative, I fail.”
Andrew J. Epstein

47. Not about effort

48. More like breathing
http://www.flickr.com/photos/guiniveretoo/1573049301/

49. Like breathing, you can build
http://www.flickr.com/photos/miguel77/2728104156/

50. Get in tune with the process
https://www.flickr.com/photos/flavijus/566174947

51. What’s your creative frequency?
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sine_waves_different_frequencies.svg

52. Listen/tune in

53. Filter out the background noise
Photo: Denise Jacobs

54. Frequency: Occurrence
https://www.flickr.com/photos/joelanman/367425390

55. Frequency: Practice
https://www.flickr.com/photos/wwworks/275200051/

56. Become an idea machine

57. Challenge/Homework: Ten Ideas a day
https://www.flickr.com/photos/evaekeblad/15294401442

58. “Deciding for creativity does not guarantee
that creativity will emerge, but without the
decision, it certainly will not.”
– Robert Sternberg

59. Decide upon Creativity.
Choose it.
Then, amplify your creative
frequency.

60. Fixed or Growth Mindset?

61. Mindset, by Carol Dweck
http://mindsetonline.com

62. Which looks more familiar?

63. Fixed mindset
https://www.flickr.com/photos/bethscupham/7328405210

64. Perfection
Talent
Ability
Accomplishment
Comparison
Fixed Mindset focused on

65. “Maybe I don’t have enough talent.”
“What if I fail?”
“If I don’t try, I can protect my dignity.”
“It’s not my fault. It’s something/someone else’s.”

66. (Sounds an awful lot like the Inner Critic, no?)

67. Perfectionist?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/diepuppenstubensammlerin/7648792510/

68. (Sounds an awful lot like the Inner Critic, no?)

69. Growth Mindset

70. Learning
Willingness to fail
Curiosity
Expansion
Being self-referential
Growth Mindset focused on

71. Embrace and enjoy learning

72. How do you change from Fixed to Growth?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/f-oxymoron/5005673112/

73. 1) Listen for your Fixed Mindset voice
http://www.flickr.com/photos/theory/3193684632/

74. 2) Recognize that you have a choice
https://www.flickr.com/photos/cjsmithphotography/6804513809

75. 3) Talk back to it with a growth mindset voice

76. “I can learn to do this with time & effort.”
“Most successful people have had failure along the
way.”
“If I don’t try, I automatically fail.”
“If I don’t take responsibility, I can’t fix it.”

77. 4) Take growth mindset action

78. Growth Mindset actions
http://www.flickr.com/photos/onegiantleap/4124211492/

79. http://www.flickr.com/photos/seandreilinger/959867550/ &http://www.flickr.com/photos/seandreilinger/959864706/
Adopt a beginner’s mind

80. Release the Tyranny of the Expert
https://www.flickr.com/photos/64540855@N07/5878418781

81. Rediscover the familiar
https://www.flickr.com/photos/77654185@N07/8428225936

82. Re-learn something from a friend
https://www.flickr.com/photos/ribbitvoice/2339351666

83. Learn something entirely new
http://www.flickr.com/photos/13723940@N04/2648317554/

84. In my own life: learning Improv
Photo: Denise Jacobs

85. Learning from experience is key

86. “I don’t divide the world into the weak and
the strong, or the successes and the
failures…Idividetheworldintothe
learnersandnonlearners.”
– Benjamin Barber, Sociologist

87. Approach everything with
openness and eagerness.
Increase your knowledge and
expand yourself.

88. Blocked or in Flow?

89. Creative blocks?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/99301367@N00/8497106802/

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

91. Creative Flow
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7730492@N03/4958540694/

92. Is @ the Sweet Spot

93. Enjoy + Good at + Feeling Empowered
http://www.flickr.com/photos/h-k-d/3310336516/

94. = Empowered Play
http://www.flickr.com/photos/anieto2k/8216666102/

95. Aka

96. Your brain on Flow
https://www.flickr.com/photos/arselectronica/13994747444

97. Flow banishes the Inner Critic!

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

99. How do you reach Flow?

100. 1) Get in touch with your brilliance
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jonathan_hamner/3386076488/

101. 2) Have clear goals

102. 3) Uninterrupted, focused time

103. (how to ruin developer productivity)

104. (Instill the Headphones Rule)
https://www.flickr.com/photos/thomashawk/9824922293

105. Helps create space for ideas
https://www.flickr.com/photos/creativedc/2939649520

106. 4) Balance of risk & challenge
http://www.flickr.com/photos/librarianavengers/2495352933/

107. The Flow Channel exits between the two

108. 5) Immediate feedback
http://www.flickr.com/photos/anieto2k/8124124586/

109. Find your Flow to dispel
fears and experience
continuous creative growth.

110. Taker or Maker?

111. …Has little regard for
their potential to
shape the future or
ability to take action
on issues that truly
motivate them.
A Taker…

112. …A maker’s work is
characterized by morality,
creativity, craftsmanship,
and purposed problem
solving.
They view their work
through the lens of
service.
A Maker…

113. “….Makers choose their work based on impact
and happiness.”
Jason Cavnar, "Why developers should start choosing
conscience over profit"
http://venturebeat.com/2013/02/18/developers-choosing-conscience-over-profit/

114. This is what you’ve been doing all week
https://www.flickr.com/photos/sarahmount/324922376

115. Up-level your Makership-ness
http://www.flickr.com/photos/fragmented/2734290118/

116. 1) Stay a passionate problem-solver
http://www.flickr.com/photos/argonne/4435608143/

117. 2) Make “Bug” Lists
https://www.flickr.com/photos/acerriteno/3484407240/

118. 3) Cultivate a healthy disregard for the impossible

119. 4) Be clear on your “Why”
http://www.flickr.com/photos/zlz212/198759134/

120. Whom are you helping?
http://www.codefevermiami.com/

121. Infuse meaning
https://www.flickr.com/photos/stuckincustoms/5932362950

122. 5) Choose bigger, more creative problems to solve

123. 6) Spur creative thinking at scale
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monsters,_Inc.

124. By using this:

125. Like folks at Pixar

126. Make things that matter –
to both you and others.

127. PROGRESS
http://www.flickr.com/photos/harryharris/381154280/

128. What do you get?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dlaughland/3475448568/

129. Life is complex and so are decisions

130. Two tracks

131. CREATIVITY
GROWTH MIND
FIND FLOW
BE A MAKER

132. Guidelines; stars to navigate by
http://www.flickr.com/photos/anieto2k/9255191990/

133. “Clarity brings about purpose,
purpose brings about action,
action brings about change.”
– Joel Yeo

134. What you’ve been doing all week

135. Mobilize a dormant creative confidence
http://www.flickr.com/photos/badastronomy/4179773749/

136. You have literally gotten your Group On!
http://www.weareforeal.com/projects/bssp-nouiasaaou-2013

137. Collective creative ideas=infinite
http://static.ipaustralia.com.au/store3/10/78/1078354.1.high.jpg

138. No more hoarding of ideas
http://www.flickr.com/photos/anieto2k/8127201319/

139. Creating together well
http://www.flickr.com/photos/argonne/4435608143/

140. Diversity of ideas & people
http://www.flickr.com/photos/shirinwiniger/3680885289/

141. Combination of strengths
http://www.infographicmaker.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/RightBrainvsLeftBrain-Infographic.jpg

142. Builds collaboration, trust, and empathy
https://www.flickr.com/photos/joi/2941559903

143. http://www.flickr.com/photos/vfsdigitaldesign/6078442693/
People + Product + Environment + Community

144. = Innovation

145. Critical

146. Not creative
Fixed mindset
Blocked
Taking what you can get
All too familiar with this

147. CREATE
LEARN
FLOW
CONTRIBUTE

148. While we can’t predict the future
http://fusible.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/crystal-ball.jpg

149. Because of the unknown
http://hub.salford.ac.uk/energymonitoring/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2012/01/known-knowns1.jpg

150. THIS

151. “We are the creators of the future.”
Umair Haque, “How to Have a Year That Matters”

152. Collaboration
http://www.flickr.com/photos/schipulites/5407946699/

153. This is your compass

154. Creativity is your True North

155. CREATIVITY
GROWTH MIND
FIND FLOW
BE A MAKER

156. All of space-time started with a singularity

157. Just as the Universe is expanding, so are we

158. Now you have more tools

159. “If you want to build a ship,
don't drum up people to collect
wood and don't assign them
tasks and work, but rather
teach them to long for the
endless immensity of the sea.”
– Antoine de Saint-Exupery
https://www.flickr.com/photos/masma06/11337154704/

160. The winning hack is just the beginning

161. You are Master Creators

162. Continue to contribute
https://www.flickr.com/photos/mcgraths/3277839203

163. Continue to pursue excellence
Photo: Denise Jacobs

164. Pay it forward; Hack it forward
https://www.flickr.com/photos/gammaman/7986229724/

165. The choice is clear
https://www.flickr.com/photos/matias3000/253871344/

166. Choose
http://www.flickr.com/photos/designandtechnologydepartment/4771136128/

167. Get the slides, y’all!
Creativedo.se/geekon-ip

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

169. Please take the Creative Blocks Survey
Creativedo.se/creative-blocks-survey

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

171. DeniseJacobs.com
 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/

172. And finally…
http://www.flickr.com/photos/theredproject/3302110152/