This document provides an introduction to a personal creative journey program. It discusses recognizing that change and personal creativity are constants. It also discusses how creativity can be seen in flow, perfect performances, insightful social interactions, and appreciating beauty. The document introduces some basic tools of creativity: trusting your creativity, relaxing judgment, making precise observations, and asking powerful questions. It discusses having no expectations as the first "live with" practice, suggesting surrendering the need to know outcomes and trusting the creative process.

1. Your Personal Creative Journey
Week 1

2. Welcome to Your Personal Creative Journey, based on
the work of Michael Ray and Rochelle Myers
 Recognizes that change
and your personal
creative resource are the
only constants
 Migrated to other
communities:
 Businesses,
 Schools,
 Parents,
 Families affected by
9/11

3. Creativity in Business Topics
#1 Introduction to CIB
#2 Relaxing the VOJ
#3 Precise Observation Tools
#4 Powerful Question
#5 Purpose & Vision
#6 Time & Stress
#7 Relationships Challenges
#8 Balance
#9 Prosperity
#10 Living Creatively
4

4. What kind of creativity are we talking about?
 Being in flow
 Perfect tennis or golf shot
 Saying just the ‘right’ thing at just the
‘right’ time
 Smelling a rose
 Looking in a newborn baby’s eyes
 Deeply collaborative relationship

5. Another way to see it:
Creativity is…
• A challenge to the status quo and
‘conventional wisdom’
• Self-expression
• The Language of Change
• Others?

6. Great Idea Exercise
On a sheet of paper, or in your journal, draw what you see here:
BEFORE DURING AFTER
9

7. Guided Visualization

8. The “Idealized” Creative Process
2. Success
1. Start
11

9. The Creative Process
6. Implementation
1. Preparation
2. Frustration 5. Illumination
4. Strategizing
3. Incubation
?
12

10. Before/During/After Lists
(past Stanford classes)
Before During After
Desperation Frustration Obvious Hopeful Smug Proud
Constipation Relaxed Exciting On cloud 9 Content Determined
Confusion Suffocated Drunk On a roll Post-partum Confident
Pressure Darkness Uplifting Energized Adrenaline Resolute
Angry Bothered Out of Body Right Relief Focused
Hopeful External Proud Natural Satiated Good humor
Excitement Expectations Omniscient Sleeping Patient Impatient
Congestion Perplexed Soapy Dreaming Rewarded Eager
Annoyance Worried Relieved Anxious Over- Wrong
Doubt Blindly Euphoric Peaceful confident Satisfied
Self- Confident Grateful Real Energized Great
conscious Irritable Intoxicated Fear Panic Anxious
Uncertain Alive Tentative Silly Calm
Anxiety Happy Challenged Excited
Helpless Powerful Elated Doubtful
Stress Committed
13

11. What is creativity?
???
14

12. Four Basic Tools of Creativity
1. Trust your Creativity
2. Relax your Judgment
3. Precise Observation
4. Powerful Questions
16

13. What do we mean by “Trust”?
• Willingness to take the next step
• Letting go
• Seeing the unknown as adventure
• Willingness to launch a journey
• Acting on our potential
• What do you trust in enough that you’re
willing to step into the unknown?
17

14. When You Trust Your Creativity
You:
• Know creativity resides inside you
• Understand your unique creative process
• Have confidence in your ability to access it
• Can access courage to rely on your own resources…
• Embody an openness to new ideas and inputs
• Experience a willingness to make mistakes
18

15. Concept of
the
“Live-With”
19

16. Daily Live-With Practice
 Purpose:To have a personal “in-context”
experience with the concepts that is:
– practical
– integrated into work and home life
– reflective
 Different“Live-With” for every creativity
tool & challenge
20

17. Live-With Process
Breakthrough
Reflection & Individual
Practice
Documentation Coaching
Live-Withs are a highly leveraged approach to change
• practice in context of daily activities- no time, just
mind-share
• experiment with new approaches
• reflect and journal on your experience: pay attention
to the results

18. Live-With Process
 Beginning of week 
review Live-With, post reminders
 Practice daily 
jot down notes from personal experiences
 End of week 
capture experience, write reflection in journal
Submit reflection to your coach
22

19. Live With #1
Have“No”Expectations
23

20. Have no expectations
IF expect an outcome,
THEN miss possibilities
IF expected outcome not occur,
THEN feel defeated
IF expect only one approach,
THEN stuck when it does not work
IF expect to be stuck,
THEN you will be
IF you know everything,
THEN no room for creativity!
24

21. Live With: Have no Expectations
 Surrender the need to know
 Practice trusting yourself
 Stop anxious striving & masterminding
results
 Notice your expectations and “let go”
 Set a clear intention but be unattached to
outcome
 Observe your creativity in action
25