A Creator's Guide

The Universal Joy of Creative Expression

Where do you experience your greatest joy?

This is the paradox of joy and happiness ... joy and happiness are not states you find - they are the RESULTS of your own creative expression - of living a moment - or a life - as an expression of your unique creative purpose.

And when you share your singular creative purpose - your unique life contribution - with the world, you experience JOY - and the world is blessed! 

More than that, you encourage the world to join in their own creative expression!

There is no better way to experience this truth than through this phenomenal and inspirational Matt Harding video ... consider it your JOY FIX - anytime you need one ...

Where the Hell is Matt? (2008) from Matthew Harding on Vimeo.

What creative uniqueness - or unrecognized Greatness (see previous posts) - can you share with the world?

Post your inspirations here ...

In creative spirit,
Julie Ann

A Failure of Imagination: War, Innovation, Environment

"A failure of imagination" ...

That is the recurring theme that emerges
when we look closely at the most challenging issues across our globe.

This excerpt from A Creator's Guide: Principles, Process & Power to Transform Our Lives, Work & World traces the crucial evidence of our lack of imagination - and the consequences it has on our world:

From the U.S. 9/11 Commission, to global economist Thomas Friedman, to futurists from across the globe, we hear the message of the centrality of Imagination, and its power to change the course of civilization, in both practical and profound ways, every day. Pivotal examples abound:

• Terrorist Threats - For example, of the four principle failures that led to the disaster of 9/11, the U.S. 9/11 Commission prioritized as Number One the failure of “imagination.” Citing not only the lack of imagination and a “mindset that dismissed possibilities” on the part of the U.S., but also noting that the imagination of the Al Qaeda mastermind, Al Qaeda’s innovative network, and its use of technology made this small terrorist group “more globalized than we {the U.S.} were,” the 9/11 Commission concluded that, for the U.S: “It is therefore crucial to find a way of routinizing, even bureaucratizing, the exercise of imagination.”

• Creative Competition - Moreover, in The Flight of the Creative Class, Richard Florida warns that in every country:  “Today, the terms of competition revolve around a central axis:  a nation's ability to mobilize, attract and retain human creative talent. ...America's growth miracle turns on one key factor; its openness to new ideas … wherever talent goes, innovation, creativity, and economic growth are sure to follow.”

• Global Issues - As important as competitiveness may be in our current WorldView, even more important, as we rise into this new consciousness, are the larger global issues - terrorism, nuclear threat, genocide and environmental crises - that will require of us more creative collaboration, on a worldwide scale, than ever before.  Once again, conscious use of our imagination is the key. As former U.S. Vice President Al Gore says: “[Climate change is] a moral issue because it affects the survival of human civilization. It’s a challenge to our moral imagination to understand that we could actually be affecting the entire planet.”
Copyright 2008 Julie Ann Turner

Yesterday, former Vice President Al Gore - in a pivotal speech that challenged America to "commit to producing 100 percent of our electricity from renewable energy and truly clean carbon-free sources within 10 years" - once again called for Americans, and the world, to use their creative imagination - their creative choice, and their creative leadership, to transform (and save) our planet (from ourselves):

Al Gore:
I've begun to hear different voices in this country from people who are not only tired of baby steps and special interest politics, but are hungry for a new, different and bold approach. ... This is a generational moment. A moment when we decide our own path and our collective fate. ... We must now lift our nation to reach another goal that will change history. Our entire civilization depends upon us now embarking on a new journey of exploration and discovery. Our success depends on our willingness as a people to undertake this journey and to complete it within 10 years. Once again, we have an opportunity to take a giant leap for humankind.

Gore, rightfully, likened this global environmental challenge - and opportunity - to the challenge to send a man to the moon.  Powerfully, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (a Republican, mind you) uses the same example, and sees the same need for creative leadership, in This Week with George Stephanopoulos (7/14/08):

Basically, this [Presidential] Administration did not believe in global warming or they didn't believe they should do anything about it, since China is not doing anything about it and since India is not willing to do the same thing - so why should we do the same thing?

But you know, that's not how we put a man on the moon.

We did not say 'Let everyone else do the same thing, then we would do it.'  We said 'We want to be the pioneers.  We want to be out in front.' And we're out in front in stem cell research, we're out in front when it comes to high technology and biotechnology, with our university systems ...

I think we have a good opportunity to do the same thing with fighting global warming.

So here's to the to the pioneering spirit - and to the power of the human Imagination.   

Here's to those bold enough to envision and create the future together.

Share your thoughts with us below ...

In creative spirit,
Julie Ann

The Power of the "Imagination Playground"

Well, high fives - and fist bumps - to architect David Rockwell, whose is applying his genius for creating spaces to a new venture called "Imagination Playground" - an collaborative initiative with urban playground king Kaboom to offer children (especially those in low-income neighborhoods) innovative, colorful playspaces to let their imaginations run wild.

These playspaces are unique, in that, rather than just staging the usual slides, swings and other less-than-imaginative standard equipment, Imagination Playgrounds give the children real, movable foam pieces and parts they can combine into endless new forms, configurations - and original creations (photo from Robert Stolarik of theNYTimes).

Think Legos on steriods - or Zolo or Toobers & Zotz at life-size.

As The New York Times reports:

"In Brownsville, Brooklyn, a portable version of Imagination Playground features oversize but lightweight building blocks. ...

Instead of plummeting down slides or dangling from the monkey bars, children on Saturday built polyethylene palaces from blocks shaped like triangles, clovers, rectangles and cylinders.

They became instant abstractionists, using sturdy brushes to mix heaps of wet sand with colored chalk on the cement. And the urban planners-in-training among them took turns toying with hoses and blocks to create water irrigation systems. ..."

Clearly, with creativity and imagination being forced out of the classroom - and in large part out of our education system, in general - in favor of basic memorization and fact-based testing ... initiatives like Imagination Playground are ever more important and essential, to engage our children in using their imaginations to envision new possibilities and see beyond "what already is" and on to "What Can Be."

What are your thoughts on how creative activities (and, unfortunately, increasingly recess itself) are being squeezed out of our education system?

Share your experiences - and innovative ideas - here ....

In creative spirit,
Julie Ann

Stripping Creativity out of the Classroom

There's a great, global debate raging about "The Creative Economy" - and about where the world's innovative knowledge workers will come from, to fuel future economic success - in a new realm where brains trump brawn, services trump manufacturing, and imagination trumps knowledge.

Unfortunately, the United States education system continues to strip creativity - in every form - out of the classroom, and out of education altogether.

In the all-encompassing drive for educational "accountability" (driven by NCLB - No Child Left Behind legislation), the creative arts have been driven out of education almost entirely - and these are the activities that enable students to practice creative and innovative thinking ... to learn to think beyond "What Is" and to create "What Can Be."

Nothing could be more important to global competitiveness than the ability of our workforce to think creatively and our business success to be fueled by innovation - yet these are precisely the abilities we undermine by eliminating creative education.

This past week on Meet the Press (7/13/08), Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) noted this serious discrepancy:

"We can do accountability in different ways.  What we have done with No Child Left Behind (NCLB) is squeeze the creativity out of the classroom, because teachers have begun just "teaching to the test" (the standardized tests required by NCLB).  We need to measure progress and reward progress, not hit some one number, some "one size fits all."

But as long as we keep accountability in NCLB by forcing people to measure progress and judging them and saying 'If you do better, good for you ... If you do worse, you've got a problem' - but that's not what we've been doing with NCLB.  What we've done is we said 'one size fits all.'  We need to reauthorize NCLB, but we need to change it so that we get accountability through progress, rather than one standard number for everybody. ... in terms of all the globalization talk, really, we're going to be left behind. ..."

Teaching to the test emphasizes knowledge only - not imagination.  And student testing never measures the most important factor - a student's potential.  Not what he or she currently is, but what he or she can be.

For that, we need educators and parents who understand how to share with our children - and how to apply for ourselves - the conscious use of the creative process.

In creative spirit,
Julie Ann Turner

Superhero II: What is Your Greatness?

Well, the summer Superhero
blockbusters continue -
this week with Hellboy II
topping the box office ...
and with Batman-
The Dark Knight teed up
to open this weekend, there's no doubt that
that the Superhero story possesses timeless power.

So, to build on the previous post (great stuff -
about how to determine YOUR Superpower,
in case you missed it!) ... today, let's talk about
your UNRECOGNIZED GREATNESS:

         Behind all the hype - and behind every
         Superhero blockbuster -
         lies a timeless tale ... the eternal tale that gives
         all these super-stories their power.

         And that's the story of the hero's journey. 
         It is the story - and promise -
         of realizing our own unrecognized greatness.

Deep inside each of us, there is a knowledge -
both a belief, and a calling -
that we, too, have special "powers"...

... yes, our own super "powers" -
the unique gifts and talents that only we possess
and are able to share with the world.

And if we don't share them,
the world won't have them.

          That's the transcendent story
          behind all the Superhero tales ...
          a story we instantly recognize
          and identify as our own.

So here's a quote from Jeffrey Schwartz, CEO of Timberland -
that, to my mind, perfectly describes this higher-level greatness
you have within you.

To Your Greatness

There is a greatness waiting for you …
We are busy,
we are distracted,
we are cynical,
          but this greatness waits …

This greatness finds you in a moment,
unlikely or untimely,
and suddenly you find yourself 
connected to humanity in a way
that shocks you.

And this greatness will hold you up
so high and strong
that any previous version of yourself
seems flimsy.             

What is Your
Greatness?

Post Yours Below!! >>>

Don't forget to dig into the
"5 Keys to Superpower Success"
from the previous post, as well ...
for the "how" part of tapping
your full creative potential ...

Until next time ...

In creative spirit,
Julie Ann

Summertime Superheros (What is Your Superpower?)

It's inescapable!  This summer's movie screens are sizzling with - that's right: Superheroes! From classics like Ironman and The Hulk, to newcomers like Hancock and Wesley from Wanted, these stars arrest our attention. Why do these stories hold such power and capture our collective imagination? Because, behind all the hype - and behind every Superhero blockbuster - lies a timeless tale ... the eternal tale that gives all these super-stories their power. And that's the story of the hero's journey.  It is the story - and promise - of realizing our own unrecognized greatness. Deep inside each of us, there is a knowledge - both a belief, and a calling - that we, too, have special "powers"... ... yes, our own super "powers" - the unique gifts and talents that only we possess and are able to share with the world. And if we don't share them, the world won't have them. That's the transcendent story behind all the Superhero tales ... a story we instantly recognize and identify as our own. Sure, we all have flaws - as does Hancock (who drinks too much, before finding his way back to his true purpose) ... and we may be frustrated - like the Hulk (who must learn to control and focus his power) ... ... or, perhaps, as is most common, we may not even realize the amazing gifts that lie inside us, just waiting for us to discover and share them with the world - as is the case with the young hero Wesley, in Wanted (who was living a cubicle-contained life before he found a guide to reveal his true powers.) But each of us - that's right, every single one of us - has a greatness within us. So, I ask you: What is your Superpower? (Hint: If you really think about it, you'll probably realize you possess more than one.) Really, take a moment.  Think about it.

5 SECRETS OF SUPERPOWER SUCCESS      Keys to discovering your greatness       (your "Superpowers"): Take Time to Discover Your Unique Gifts and Talents - and to Explore Your Life Purpose » Ask trusted friends, current and former colleagues,   fellow community leaders what they see as your   greatest strengths ... recall what actions and ideas   others often compliment you on ... consider finding   a mentor or guide to help you identify and   cultivate your powers, purpose and true potential » Consider what you loved to do as child,     and what you imagined    "being" when you "grew up" ...    allow yourself to dwell in the    creative, miraculous realm    of your childlike mind » Recognize what you truly are passionate about    (not just what you are "good at doing") ...    what activities give you energy    the more you spend time engaged in them? ...    what do you find yourself so immersed in that you "lose    time" (this deep engagement is often called "flow" by    both creativity experts and by elite athletes) Think Beyond Your Current Position ... to your highest desired job or level of business or work success ... to what level of power and accomplishment do you wish to ascend? Vividly imagine what true success looks and feels like for you. How quickly do you want to get there?  How can you accelerate your success - and achieve it on your own terms? Seek the Highest - Think beyond just your job or work position, and imagine what singular leadership you might bring to your community ... take time now to envision your ultimate life contribution Map Your Trajectory - Your life and career paths are like a series of ever-rising "story arcs" in an expanding spiral of accomplishment - and you're writing your own heroic life story (whether you realize it consciously or not) ... begin to map your life "arcs" one or two steps beyond your current career and community contributions, and identify the first few steps that will shift you to those higher trajectories Take Powerful Action on the top 1 or 2 initial steps - the highest-potential, immediate impact priorities - and start now to focus your energy and creative power toward reaching your highest vision and full potential   Share the insights these Superpower Secrets sparked for you   in your comments below! >>>  Shine a light for others!

It's just past the 4th of July, at the midpoint of the year 2008. Like every Superhero who's gone before you ... You want to ascend beyond a mere "job" ... You want to make your unique mark ... more than that, You want to make a difference in the world. » Does your current work and life allow and encourage you to express    your unique gifts and talents? » How can you transform your creative gifts and talents    into true superpowers of purpose and potential? » How long will you wait to begin living your life to that full potential? If you'd like an expert guide to help you envision and achieve your highest success and life contribution, simply REPLY now to request a complimentary, one-on-one strategy session, where we will map your path to the extraordinary.

Your Top Question: Creativity vs. Innovation?

Again, I have been absolutely blown away by the thoughtful, in-depth "Top Creativity & Innovation" questions you all have been sending me ... savvy submissions have been pouring in!

And I'm going to be sharing your amazing questions and answering them right here in A Creator's Guide blog over the next few weeks ...

So stay tuned to the blog for answers - and check out the launch of A Creator's Guide to the Universe: Principles, Process and Power to Transform Your Life, Work & World and the full, limited edition Creative Guidance System Home Study Course - and get your free Sneak Peek "Mini-Book" preview and "Arnold's Arc" (Arnold Schwarzenegger's Creative "Life Arc" - a story you've just got to hear!) now ...

______________________________________________

By far, the most popular questions I've received involve the difference between creativity and innovation, especially since innovation is such a hot topic these days. 

Read on to discover the real differences between creativity and innovation - and to avoid the common mistakes in understanding these two kindred concepts (and, most important, learn why shortcutting the Creative Process will inevitably doom any innovation initiative, and what you need to know to succeed in yours):

Creative thought is the ground – the foundation – for innovation. 

Can we afford … the time … the resources … the risk … to be innovative?

As Trevor Davis said in a 1999 PricewaterhouseCoopers Innovation Study:
"Innovation will be the dominant value proposition for the next century." 

In truth, we can no longer afford not to be creative.

Creativity is the one capacity that holds its value, while everything information-based becomes more a commodity.  The free flow of information – across global networks – has shifted the fundamental dynamics. 

The only competitive advantage is creativity.

Creativity and innovation are the way … the way we become more strategic and more competitive … the way we do more in less time … the way we stretch and multiply resources. 

Creativity is the ground of innovation.   

Let’s be clear: Creativity and innovation are not simply one more “program” added to our work.

Creativity is the process by which we do our work. 

We must build it into our culture.

Though all too often we try to contain it, control it, minimize it or even ignore it, there ultimately is no avoiding that the Creative Process powers our world.

Moreover, creativity is more than just a high theory or noble concept – it is the essential force that determines how our lives unfold and how our organizations reach their potential. 

In A Creator's Guide, we reveal that creativity – as well as its cousin, innovation – is a mindset, a different culture, a new way of thinking.

As we’ve noted, however, innovation can be framed almost as broadly as creativity itself – as a mindset or ground of thought – but is most often defined more narrowly as the “action and Implementation” stages of the Creative Process.

As tempting as it may be to shortcut the Creative Process – to focus only on the “action and implementation” steps – to do so would be to skip over the critical first steps of the Creative Process, which, as we reveal in A Creator's Guide, are the steps that frame vision and set strategic context. 

Doing so would effectively disconnect any resulting “action” from adding strategic value, and from
the flow of creative power and potential that intentional use of the full Creative Process generates.

For businesses, the profitability of ideas is paramount.  Yet, it is only within the context of the full Creative Process that innovation gains its power to reshape not only products but categories, and to contribute dramatically to an organization’s bottom line (or Return on Innovation investment). 

Innovation expert Elaine Dundon acknowledges this context, in noting that “without creativity, there is no innovation."

Let’s be clear:  Innovation is important, especially as defined as the “action and implementation”
stages of the Creative Process.  Innovation is critical to business, and ensuring creativity is tied both to strategy and implementation is more crucial than ever to sustainable success.

However, this creative shift is much more than the latest organizational trend; it requires an entirely different mode of thought.  Moreover, this creative shift, unlike passing popular business fads - once in favor, then “out of favor” - is not temporary.  It marks a fundamental shift in our culture.

As we seek to infuse innovation into our lives and work, it is critical first to understand the full
Creative Process, and the place of innovation within that broader framework, as well as within the broader shift to a creative WorldView.

Julie Ann Turner
A Creator's Guide

P.S. The Creative Guidance System captures the full Creative Process, and places all its stages and steps - from vision and strategy to implementation and evaluation – into a powerful, practical framework both individuals and teams may use to generate the results they wish to create. 

Stay tuned for next week's launch of A Creator's Guide to the Universe: Principles, Process and Power to Transform Your Life, Work & World and the full, limited edition Creative Guidance System Home Study Course - see the sneak peek "spy photo" of the cover now ... sign up for news and launch announcements (and a bonus Preview) now!

P.S.S.  There's still time to enter the special Launch Giveaway Contest for my brand new Creative Guidance System Home Study Course!  To enter, you simply post your entry as a comment to the previous blog post below (it's as easy as 1-2-3!).  The context ends this Friday!

Creative Contest Time! Will you be the winner?

That's right! 

You're in the right spot to enter the special Launch Giveaway Contest for my brand new Creative Guidance System Home Study Course!

The Launch Giveaway Contest starts today - Monday, Dec. 17 - and will run through the first week of January, 2008!

>>> Here are the details on how you can win - it's as easy as 1-2-3! (and takes less than 2 minutes - and your imagination!):

* Take a Look at the secret site link for the Creator's Guide book series and an overview of the full, limited edition Creative Guidance System Home Study Course right now ...   

* Imagine how all the elements (books, worksheets, resources, etc.) the Creative Guidance System Home Study Course will benefit your own creative Life Journey ...

* Tell me what you would do with your own Creative Guidance System Home Study Course >>> simply post (just click on the tiny "Comments" link below this box) your creative entry to share about this breakthrough creativity course would benefit you, your life, your work or your world! (describe how you would put it to the best use, in your own words) ...

... and why you should be the creative mind chosen to win (hint: similar courses and toolkits are valued from $350.00 to thousands of dollars - so this will be a phenomenal gift for the creative winner!  Note: Be sure to leave your email address at the end of your post, so we can contact you!

That's it!  Then visit here at A Creator's Guide blog to see all the amazing entries ...

After all the entries posted by the first week in January (by 12 noon, Jan. 4) are considered, the participant who shared the most thoughtful, creative and world-changing entry (as determined by me and my board of creative elves!;-) - will win an entire, deluxe, full-color Creative Guidance System Home Study Course.  The announcement will be made just before the official launch starts!

Also, be sure you're signed up for our Launch Notification List, so you'll get all the launch details, advance photos, and updates as soon as they are announced!

The Journey to your full Creative Potential starts now - so get posting!

Julie Ann
A Creator's Guide

**********************************************
UPDATE: BLOG CONTEST WINNER ANNOUNCED!

We're glad to report that Debra - who posted her contest entry about how she would use the
Creative Guidance System Course to guide development of her new blog, to focus on
women's entrepreneurial issues - is the winner of our Launch Contest!

You can see her eloquent post through the "Comments" link below.

Congratulations, Debra! We look forward to seeing your creative contributions!

Julie Ann
A Creator's Guide

First Look at Creative Guidance System!

Shhhhhh! 

There's a sneak peek "spy photo" of the cover for the soon-to-be-launched A Creator's Guide to the Universe: Principles, Process and Power to Transform Your Life, Work & World ...

You can get your first look at the book series and an overview of the full, limited edition Creative Guidance System Home Study Course right now ... even before the sales page goes up!

<< (We're takin' the wraps off!)

Plus, you can ask any question you might have about this new System now, simply by adding a Comment below (just click the tiny, little link labeled "Comment" below this post) ...

And I'll be posting answers right here leading up to the January 2008 launch date (stay tuned, exact date soon to be announced) ...

In creative spirit,
Julie Ann - A Creator's Guide

P.S.  OK, so, maybe not quite so "Shhhhh!" - if you want to share the secret site link with other thought leaders and creative minds, be my guest - and they'll also be able to get the "Sneak Peek" Mini-Book & Arnold's Arc (Arnold Schwazenegger's Creative Life Arc), as well!  Send 'em on over now!

Wow! - Top Innovation & Creativity Questions

Wow.

That's all I can say.

I have been absolutely blown away by the thoughtful, in-depth "Top Creativity & Innovation" questions you all have been sending me ... savvy submissions have been pouring in!

And I'm going to be sharing your amazing questions and answering them right here in A Creator's Guide blog over the next two weeks ...

>> So visit often, and chime in on the conversations (remember, you can eat goodies with one hand and post with the other - so you don't miss a beat over the holidays!;-)! 

You won't want to miss even one of these Q & A's - any one of them could spark a breakthrough in your own life, work and world ...

P.S. It's not too late to send me your Top Creativity Question in our online survey - and received your "Sneak Peek" Mini-Book and Arnold's Arc (Arnold Schwarzenegger's creative Life Arc) as my thank you gift!  Do it now, and you'll transform your mindset instantly!