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I had the opportunity to speak earlier this week at the Innovators Improv. It’s a monthly gathering that brings together a variety of interesting folks from the community to share experiences, discuss questions, and raise ideas on a range of topics. I was invited to talk about “Sparking Creativity“. I wanted to share my talk as I think we all benefit from the opportunity to spark creativity in our everyday lives (stay tuned for video).
the shower and idea generation
When thinking about the idea sparking creativity I couldn’t help but think about where my own ideas are sparked – and quite often that’s in the shower. Why do our best ideas often come while we’re taking a shower …or walking the dog …or running to the bathroom between meetings? It seems so inconvenient.
The good news is that there is an actual reason for why this happens and in better understanding what’s underneath perhaps we can harness it and encourage it to happen during far more convenient (and needed) times throughout our day.
… the subtle suggestion of psychological distance seems to help people think outside the box. Jia, L. et al., “Lessons from a Faraway Land: The Effect of Spatial Distance on Creative Cognition,” Journal of Experimental Social Psychology (forthcoming) (Boston Globe).
The focal point of cognitive distance as it pertains to our daily creativity is that as we further ourselves physically from the problem the more able we are to tackle that problem in a creative, innovative, and out of the box kind of way.
Web of Ideas with David Weinberger
“Is the Web Changing the Nature of Leadership?”
Wednesday, December 5, 6:30 pm
Berkman Center Conference Room
23 Everett St., 2nd Floor, Cambridge MA
It’s easy to find business and political leaders. But who are the Web’s leaders? Although the big online collaborative projects have nominal leaders, they play a very different role than do traditional CEO’s. The Web seems to be providing an alternative to the notion that business leaders are people imbued with special traits. In fact, Some of the traits and roles of traditional leadership are now becoming properties of the network itself.
Also, check out Q & A with David Weinberger on Web Leadership in preparation for Wednesday’s discussion.
The Ethos Roundtable
Next Tuesday, December 18th 2007
4:30 to 6:00 PM
@ the Charles Hotel (1 Bennett Street, Harvard Square, Cambridge, MA)
Featured guest: Michelle Murrain from the Nonprofit Open Source Initiative
The Nonprofit Open Source Initiative (NOSI) recently launched an updated version of its excellent guide, “Choosing and Using Free and Open Source Software: A Primer for Nonprofits.”
Note: You can download the primer for free here.
The Ethos Roundtable is “an informal group of people who are interested in 1) measuring and extending ethos, and 2) using technology for positive social change. We meet on the third Tuesday of the month from 4:30 to 6:00 pm, at the Charles Hotel in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.”
Who doesn’t love a reason to grab a meal out – especially after a long week? Dine at one of the participating restaurants below in observance of World AIDS Day (this Saturday) and to support the work of the AIDS Action Committee of Massachusetts.
Avila (Saturday, December 1) prix fixe menu
Bambara Cambridge (throughout December)
dante (Saturday, December 1)
KO Prime (throughout December)
Myers+Chang (Friday, Nov. 30 & Sat. December 1)
No. 9 Park (Saturday, December 1)
The Fireplace (Saturday, December 1)
The Ruby Room (throughout December)
Silvertone (Saturday, December 1)
Thought you were busy? You might think twice when you check out this thrilling (and kooky) initiative in celebration of National Novel Writing Month.
National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) is a fun, seat-of-your-pants approach to novel writing. Participants begin writing November 1. The goal is to write a 175-page (50,000-word) novel by midnight, November 30.
Oh, and there’s still a call for participants. Also, there is a Grub Street sponsored NaNoWriMo get together this evening (my apologies for the late notice).
When: Tonight, Monday, November 19th at 6:30pm
A crew of Grubbies who are also NaNoWriMo-ers are all getting together at Remington’s bar, (124 Boylston Street), just a few doors down from Grub Street. They’ll be talking novels, sipping beverages, and connecting with one another. If you’ve been slaving away during National Novel Writing Month, now is the time to come talk to some other brave souls who’ve been doing the same (courtesy of the Grub Street Rag).
I’m currently obsessed with DailyCandy – “a free daily e-mail from the front lines of fashion, food, and fun.” The daily emails enable recipients “to get the scoop on hot new restaurants, designers, secret nooks, and charming diversions in [their] city and beyond.”
And it was in receiving my daily email that I learned of Pie in the Sky.
Not only are they committed to making tasty pies, but also “are committed to delivering culturally diverse and wholesome meals to 675 critically ill people in and around Greater Boston all year long.”
Pies are made from Boston area chefs, but you won’t know who made your pie until you open your box – an entertaining bonus. So why struggle over baking or dessert centric decisions when you can simply treat your family and friends to a pie on a mission? Oh, and be sure to order your Thanksgiving pies before Nov. 14th.
There’s still time to attend the first-ever Massachusetts Civic Engagement Summit scheduled for Friday, November 16th in Worcester.
Check out the agenda (featuring Governor Deval Patrick) and schedule for more information or if you’re interested in registering, then kudos to you – and with a little rearranging (and luck) I’ll see you there!
As I mentioned in my post “kitchen gadgets on a mission“, there is a great fundraiser going on in support of PKU (Phenylketonuria) that I’d encourage you to check out – with the holidays approaching swiftly why not purchase a gift that keeps on giving?
PKU is a rare inherited metabolic disorder. PKU has an incidence of about 1:10,000 births in the US.
As noted, Laurie, a Pampered Chef consultant, who also has a teenage daughter with PKU, has organized this fundraiser.
If you want to participate, you can do so easily online. Please follow these easy steps:
· Go to Laurie’s website: www.pamperedchef.biz/lauried
· Select “Order Products”
· Enter “Maine PKU & AD” as the organization
· Place order – all orders must be placed by 11/5
· 20% of the proceeds go to PKU
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