The Innovation Blog

Here at Creative Realities, we use an 11-step process of creative problem-solving to help our clients generate, develop, and troubleshoot ideas to help them overcome an obstacle, realize an opportunity, or to simply stretch their thinking beyond its current state. In only working here a few shorts months, I've seen this process produce some amazing results for people and it makes me wonder why everyone isn't using this method to better their professional and/or personal lives?

The idea that creative thinking is not a natural talent but rather a skill that can be taught is not a new one.  Alex Osborn, known as the “Father of Modern Brainstorming,” was the “O” in the world-renowned advertising agency, BBDO in the mid-1900’s.  As a businessman involved in the business of applied creativity, he sought to learn how creative thinking happened and if it could be broken down into teachable principles.  To learn, he observed the behaviors and techniques of the creative staff of his agency.

In 1948, he published Your Creative Power, presenting the technique of brainstorming. In the 1950’s, along with Sidney Parnes, he developed the Osborn-Parnes Creative Problem Solving Process (CPS) and cofounded the Creative Problem Solving Institute (CPSI), the world's longest running international creativity conference.

His work, along with many others since, has dispelled the Myth of Creativity.  While it is true that many people have a natural talent for creative thinking, the skills and techniques that they use naturally are teachable.  Anyone can become more creative in their thinking and Creative Realities is here to help.

Over the next 10 weeks, The Innovationists will share skills, techniques, and tools that will help you develop your ability to think creatively "on-demand."

As I write this, I have “It’s a small world” doing laps in my head.  In our world of innovation consulting, I am constantly struck by the relevance of seemingly irrelevant things to our clients, even from one client to another.  Whether operating in different industries, on dramatically different scales – e.g. producing 250 pieces per year versus 250 million – it seems everyone has something to offer everyone.  For example, on a recent “Immersion” – a visit to a client’s customer site – a company that creates massive valves for pipelines (I mean massive, like feet and feet across) and does so on a very small scale was able to give our client, a sensor company producing tiny little sensors in the millions, 6 or 7 compelling ways sensors could apply in their space(s).  The two companies, as different as can be, are now working on combining forces, even sharing manufacturing insights!  Absolutely incredible.  Thus, my theory that everyone has something they can offer to anyone and everyone.  The takeaway: don’t discredit anything because at first glance it seems irrelevant.  Have faith in the power of the absurd (Einstein said, “If at first an idea does not seem completely absurd then there’s no hope for it”) and play with that creative fodder.  More often than not a creative idea is not an idea that is completely new to the world, rather an idea that applies something that already exists in a new way.  So, relieve that creative pressure, the performance anxiety, and you will find new things in unexpected places, and you’ll be on your way to achieving truly breakthrough innovation!