Maya Mathias's experience and insights revealing the fluid-artistic nature of the creative process,

"Months into my improv studies, it struck me that this mimicked much of my career in the marketing and communications industry....

Real life in advertising/branding/marketing is anything but predictable...

Via @TweetRightBrain

5 creative writing ideas from "The Best Damn Creative Writing Blog"

1. It's okay to be low tech
   One of the hallmark traits of South Park (especially in its earlier seasons) is their commitment to simple illustrations and graphics.
2. Make Your Characters Unforgettable
   There is no other character on television quite like Eric Cartman. Annoying though he may be, Cartman is probably the most memorable characters on the show.
3. Controversy is In
   It’s almost impossible to hear the name “South Park” and not think of controversy.
   

10 Arrogance Traps For Entrepreneurs (Forbes)

An excellent article by Peter Zwilling (Forbes): a no-holds-barred list of how entrepreneurs delude themselves, by avoiding the realities of life.

1. "Business plans are for dummies. Think business plans are just for investors? Wrong. Those plans are primarily for you."

2. "This is so cool! Just because you think your new mousetrap is extraordinary doesn't mean the whole world will agree." (picture: Segway)

3. "If we build it, they will come. The hot term these days is 'viral marketing'. Reality: Viral marketing only takes off after you prime the pump with real marketing."

"...We all know that the solution that will get us further is straightforward: you have to do stuff, which takes effort over time. The process is quite clear.

...People who are highly imaginative, emotionally driven, and highly discerning are less likely to be satisfied with an off-the-shelf process because they run a mental simulation of the outcome before they even lift a finger. Let me break this down further:

Research that shows creativity and innovation is most effective in startup entrepreneurial companies:

Similar approach, ideas to the previous article on the nature of success.

Wow. So to make several billion dollars, this the formula:

1. Love what you do (was a given based on the audience he was talking to).
2. Work hard.
3. Don’t listen to other people’s opinion of you.
4. Keep working hard even when you don’t want to.
5. Love and care for your people.
6. Never, never, never ever give up.

That’s it. And I am not kidding, that is it. Simple isn’t it?

10 Arrogance Traps For Entrepreneurs (Forbes)

An excellent article by Peter Zwilling (Forbes): a no-holds-barred list of how entrepreneurs delude themselves, by avoiding the realities of life.

1. "Business plans are for dummies. Think business plans are just for investors? Wrong. Those plans are primarily for you."

2. "This is so cool! Just because you think your new mousetrap is extraordinary doesn't mean the whole world will agree." (picture: Segway)

3. "If we build it, they will come. The hot term these days is 'viral marketing'. Reality: Viral marketing only takes off after you prime the pump with real marketing."

An article by Mitch Ditkoff acknowledging the value of doubt, uncertainty, confusion.

"Breakthrough results are not always the result of a revolutionary Eureka moment. Quite the opposite.

They are often the result of doubt, confusion, ambiguity, and experiments that go awry."

An interesting, and arguably, a surprising article that cites research showing Britain has a higher level of self-made billionaires than America.

Also of note is that both France and Germany have one of the lowest, with a greater percentage of billionaires having inherited their wealth.

Recommended reading: An interesting article that confirms age-old truths about being creative -- focus, and let go (or in this case, "drop out").

Thiel says the huge cost of higher education, and the resulting burden of debt, makes students less willing to take risks. "And we think you're going to have to take a lot of risks to build the next generation of companies."

and

Article by Linda Hill, Harvard Business Review (HBR), on how the increasing desire for meaning, purpose and value in our careers will require leaders to lead from behind.

"Leading from behind" enables free-thinking employees to be out in front, leading the way, themselves, within the overall guidelines and objectives of the organisation - provided by the CEO from behind, in support.

Others have said similar, particularly Jan Carlzon in his "Moments of Truth" (Amazon - Carlzon's "strategies focus on the customer, encouraging risk-taking, delegating more authority to front-line employees, and eliminating vertical levels of hierarchy for a more horizontal organization bear the hallmarks of entrepreneurial management and the pursuit of excellence.").

Excerpts from Linda Hill's article:

Maya Mathias's experience and insights revealing the fluid-artistic nature of the creative process,

"Months into my improv studies, it struck me that this mimicked much of my career in the marketing and communications industry....

Real life in advertising/branding/marketing is anything but predictable...

Blog by Braden Kelley, (of socialmediatoday):

"make sure that the social media tools in your organization are fulfilling their role in a positive way and leveraging existing knowledge management and collaboration toolsets:

Research that shows creativity and innovation is most effective in startup entrepreneurial companies:

Article by author Michael Shrage (Serious Play), covers the loss of nimble, gray market initiatives, and the resulting stifling of innovation.

The ability of individuals and small groups to steal time and "bootleg" a project has become notably more difficult. Not unlike Mad Men's three martini lunches, under-the-radar gray market innovation has become a virtual anachronism.

... it becomes more difficult for line managers with gifted subordinates to get away with squirreling a few extra dollars for let's-give-it-a-shot new product development. The out-of-sight, off-in-a-corner alpha test is not just a dying breed — it's being euthanized. Is that bad? Yes.

By Rajan Varadarajan (March 3, 2007)

"When it comes to innovation, the conventional wisdom often tells companies to aim for home runs. But frequent singles can be just as important.

Strategy tips from Harvard Business Review (condensed from Stand By for the Same Old Strategy Mistakes, by Walter Kiechel):

An interesting article by Catherine Fox "Being head-hunted is often too good to be true" (AFR Tuesday 22^nd, June 2010), reporting on research by Boris Groysberg of Harvard Business School.

The research reveals the extent to which high-flyers, or stars within companies are able to repeat or better their performance when shifting employers.

Article by Linda Hill, Harvard Business Review (HBR), on how the increasing desire for meaning, purpose and value in our careers will require leaders to lead from behind.

"Leading from behind" enables free-thinking employees to be out in front, leading the way, themselves, within the overall guidelines and objectives of the organisation - provided by the CEO from behind, in support.

Others have said similar, particularly Jan Carlzon in his "Moments of Truth" (Amazon - Carlzon's "strategies focus on the customer, encouraging risk-taking, delegating more authority to front-line employees, and eliminating vertical levels of hierarchy for a more horizontal organization bear the hallmarks of entrepreneurial management and the pursuit of excellence.").

Excerpts from Linda Hill's article:

Newsweek article citing research that reveals a decline in creativity amongst American school children.

The necessity of human ingenuity is undisputed. A recent IBM poll of 1,500 CEOs identified creativity as the No. 1 “leadership competency” of the future. Yet it’s not just about sustaining our nation’s economic growth. All around us are matters of national and international importance that are crying out for creative solutions, from saving the Gulf of Mexico to bringing peace to Afghanistan to delivering health care.

I have heard it said, "no one is as smart as all of us", and variants thereof.

It's a helpful aphorism, particularly for small business owners who often feel they must find all their own solutions due to limited resources (lack of specialists, experts within the company; insufficient cash flow to use consultants).

Similar approach, ideas to the previous article on the nature of success.

Wow. So to make several billion dollars, this the formula:

1. Love what you do (was a given based on the audience he was talking to).
2. Work hard.
3. Don’t listen to other people’s opinion of you.
4. Keep working hard even when you don’t want to.
5. Love and care for your people.
6. Never, never, never ever give up.

That’s it. And I am not kidding, that is it. Simple isn’t it?

Sally Hogshead's "Do you think like a goldfish", about how people's attention span is diminishing as a result of increased stimulus, data, information (e.g. from the Internet, via Twitter, etc.)

Sally Hogshead's "Do you think like a goldfish", about how people's
attention span is diminishing as a result of increased stimulus, data,
information (e.g. from the Internet, via Twitter, etc.)

Extract from 'Be and Become' revealing how the great inventors and scientists go about being creative.

Francis Crick "It’s well documented that the best way to have ideas is first of all to immerse yourself in a subject for longish periods—like months or more—in which you study intensely, and then step away and do something else—go for a holiday, go out dancing, or something like that. Very often ideas come in this sort of incubation period"

...

Victor Frankl, well known psychotherapist and survivor of Nazi concentration camps observed:

An interesting article by a doctor who doesn't believe the brain is the seat of consciousness (which is correct).

There is no conceivable neural account of many aspects of human consciousness. A record of neural impulses cannot explain the simultaneous unity and multiplicity of the moment.

...

Nor can neural activity explain memory, as the material of the brain has no way of representing the tenses of time; indeed as Einstein emphasised, for physicists, the past, present and future are stubborn illusions.

From Science Daily, scientists have found that biological system utilise quantum potentials to derive beneficial plant growth.

This and other recent discoveries have captured the attention of researchers for several reasons," says Scholes. "First, it means that quantum mechanical probability laws can prevail over the classical laws of kinetics in this complex biological system, even at normal temperatures. The energy can thereby flow efficiently by -- counter intuitively -- traversing several alternative paths through the antenna proteins simultaneously.

Paul Romer's ideas on how best to develop a sustainable, creative and fulfilling future (for all)

“Groups of people always find it difficult to change the rules, even when other rules would clearly be better. Charter cities—dozens of them, perhaps even hundreds—could be the skunkworks that bring systemic change to entire nations. Ultimately, they could give the billions of people who will soon move to cities the chance to experiment with, and opt into, rules that let them achieve their full potential.” —Paul Romer (Harvard Business Review)"

and

According to this E-Myth article, the top 5 mistakes of business owners when systemising their businesses.

• Having No Strategic Plan
• Looking for “One Size Fits All” Systems
• Not Documenting Your Systems
• Lack of Implementation
• Leaving Out Quantification

[Additional mistake: not tapping the creativity of the team when planning and implementing]

Quantum mechanics is now revealing the reality of the tangibility of possibilities ... they're becoming visibly "real".

For nearly a century we've had the foundation principle of quantum mechanics - Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle. In broad terms it's a principle that defines the limits to what we can know about quantum "stuff"1. The "limited knowledge" interpretation is a testimony to a culture that is deeply rooted in a fixed, mechanical world-view of life. The particle is assumed to be "just there" ... a physical thing with definite, and definable qualities.2

But recent experiments which show that plants naturally use quantum superpositioning3 and quantum entanglement reveal how the old mechanical world-view is outdated.

The stuff of which we are made is buzzing with superpositions of possibilities ... and that includes the stuff with which we think.

• 1. Technically, 'stuff' is a good handle which discourages being too fixed in our thinking regarding stuff that defies description. See "Quantum powered questions"
• 2. Our inability to fully understand (measure, describe or predict) a particle's characteristics has been blamed on the inherent inability to "see" ever more finer particles (as the stuff we use to see with 'disturbs' the very stuff we're trying to see - effectively "leaving us in the dark").
• 3. See earlier post, how "quantum mechanical probability laws can prevail over the classical laws of kinetics in this complex biological system, even at normal temperatures. The energy can thereby flow efficiently by -- counter intuitively -- traversing several alternative paths through the antenna proteins simultaneously."

Big Think interview with David Albert, Professor of Philosophy, Columbia University. (Full transcript of interview available at bigthink.com).

Within the context of this website (focused on productive-creativity) Albert outlines the fundamental issue with quantum mechanics ... that even though it is by far the most successful physical theory in history, it remains alien and 'counter-intuitive' to our everyday experiences. Therein lies the gem within this article ... that creativity cannot be reduced to easy explanations of brain neurophysiology (as our brains are composed of said quantum stuff that defies easy definition and understanding).

MOST couples assume having children will make them happier. But time and again researchers find parents are no happier than childless couples. More often children seem to bring unhappiness.

...

Husbands and wives both ''benefit when they embrace an ethic of marital generosity that puts the welfare of their spouse first," write the researchers Elizabeth Marquardt and W. Bradford Wilcox in the Atlantic magazine.

Another report of how online social media enables 'shallow' relationships.

Previous research as reported suggests that the use and reliance? on social media platforms such as Facebook can lead to shallow relationships.

Recent research revealed that young people had shown a 'significant' drop in empathy.

A recent study of Canadian university students suggests the heaviest users of Facebook are narcissists and people with low self-esteem.

Science has finally confirmed what anyone who's ever been in love already knows: Heartbreak really does hurt.

In a new study using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), researchers have found that the same brain networks that are activated when you're burned by hot coffee also light up when you think about a lover who has spurned you.

...

"What's exciting about these findings," he says, "is that they outline the direct way in which emotional experiences can be linked to the body."

Psychology Today blog article by Todd B. Kashdan, Ph.D. (JUne 2009)

"When asked, people think that novel, uncertain events will be less pleasurable than feeling absolutely certain and possessing every bit of information possible in a situation. However, scientists are finding that when events are new and uncertain our pleasure is more likely to be intense; it will linger longer and be more meaningful. What this means is that most of us are doing the exact opposite of what will bring us fulfillment."

This post links to a number of interesting articles on the subject of choice, and the debilitating consequences of not requiring independence in children...

" ... (there's) a lot of women in their early thirties coming with a list of achievements, of perfect choices they have made: the best school, wonderful job, they're exercising, they're slim, they have even a good partner, but they feel "we've done all the right choices, but we still feel empty."4

It is often said that "money doesn't buy you happiness" but some certainly helps relieve unhappiness.

And from decades of research we now know that poverty, or low social status is definitely correlated with poor health and early mortality.

Stanford researches quantify what is the threshold in income to be 'happy' (at least in the USA).

A few helpful excerpts from an interesting book (The Way Towards Health), on how to gain peace-of-mind in any situation:

"There are a few simple steps that can be followed whenever you find yourself in a difficult situation, whether the condition is one of poor health, a stressful personal involvement with another, a financial dilemma, or whatever.

These steps seem very obvious, and perhaps too easy – but they will bring immediate sense of ease and a peace of mind while your inner reserves are being released and activated. I have mentioned these steps many times, because they are so vital in clearing the conscious mind, and bringing some sense of relief to the frightened ego.

1. Immediately begin to live in the present as much as possible. Try to become as aware as you can of present sense-data – all of it. Often, while you are in pain, for example, you concentrate upon that sensation alone, ignoring the feelings of ease that may be felt by other portions of the body, and unaware of the conglomeration of sounds, sights, and impressions that are also in the immediate environment. This procedure will immediately lessen the pressure of the problem itself, what it is, and give you a sense of refreshment.
2. Refuse to worry. This fits in automatically with step 1, of course. Tell yourself you can worry all you want tomorrow, or on some other occasion – but resolve not to worry in the present moment.

Factors in living a long-life.

Friedman and Martin unhesitatingly say the single strongest social predictor of long life is a strong network. Widows outlive widowers; women tend to have stronger social networks. Interestingly, neurotic widowers tended to outlive their less neurotic peers – they were more likely to take care of their health after their wives were gone. 

Science has finally confirmed what anyone who's ever been in love already knows: Heartbreak really does hurt.

In a new study using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), researchers have found that the same brain networks that are activated when you're burned by hot coffee also light up when you think about a lover who has spurned you.

...

"What's exciting about these findings," he says, "is that they outline the direct way in which emotional experiences can be linked to the body."

A healthy social life may be as good for your long-term health as avoiding cigarettes, according to a massive research review released Tuesday by the journal PLoS Medicine.

...

those with poor social connections had on average 50% higher odds of death in the study's follow-up period (an average of 7.5 years) than people with more robust social ties.

...

The immune systems of people with lots of friends simply worked better, fighting off the cold virus often without symptoms.

Yet another study confirming the power of belief.

... an expert from Coventry University has shown the powerful ways the mind can force the body to work harder.

...

People's brains are more responsive to friends than to strangers, even if the stranger has more in common, according to a study in the Oct. 13 issue of The Journal of Neuroscience.

"In all experiments, closeness but not similarity appeared to drive responses in medial prefrontal regions and associated regions throughout the brain," Krienen said. "The results suggest social closeness is more important than shared beliefs when evaluating others."

New research revealing what many have known for some time, particularly work by Dr Norman Doidge and others.

A recent documentary "The Brain that Changes Itself" reveals the successes scientists are now achieving by having (a) changed beliefs, and (b) done exercises that reconfigure the brain.

From the Science Daily report:

An excellent article by Ross Gittins, commenting on a new book by Barry Schwartz and Kenneth Sharpe "Practical Wisdom."

Everything we know and decide is based on comparison (context).

And that we can't live without it TINA - there is no alternative.

From Ross's column

The term ''frame'' is itself a metaphor. Schwartz and Sharpe say it's a wonderful metaphor because it emphasises our capacity to take the chaos of the social world around us and organise it in an understandable way.

Another article citing research about the different ways we think: basically, we direct our awareness towards 'context' or 'detail' or in a deeper sense, towards the feminine-wave (collective-possibilities, at-once, connections), and masculine-particle (detail, actuality, logic, serial analysis) dimensions to life.

Yet another study confirming the power of belief.

... an expert from Coventry University has shown the powerful ways the mind can force the body to work harder.

...

Highly recommended article by Sonia Simone who's recently joined the Lateral Action Team

The full pdf of the article is freely available online

(from the PDF), the eight reason are:

1. Dangerous Behavior #1: Thinking “It’s Just Business" (Good karma, good business)
   (paraphrasing: when we pursue short term expediency, we reap short term gains, but with long term pains)
2. Dangerous Behavior #2: Fixing Your Weaknesses
   (paraphrasing: when we do stuff that we really don't want to do, we work against our natural inclinations towards 'productive-creativity', and as a result we're less satisfied with whatever successes we tease out of life)
3. Dangerous Behavior #3: Measuring Against the Wrong Yardsticks
   (paraphrasing: When we seek perfection we'll always be dissatisfied. Simone uses Dan Sullivan's metaphor of treating ideals like the horizon. No matter how hard we work, we won't get there. It changes as we grow. Such is the nature of life).

People's brains are more responsive to friends than to strangers, even if the stranger has more in common, according to a study in the Oct. 13 issue of The Journal of Neuroscience.

"In all experiments, closeness but not similarity appeared to drive responses in medial prefrontal regions and associated regions throughout the brain," Krienen said. "The results suggest social closeness is more important than shared beliefs when evaluating others."

"...We all know that the solution that will get us further is straightforward: you have to do stuff, which takes effort over time. The process is quite clear.

...People who are highly imaginative, emotionally driven, and highly discerning are less likely to be satisfied with an off-the-shelf process because they run a mental simulation of the outcome before they even lift a finger. Let me break this down further:

Recommended reading: An interesting article that confirms age-old truths about being creative -- focus, and let go (or in this case, "drop out").

Thiel says the huge cost of higher education, and the resulting burden of debt, makes students less willing to take risks. "And we think you're going to have to take a lot of risks to build the next generation of companies."

and

Newsweek article reorting on work and research by professor Michael Mumford (University of Oklahama).

Valuable insights into the creative process:

...half of the commonly used techniques intended to spur creativity don’t work, or even have a negative impact. As for most commercially available creativity training, Mumford doesn’t mince words: it’s “garbage.”

Paraphrasing, high creativity is achieved when we ask people to be unique, to show off their originality and resourcefulness.

Fascinating story on Bear Grylls' very full and dynamic life.

"Life can be quite fluffy at times, and I like it when it gets much more raw. There's a strength in the camaraderie of big expeditions. You see people as they are, and you communicate properly, and you work to your max - everything else is stripped away. I like that."

Life lived large, one might say, based as he explains on fear and faith.

Reminds me of "Feel the fear and do it anyway" (haven't read the book, but the title is brilliant, imho).

As reported by Harvard Business Review (Blog) reviewing IBM's 2010 IBM Global CEO Study :

"Some key points from the study:

From Science Daily, scientists have found that biological system utilise quantum potentials to derive beneficial plant growth.

This and other recent discoveries have captured the attention of researchers for several reasons," says Scholes. "First, it means that quantum mechanical probability laws can prevail over the classical laws of kinetics in this complex biological system, even at normal temperatures. The energy can thereby flow efficiently by -- counter intuitively -- traversing several alternative paths through the antenna proteins simultaneously.

Leadership video, by Simon Sinek: "How great leaders inspire action"

Malcolm Gladwell explores the lack of depth and commitment that comes via online social media. And how well-defined hierachies, led by strong leaders is important to creating substantial results.

As he suggests (paraphrasing), the next revolution won't be carried out by using Twitter or Facebook ... it'll be too fast and personal for people to be fiddling with their iPads or whatever.

Research that shows creativity and innovation is most effective in startup entrepreneurial companies:

An interesting article: research confirms that those who believe themselves good, or bad, are more effective and enjoy greater endurance.

“People perceive those who do good and evil to have more efficacy, more
willpower, and less sensitivity to discomfort. By perceiving themselves
as good or evil, people embody these perceptions, actually becoming more
capable of physical endurance,” says researcher Kurt Gray, a doctoral
student in psychology at Harvard."

Many good ideas and quotes (of Fons Trompenaars) regarding creativity.

Basically, the article recognises the challenge all creatives face (writers, musicians, entrepreneurs), in that being the underdog fuels creativity, but achieving success then requires 'reinvention'. Smith reports: "If you don't act consciously on reinventing yourself, then I am pretty sure you will the die," Trompenaars says. "But there are companies that are huge trailing and still reinvent themselves can from time to time, like says IBM and prevent HP."

From Science Daily, scientists have found that biological system utilise quantum potentials to derive beneficial plant growth.

This and other recent discoveries have captured the attention of researchers for several reasons," says Scholes. "First, it means that quantum mechanical probability laws can prevail over the classical laws of kinetics in this complex biological system, even at normal temperatures. The energy can thereby flow efficiently by -- counter intuitively -- traversing several alternative paths through the antenna proteins simultaneously.

Blog entry by Kāmini (twitter/KaminiCreates)

"Having to stay mindful, bring myself back to what’s real in the present, breathe and respond from a place of inner calm is not easy. Over the years I have cultivated the practise of mindfulness and developed a range of creative strategies to help me cope during times like this, here are some I use regularly: 

Highly recommended article by Sonia Simone who's recently joined the Lateral Action Team

The full pdf of the article is freely available online

(from the PDF), the eight reason are:

1. Dangerous Behavior #1: Thinking “It’s Just Business" (Good karma, good business)
   (paraphrasing: when we pursue short term expediency, we reap short term gains, but with long term pains)
2. Dangerous Behavior #2: Fixing Your Weaknesses
   (paraphrasing: when we do stuff that we really don't want to do, we work against our natural inclinations towards 'productive-creativity', and as a result we're less satisfied with whatever successes we tease out of life)
3. Dangerous Behavior #3: Measuring Against the Wrong Yardsticks
   (paraphrasing: When we seek perfection we'll always be dissatisfied. Simone uses Dan Sullivan's metaphor of treating ideals like the horizon. No matter how hard we work, we won't get there. It changes as we grow. Such is the nature of life).

FINANCIAL stress is the equivalent of a cold shower.

A survey by Relationships Australia has revealed that people's sex lives improve along with their income - and that the magic number for satisfaction starts at about $80,000.

Only 44 per cent of people with a household income under $60,000 a year are sexually active, compared with 81 per cent of people with a household income of more than $80,000 a year.

New research revealing what many have known for some time, particularly work by Dr Norman Doidge and others.

A recent documentary "The Brain that Changes Itself" reveals the successes scientists are now achieving by having (a) changed beliefs, and (b) done exercises that reconfigure the brain.

From the Science Daily report:

Any conception of happiness that focuses on 'me' and 'my wants' is ultimately barren, Ross Gittins explains.

Most of the academic study of happiness relies on surveys that ask people to rate their satisfaction with their lives on a scale of, say, one to 10. That's a bit broader, but recent research suggests people's answers to such a question are too greatly influenced by how they were feeling at the time they were asked.

Meditation can deliver powerful pain-relieving effects to the brain with even just 80 minutes' training for a beginner in an exercise called focused attention, a study released on Tuesday found.

"This is the first study to show that only a little over an hour of meditation training can dramatically reduce both the experience of pain and pain-related brain activation," said Fadel Zeidan, lead author of the study and a post-doctoral research fellow at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Centre in North Carolina.

Here's more data to call into question the standard approach to dis-ease, of finding a quick pill or potion to encourage and facilitate health and wellbeing.

PUBLIC health experts have called for an independent body to monitor drug safety after it emerged that young children were more likely to end up in hospital because of side effects from a flu vaccine than they were from the disease itself.

Results of a survey by Esquire (as reported by Samantha Brett, Sydney Morning Herald).

Excertps:

A few helpful excerpts from an interesting book (The Way Towards Health), on how to gain peace-of-mind in any situation:

"There are a few simple steps that can be followed whenever you find yourself in a difficult situation, whether the condition is one of poor health, a stressful personal involvement with another, a financial dilemma, or whatever.

These steps seem very obvious, and perhaps too easy – but they will bring immediate sense of ease and a peace of mind while your inner reserves are being released and activated. I have mentioned these steps many times, because they are so vital in clearing the conscious mind, and bringing some sense of relief to the frightened ego.

1. Immediately begin to live in the present as much as possible. Try to become as aware as you can of present sense-data – all of it. Often, while you are in pain, for example, you concentrate upon that sensation alone, ignoring the feelings of ease that may be felt by other portions of the body, and unaware of the conglomeration of sounds, sights, and impressions that are also in the immediate environment. This procedure will immediately lessen the pressure of the problem itself, what it is, and give you a sense of refreshment.
2. Refuse to worry. This fits in automatically with step 1, of course. Tell yourself you can worry all you want tomorrow, or on some other occasion – but resolve not to worry in the present moment.

An excellent article by Ross Gittins, commenting on a new book by Barry Schwartz and Kenneth Sharpe "Practical Wisdom."

Everything we know and decide is based on comparison (context).

And that we can't live without it TINA - there is no alternative.

From Ross's column

The term ''frame'' is itself a metaphor. Schwartz and Sharpe say it's a wonderful metaphor because it emphasises our capacity to take the chaos of the social world around us and organise it in an understandable way.

I have heard it said, "no one is as smart as all of us", and variants thereof.

It's a helpful aphorism, particularly for small business owners who often feel they must find all their own solutions due to limited resources (lack of specialists, experts within the company; insufficient cash flow to use consultants).

Another report of how online social media enables 'shallow' relationships.

Previous research as reported suggests that the use and reliance? on social media platforms such as Facebook can lead to shallow relationships.

Recent research revealed that young people had shown a 'significant' drop in empathy.

A recent study of Canadian university students suggests the heaviest users of Facebook are narcissists and people with low self-esteem.

New York Times article, stories of small business people using Twitter for marketing to good effect.

'"For Mr. Kimball, who conceded that he “hadn’t really understood the purpose of Twitter,” the beauty of digital word-of-mouth marketing was immediately clear...“I would love to say that I just had a really good idea and strategy, but Twitter has been pretty essential to my success,” he said. He has quit his day job as a carpenter to keep up with the demand.'

..more stories

David Armano (Harvard Business Review):

"Social sharing is a major behavioral shift, the most important so far of the 21st century."

Key points covered:

• Data Gathering. The more we know about an individual, the easier it is to sell something... A business may not own the data from all of the sharing, but it's likely they will want it.
• Knowledge Sharing & Collaboration. Conflating internal and external social sharing could profoundly affect how we work.
• Content Distribution. Social sharing becomes the ultimate form of distribution.
• Social Currency. Sharing on the social web acts as a form of currency.

Many good ideas and quotes (of Fons Trompenaars) regarding creativity.

Basically, the article recognises the challenge all creatives face (writers, musicians, entrepreneurs), in that being the underdog fuels creativity, but achieving success then requires 'reinvention'. Smith reports: "If you don't act consciously on reinventing yourself, then I am pretty sure you will the die," Trompenaars says. "But there are companies that are huge trailing and still reinvent themselves can from time to time, like says IBM and prevent HP."