If Larry Smith’s TED Talk on why many people fail to get the job they want depressed you, this guy should make you smile.
Smith and Jonah Lehrer, author of a new book on how creativity can be fostered, are looking at two different sides of the same coin. Smith talks about how fear holds most of us back, makes us settle for “good” jobs instead of great ones.
Lehrer’s view is that all of us have the ability to be entrepreneurs, to have great jobs through our innate creativity. All of us have voices that whisper answers to thorny work problems or offer up ideas for new products but most of us have forgotten how to listen.
An easy read, Imagine: How Creativity Works
Lehrer is also easy to listen to, offers solid information without any buttons or bows and reassures listeners that most of us really do have more than one great idea banging around in our heads; we just have to learn to stop and listen.
He suggests breaking away from the desk, playing ping pong or getting a shower. I have found that mowing the lawn and vacuuming do the same thing – disengage the rational mind that says, “No, that won’t work.” and give our imaginations a chance to come out and play.
Well worth a listen and well worth the $16.00 to buy the book!
Smith says to follow your passion. Lehrer says to listen to yourself, find your idea and start polishing. Both of these men offer insight into our lives that make it possible for us to step out, into this world and make a difference.
Thanks to Colton Perry for the Facebook post, for sharing this lovely approach to letting your creativity come out to play!
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