Switch: Big problems = Small solution

Book review written by Graduate student Juliana Sánchez Trujillo*

The book Switch: How to change things when change is hard is the latest publication of Chip and Dan Heath, well known for their previous best seller Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die.

Switch, more than being just a regular self-help book, is a how-to guide that relates to different fields with diverse challenges. The book is intended to drive change at the individual, organizational and societal level. The Heath brothers agree that change often doesn’t happen because it is treated as something separate depending on the context. But the reality is that all kinds of changes share something in common: “For anything to change, someone has to start acting differently” (p. 4).

The strategies suggested by the authors, are based on the psychological theory that the brain has two independent systems, or minds, that work at the same time. First, there is emotional side that is instinctive and is led by pain and pleasure. Second, there is the rational mind that deliberates, analyses and provides glimpses of the future. They are both constantly competing for control and unless they get on the same page, change is unlikely to happen. The main reason why change is often so difficult is because our rational perspective is not aligned with our feelings, hence we feel scared to do things differently even when we recognize the need for a transformation.

To make things practical and easy to understand, the Heath brothers use the analogy presented by University of Virginia psychologist Jonathan Haidt in his book The Happiness Hypothesis: Putting Ancient Wisdom and Philosophy to the Test of Modern Science . He compares the emotional side with an elephant and the rational side with the rider. Sitting on top of the elephant, the rider wants to be able to steer the animal in any direction he chooses, but his control is very limited since the rider is smaller than the animal. “Changes often fail because the Rider simply can’t keep the Elephant on the road long enough to reach the destination” (p. 7). With examples from ordinary people: marriages that are falling apart, teachers that wish their students would behave better, nutritional problems in Vietnam or nurses that try to avoid medical mistakes, the book engages the reader with stories and breaks them down to understand the core of the problems that lie within. It is so powerful, yet so simple that by the end of the book it gives you the empowering feeling that anything is possible if you follow the three simple steps that make the magic work:

- Direct the Rider. Recognize the importance of change and where you are headed.
- Motivate the Elephant. Make emotional connections with the challenge.
- Shape the Path. Transform the environment to assure success.

Switch encourages the reader to move forward and take action in a fast-changing world. It is an important resource for the creativity field since it shows alternative ways to face the Problem Finding stage of the Creative Problem-Solving process. It provides valuable insights on how to strengthen the creative thinking skills of risk taking, sensitivity to the environment, emotional awareness and mindfulness. As I increase my experience in the field, I have noticed how hard it is to put ideas into action. Even if the situation is often clear, and a plan of action has been outlined our feelings stop us from moving forward. This is when we recognize the importance of knowing how to address the emotional and affective sides to make change real. My favorite part of the book is the positive approach they encourage when clarifying a challenge. They advise to focus on the solution rather than on the problem and also to praise those things that are working well. To identify them, they suggest asking the following question:

Imagine that in the middle of the night, while you are sleeping, a miracle happens, and all the troubles that brought you here are resolved. When you wake up in the morning, what’s the first small sign you’d see that would make you think, “Well, something must have happened – the problem is gone!”? (p. 36).

Also, the book put my challenge understanding skills to test when I read the case studies and asked myself the questions about possible approaches and solutions to the problem. This gave me both the background information and the opportunity to practice by assessing my comprehension, which makes this text a good learning resource. However, it is important to know that it is not a step by step guide; it simply provides the big picture of things one has to consider when facing different changes. Nevertheless, the book provides a fresh perspective to embrace change from a different mindset and to understand how to motivate ourselves and others in order to see results. From how to stick to a diet, or wake up as soon as the alarm clock rings to solving issues with sugar daddies in Tanzania. Switch is a book that applies to everyone everywhere. Now, when are you going to start a change that matters?

*Juliana Sánchez Trujillo is a social communicator from Colombia and a full-time student at the International Center for Studies in Creativity. She holds a special interest about the ways to foster creativity in the classroom and the workplace through playfulness’ techniques.

Shine On, You Creative Thinker!

Book Review written by Graduate Student Dana Calanan

With a quick pace and even flow, Paul Sloanes' How to Be a Brilliant Thinker: Exercise Your Mind and Find Creative Solutions is a comprehensive blend of interesting facts, mental exercises and foundational thinking in the field of creativity. Topics range from multiple intelligences to improving one’s intra- and interpersonal relationships. There are even questionnaires throughout the book to test one's own skill level within that particular chapter. While introducing creative thinking newcomers to the reasons why creativity is important, Sloane also reminds the avid creativity professional that sometimes skills or the lack thereof can be taken for granted, resulting in wasted opportunities for success. And for a little book (just 208 pages), this one packs a good punch with 32 chapters covering the basics of creative thinking and tips on how to become not only a brilliant thinker, but a well-rounded person as well.

In what seems to be the creativity field’s focal message, Sloane begins the book with the reasons why a need for creative thinking continues to exist. He gives examples showing how using/not using creative thinking may either enhance/hinder applications not only in business, but history as well. Historical events are examined with an eye toward how thinking creatively may have produced significantly different outcomes. Right from the get-go, the author engages the reader to stretch the mind with mental exercises that are proof-positive of the incredible power of change that creative thinking brings to every discipline. He also reminds us that everyone can use some brushing up on skills that are often lost due to laxity over time.

This book encapsulates many of the concepts that professionals in the field of creativity have touched upon previously. Sloane’s mainstream concept is an interesting experience with a fast, easy-to-read style. As a matter of fact, I was completely engaged and finished the book within a couple of days. His swift writing is intelligent, but not so heavy or cerebral in tone that the average person might not understand the principles or be turned off by the material.

There is definitely something for everyone here. Although I am familiar with much of the content, I found the chapters on mathematics and probability quite challenging. I took it as a persuasive nudge to face the facts and build my on my skills and knowledge, rather than run away from my discomfort in dealing with such content. My non-preference for clarification came through loud and clear as I read, and I have vowed to make a stronger effort to remedy this shortcoming. Other key points that I took away were different strategies that will prove to expand my knowledge base, such as new ideation techniques and the inspiration to improve on my communication skills in order to become a more confident presenter and facilitator.

The beginning of the book was more scholarly-based as opposed to the later chapters where the some of the content tended to be no-brainers for those persons who are already apt to use positive thinking and goal setting to succeed. For the creativity scholar or professional, this book may seem a bit elementary. However, it is highly beneficial for those of us who may have reverted back to our comfort zone to be reminded of the many forms of multiple intelligences that we all possess. Although some of Sloane’s writing may seem repetitive, it is done in a way as to more effectively implant and reinforce the thought, as opposed to merely being a way to simply fill the book.

I found How to be a Brilliant Thinker to be a useful addition to my own creative studies library and I recommend it not only to someone not well versed in the subject of creativity, but to my colleagues as well. It is a quick refresher for those of us striving to stretch our minds and a sufficient introductory guide for new creative studies students. In short, this book can prove beneficial to any person seeking to hone creative thinking skills in their personal and professional lives.

Ms. Calanan has a BS in Fashion from SUNY @Buffalo State. She has been a clothier and entrepreneur, having owned both a vintage & consignment clothing boutique. Dana also worked extensively in theatrical costuming and most recently left her career on Broadway to pursue other interests. This has serendipitously led her to the International Center for Studies in Creativity. Dana’s curiosities are vast, but passions lie in aesthetics, parapsychology, self-healing and violence awareness.

The Confident Creative, a Book for Adults (That Want to Think Like Kids)

Written by Graduate Student: Khrista Richardson

When Cat Bennett’s book, The Confident Creative: Drawing to Free the Hand and Mind arrived at my door I opened it up and couldn’t help but to look through it immediately. I was excited by the fact that almost every page included some sort of beautiful, colorful image, printed on glossy, high quality paper. Soulful, vibrant pictures dancing on the pages of books are a luxury I had taken for granted as a child, and dearly miss as an adult. Why can’t more books be beautifully adorned with a variety of artworks to explore between the written words? Why do children get to have all of the fun?

As I began to read, I found my first impressions fitting, and was delighted to realize that this book was about more than just the act of drawing. Bennett presents her book, which stems from the genre of self-help, with a resonating, heartfelt introduction that gently reminds the reader how their view of art-making and creativity developed and changed as they aged. She takes note of the pleasure that was experienced while drawing as a child. Bennett then drudges up the fact that many lost that sense of freedom and pride due to high expectations of others, and the desire for quick results. This honest and direct introduction works as a sort of call to arms for readers. Eloquently, Bennett manages to rally the reader to let go of their pre-conceived notions of what it means to be the perfect artist; to take chances and to be the creative person that they are, without judgment or hesitation.

Like a caring and extremely articulate friend, Bennett writes honestly, encouragingly and personally by incorporating her own experiences and ideas into this inspiring book. Much of The Confident Creative is comprised of “how-to” sections, making it both accessible and easy to thumb through for ideas or exercises. As an art educator, I found that most of the drawing exercises Bennett included weren’t as diverse or cutting edge as I’d hoped they would be. Although, they could most definitely be useful to a person just getting into art making, or someone looking for some new ways to come up with creative ideas. Bennett instructs and gives visual examples of the included tasks, such as gesture drawing, in which you quickly sketch the shapes of objects, being sure to always keep your hand moving, and blind contour drawing, an exercise which involves rendering an object without ever looking down at the paper. Bennett also includes more entertaining and novel, higher-order thinking tasks, such as using random word prompts to get you started on a drawing. “Pink skyscraper dream”, or my favorite, “red moose man” are a few of the mentioned phrases. She also suggests drawing from memory, something that children naturally do frequently. The tasks Bennett included, though they may seem silly or childish, are invaluable and will surely help readers relax and concentrate on the process rather than the product.

Throughout the book, Bennett expertly offers advice to help the reader overcome conscious and subconscious thoughts that adversely affect the ability to be creative and to experiment. She even loosely incorporates yogic practices, such as single pointed focus, and links them to the act of drawing. I found this association extremely refreshing and it reminded me that art making can be a relaxing activity, a simple concept I had lost while taking several rigorous art courses during my undergraduate years.

Bennett also based sections of this book on simple notions, such as “Making Friends with Mistakes”, which discusses, to the horror of some readers I’m sure, that embracing and even incorporating your mistakes into your artwork can bring genius ideas and beautiful results. Another section, “The Sneaky Voice of Unreason”, discusses the power of positive thought and the importance of self-confidence. Bennett clearly has a firm understanding of what psychologically affects us both as art makers and as creative people in general. She presents her thoughts clearly and honestly, leaving the reader with the tools and knowledge they need in order to overcome obstacles and to be successful art makers.

In addition to my fondness for the beauty and variety of the artwork within, The Confident Creative will sit on my bookshelf for years to come because of the inspiration and hope it left me with. Bennett reminded me how to enjoy art making again, like I did when I was a child. She gave me tools, ideas, and inspiring words to live by. And she even let me look at pictures while I did it.

Bennett, C. (2010). The confident creative: Drawing to free the hand and mind. Scotland: Findhorn Press.

Khrista Richardson, a current Creative Studies graduate student at Buffalo State College, has a Bachelor's degree in Art Eduaction. Khrista is currently fulfilling a year of service with Western New York Americorps ABLE (Americorps Builds Lives through Education) program, working as a full time tutor at a Buffalo charter school.

Book Review:The Creative Habit

Book Review written by Graduate Student Beth D. Slazak

This book is written for the average reader who is interested in creativity, and encouraging it in their lives. It is written in a very smooth manner, which makes it easy for the lay person to follow. The author draws from her wealth of personal examples to illustrate her points. At the end of each chapter she has a workbook-type section with activities to increase the reader’s creativity “muscle”.

In her first chapter, “I Walk into a White Room”, she discusses the fears and impediments people have when facing a situation that could benefit from creativity. “Some people find this moment – the moment before creativity begins – so painful that they simply cannot deal with it. (p.5)” This is a situation that is universal, an overwhelming, daunting feeling, which paralyzes. This may explain why different problem solving tools resonate so strongly with people. They are actionable steps to lead to a solution. Her solution is to employ routine and habit. She recommends good work ethic. Authors call this the BIC method, short for “Butt in Chair”. The best way to produce quality work is to produce any work, and lots of it. Good stuff can be found in it somewhere. She claims that in order to be creative you have to prepare to be creative by spending the necessary time and effort working. There are no short cuts.

To “Harness Your Memory”, chapter four, is to generate new connections to all the old information that you already know. Her theory is reminiscent of forced connections and lateral thinking, and those are both good creative tools to work with, especially when one is hitting ‘a wall’. She discusses several ‘types’ of memory. Virtual memory, which is the ability to project yourself into feelings and emotions from your past, as in method acting, where “skill gets imprinted through the action (p.66).” Sensual memory, which is related to your senses, sight, sound, smell, taste, touch and the emotions experienced when you last activated them. Institutional memory, a belief that there are no new ideas, and we simply need to look back to be creative and edgy, rather than forward. Finally, there is ancient memory, where we tap into our roots going back to the dawn of time. These are all pieces that make up the whole of our memory, and a fortune of ideas for creativity.

“In order to be habitually creative, you have to know how to prepare to be creative, but…it is only after you let go …that you can breathe life into your efforts. (p119)” Accidents Will Happen, the title of her seventh chapter shows how necessary it is to allow room for falling on your face. It is sometimes called ‘trial and learn’ or the ‘mistake quotient’, but whatever it is, it is the same basic premises. When stretching for the best ideas, you have to over extend, and that might knock you off balance. Her view of luck is that it is a skill, and one that comes from hard, frequent work, and sometimes you may have to fall down.

Ruts and Grooves are two very different situations. According to Tharp, a rut is not a block. A block is when you are at a standstill, unmoving, and empty. In a rut you may be moving, but you are going nowhere. A rut can come from a bad idea, bad timing, bad luck, or a bad case of doing the same thing over and over again. A groove, on the other hand, is the golden place. It is the mythical place where everything you touch works and works well. It is the time when ides flow, kinks are noticeable, and everything can be solved. It is “the zone” and it is wonderful.

I enjoyed reading this book. She is a woman whom I have admired for most of my life, and I enjoyed seeing her thoughts on what I am studying. I was pleasantly surprised to see how much of her personal theory could be connected to Creative Problem Solving or related information. While I believe that she intended this to be a book on creativity for anyone to read, it is strongly aimed at the performance art side of creativity, and if that is not a realm that you enjoy, then there will be points of this book that fly over your head or make you roll your eyes. She relies heavily on her personal experience, rather than any scientific study, so all information is qualitative in nature. If one outside of the performance world were to read this, they would have to be patient with the egotistical nature of that world. I encourage the reading of this book because it was an easy read, has good information, and the activities could be very helpful to promote creativity in most fields, both in and out of the performance world.

Book Review: The Art of Innovation

The Art of Innovation – The Power of WOW
Book Review written by Bonnie McKee

The overriding theme in the Art of Innovation is IDEO’s human-centered design philosophy and process. Overall, it’s a wonderful romp into the world of IDEO and a historical retrospective of design process with examples cited that are familiar to all. The lesson? That it takes more than a methodology to create great design, it takes a can do culture and a visceral awareness and belief in the power of possibility

Ever wonder where the ideas come from that lead to product innovations we now take for granted? Well, wonder no more. The Art of Innovation by IDEO general manager Tom Kelley (brother of founder David Kelley dubbed by Fortune the best inventor since Edison) allows you to peer through the looking glass of their award-winning firm, as they reveal secrets for fostering a culture and process of continuous innovation.

The book is an exposé of processes, behaviors, and dynamics that have lead to IDEO’s global success, told as a collection of case studies and vignettes, illustrating how IDEO fuels innovation and delivers design breakthroughs. At times obvious, at other times it’s sheer brilliance.

IDEO is the widely celebrated, award-winning design and development firm that brought the world the Apple mouse, Polaroid’s I-Zone instant camera, the Palm V, the kid’s Oral B squishy toothbrush and hundreds of other cutting edge products and services. The Wall Street Journal has dubbed IDEO “Imagination’s Playground,” describing IDEO as a company that is out there living and doing what they preach – and in so doing, continues to produce hit after hit.

The Art of Innovation is an easy read outlining best practices and strategies to nurture innovation in organizations. In many regards the story of IDEO reads like a recipe ingredients list (vs. a formula, which it not) leaving the reader wanting to test-drive its ideas.

The book also highlights some of the cultural influences that impact design and pays homage to innovations of the past, providing the back stories of some well established consumer products from the Palm Pilot or in-car beverage holder to the things we taken for granted like Kleenex. Entertaining anecdotes illustrate some of his firm’s successes (and failures) as well as pioneering efforts at other leading companies.

IDEO’s approach to success is a blend of methodologies, work practices, culture, infrastructure and guiding philosophy. Kelley shares IDEO’s 5-step process affectionately called the innovation decathlon that IDEO lives by including:
1. Understand – the market, the client, the technology and the perceived constraints on the given problem
2. Observe –insight fueled through an ethnographic lens, to discover key drivers and motivations and where the white space is relative to new products and services
3. Visualize – brainstorm to success
4. Evaluate/ Refine – prototype to learn (the shorthand of innovation) throughout the design process and take risks, essentially failing your way to success
5. Implement – for commercialization

Kelley underscores how the treatment of their employees (living the values) and teamwork (cultivating hot teams) is essential. Additional keys to success include:
• Innovation: as a team sport – collaboration, not isolation is key to unleashing creativity
• Diversity: in creating teams – gathering insightful, motivated people, with a range of expertise, with teams customized to specific projects
• Brainstorming: secrets and brainstorming killers
• Cross-pollinating: to find solutions from other fields
• Building innovation greenhouses: to foster exchange
• Fostering creative environments: that serve as incubators to foster creative connections, idea expression and play
• The power of limitations: crazy deadlines, unreachable goals and available resources to foster a can-do mindset
• Design simplicity – stripping out unneeded features
• 10 key ingredients – to create great products and services

A real strength of the book is Kelley’s hands-on experience that resonates through every page. If it had a failing it would be the obviously indescribable nuances of IDEO team composition who make things happen so consistently; good thing too – it leaves that up to the reader to do. Some might argue that it’s more conceptual than practical. However, from a strategic point of view, why would IDEO give it all away? Finally, one could question the disconnect between philosophy and action. For example in the redesign of the Amtrak interior, why didn’t the team simply fly to Japan, France etc. to view state of the art trains to garner learning vs. creating it anew? Given that intensive observation is one of their operating principles, this was somewhat of a surprise.

Overall, this is a great read for anyone interested in the study of creativity. It demonstrates in powerful and practical ways the long held principles of fostering creativity and championing challenges. Also that the IDEO process mirrors the essence of the CPS Thinking Skills Model at both the cognitive and affective skills level – but takes the deep dive to make the creative and innovation process come alive. Mostly it teaches us that creativity and innovation can be woven into the fabric of our businesses and lives. It’s the power of believing. Our world has never needed it more. Implementing just some of these strategies would likely result in noticeable changes in today’s workplace. Then most would have to agree – “Wow, what happened?

Great book. I’d highly recommend it.

Interested in learning more about creativity? Check out our website, like us on facebook (International Center for Studies in Creativity or follow us on Twitter (ICSCreativity).

Book Review: The Myths of Innovation

written by Graduate Student Rob Kubiak

Scott Berkun, through copious notes, interviews, and references, has put together a great book that debunks the myths of innovation. Throughout the book he uses myths and presents examples to help explain how innovation happens, or the factors involved which do not allow for innovation to happen. He also explores some of the reasons for why myths are popular and then provides insights on how to approach aspects of innovation without necessarily faltering along the way.

The book was a fun and enjoyable read for a variety of reasons. Each chapter Berkun explores one myth and brings examples from history into present-day analysis. The book begins with a preface that explains what his aims are for the book: (1) identify myths about innovation; (2) explain why they’re popular; and (3) explore and teach from the truth. His approach and writing style have a sense of humor to it. At times it brought a light chuckle, but at other times, I wish he would have stuck to some facts to drive home certain points rather than amuse himself with his own writing.

In the opening chapter, Berkun sets the stage for the book by explaining a recent tour he took at the Google headquarters. He tells the story of Google having various gadgets for employees to play with, having outlets for laptops in odd places like stairwells, and other descriptions of the Google environment that fosters creativity such as bean bag chairs, Ping-Pong tables, laptops, and Nerf toys. Two men who were on the tour take in the scene at Google and one man asks the other, “I see them talking and typing, but where do they come up with their ideas?”

This sets the stage for the premise of Berkun’s book. From that point forward, he take time in each chapter to debunk myths of innovation and uses stories of Newton’s “discovery” of gravity, Einstein’s approach to defining problems before working on them, Archimedes’ “eureka” moment in his bathtub, and other interesting anecdotes to get his point across.

The chapters outline each of the myths of innovation: The myth of epiphany; We understand the history of innovation; There is a method for innovation; People love new ideas; The lone inventor; Good ideas are hard to find; Your boss knows more about innovation than you; The best ideas win; Problems and solutions; Innovation is always good.

For those studying the field of creativity or innovation, there are plenty parts of the book that you can highlight and find useful to refer back to from time to time. One such example for me included a section on 3M, and the philosophy of William McKnight, 3M’s general manager, who was able to capture his management philosophy in a simple speech that he gave in 1948 (www.answers.com/topic/william-l-mcknight).

The book is a fun read, and Berkun has a very witty writing style. His stories and personal experiences help to explain some of his counter-intuitive deconstruction of myths. For the casual reader who likes to breeze through a book, Berkun’s style of using numerous footnotes to add context to his writing may detract some people from finishing the book, but oftentimes the footnotes contain valuable information and identify opportunities for the reader to learn more.

Overall, I enjoyed Berkun’s book and his debunking method of the myths of innovation, and would recommend the read to both the casual reader wanting to learn more about innovation, as well as members of the creative field who want to take a break from more heady topics.

Book Review: Well Being

written by Graduate Student, Ashley Goodwin

Well Being and Creativity share one important factor, Mindfulness. Mindfulness allows us to approach the world with childlike wonder, to play with new concepts, ideas, and to see things from a different perspective. The limitations of everyday life can make engaging in new activities difficult, but through mindfulness, you can look at old things with fresh eyes.

Well Being by Tom Rath and Jim Harter was an awesome book to read. I found the book to be beneficial because it discussed various points regarding the significance in taking care of one’s self. The five Essential elements discussed in the book were Career Wellbeing- which is how one occupies his or her time in liking what he or she does each day, Social Wellbeing- which is having strong relationships and love in one’s life, Financial Wellbeing- is described as effectively managing one’s economic life to reduce stress and increase security, Physical Wellbeing- is having good health and energy to get things done on a daily basis, and Community Well being is the sense of engagement and involvement with the area where one lives.

With the purchase of this book an online assessment is offered. Each book includes a unique code that cannot be replicated. The code is a key to an account where one can take the Well Being assessment. The assessment is very precise that includes numerous detailed questions. The questions are framed around personal values, perspectives, workplace environment, social life, rest, diet etc. The assessment does take quite a bit of time so I suggest taking it when you have 20-25 minutes of free time to dedicate. Even though it is a lengthy assessment, the results are well worth the wait. I learned many things about myself from reading this book. My Career, Social, Community well being are very strong where as my Financial and Physical Wellbeing need some development; Being strong in the latter areas go hand in hand because if I was more financially stable it would cause less on my mind and my body (Physical Wellbeing).

This book also covered external factors like work and other environments that may affect your well being. One of my favorite topics in the book described the importance of having a best friend at work. I still think it is important to have someone at work you can relate to, talk to, and count on. It makes time go by quicker and makes your day much brighter. Sometimes having a friend at work is the reason many people stay at a job they hate.

Well Being is an absolute must read. In my opinion it deserves 9 out of 10 light bulbs. I really enjoyed reading the book as well as taking the assessment. However before reading the book I highly recommend taking the assessment first. Once you know what your assessment results are, the book can help you strategize on areas that reflect on your strengths as well as recognize areas that warrant growth and development.