DEVELOPING YOUR CREATIVITY

Albert Einstein once said, "Significant problems that we face cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them." You must learn to think in a new way - you need a "paradigm shift."

Leaders in the old Soviet Union eventually realized that simply trying harder to make the old Communist system work - didn't work! What was needed was a whole new paradigm.

On a personal level, I've noticed that when people are "stuck" in life, it is because they are usually still framing their problem with a set of assumptions that no longer apply. Or they are using the same problem solving techniques that they used in the past but don't work anymore.

You MUST develop your creativity to survive and thrive in the 1990s.

Life continually involves problem solving. Creativity is the key to figuring out how to get from point A to point B when you've never done it. It is the act of generating new ideas. Without creativity, you run the risk of becoming obsolete in our rapidly changing marketplace.

Contrary to popular belief, there is nothing mysterious about being creative. The basic principle of creativity is simply combining two or more known ideas in a new way to create a new idea. This is a skill you can train yourself to do. It starts with awareness:

"The intelligent man is always open to new ideas. In fact, he looks for them."

Prov. 18:15 (LB)

Here are the five steps I use in the creative process:

1. State the problem clearly. What is wrong? Be as precise as you can. Vague problems are more difficult to solve. Is it a problem with manufacturing... or merchandising... or marketing... or management?

2. Set a specific goal. What is it that we really want to happen?

3. Generate as many ideas as possible. The more ideas you have, the better. Force yourself to list 10 options. Brainstorm. Have fun. Be outrageous. Challenge the rules. Be off the wall. Use your intuition. Ask a lot of questions. Forget "realism" for the moment. Try crazy associations: How is this problem like an elephant?

4. Narrow your list down to the one best idea.

5. Take action! Do it now. Go for it. Many of the most successful people made it with just one outstanding idea.

Accusation -- the final stage before promotion

Accusation

1. Accusation is your enemies way of influencing your future, by intimidating your present.
2. The moment you expose an accusation, you disarm the source.
3. Your response to accusation determines how off course your enemy can do.
4. Remember you only fail when you break your focus.
5. Those on their way to the fight talk different than those already in the ring.
6. Accusation can only goal as far as fact.
7. False accusation will only be as successful as other people's ability to interrogate truth.
8. Those who do not embrace truth entertain a lie.

Rremember the words that were spoken by Apostle Peter of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ when he said in 1 Peter 2 verse 23 and it reads "he did not retaliate when he was insulted, nor threatened revenge when he suffered. He left his case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly."

The blame, the accusation, the charges are the final stages before a promotion from the Father God. Get ready!