CHALLENGE 2 | DAY 17 | All about creativity

20 january '14

What do Albert Einstein, Steve Jobs and Richard Branson have in common?

The names are not random. Their ideas are not common. Why do I read about these people? Everybody knows Albert Einstein. Off course, why wouldn't you. Relativity etc. But did you know that he never wear socks? Or did you know that he failed is entrance exam for university? This is weird, that's what I think is interesting.

Everybody knows +Steve Jobs. But, and this is a shame, not everybody knows +Richard Branson . Fortunately almost everybody knows Virgin Atlantic or +Virgin *something*.

But did you know that all three guys share the same disability called: Dyslexia.

What is the link between dyslexia and creativity?

I'm going to research this tomorrow? Anyone who already knows the answer? Please comment below!

CHALLENGE 2 | DAY 15 | All about creativity

17 january '14

Lateral thinking, step by step creativity explained, part 3

I've been reading the book. Everyday I manage to read about 50 pages. So in just 8 days it will be finished! Interesting is the pragmatic view of the book. Practical examples, excersices to try out for yourself and after a clear explanation.

Lateral thinking is the same as inductive thinking

Lateral thinking can be deliberately and self-consciously unreasonable in order to provoke a new pattern

Lateral thinking is a way of handling information

The lateral thinking attitude involves a refusal to accept rigid patterns and secondly an attempt to put things together in different ways.

Lateral thinking is always trying to generate alternatives, to restructure patterns.

Lateral thinking is never a judgement


All credits go directly to Edward de Bono!

CHALLENGE 2 | DAY 14 | All about creativity

16 january '14

Lateral thinking, step by step creativity explained, part 2

Vertical thinking is all about rightness
Lateral thinking is all about richness

Vertical thinking selects a pathway by excluding other pathways
Lateral thinking does not select but seeks to open up new pathways

Vertical thinking selects the most promising approach
Lateral thinking generates as many alternative approaches as possible

Vertical thinking looks through approaches for the most promising one
Lateral thinking finds a promising one and keeps generating and keeps looking for more

Vertical thinking only moves when there is a direction to move to
Lateral thinking moves in order to generate direction

Vertical thinking is analytical
Lateral thinking is provocative

Vertical thinking is sequential
Lateral thinking can move in jumps

Vertical thinking follows the most likely path
Lateral thinking explores the least likely ones

Vertical thinking is finite
Lateral thinking is probabilistic

The vertical thinker says: I know what I'm looking for
The lateral thinker says: I'm looking, but i won't know what I'm looking for until I have found it



A small note about todays workshops

Teacher? You look exactly like Obi wan Kenobi of the Star Wars.

If I want to know about fantasy, I observe kids. If I want to be inspired, I converse with kids. If I want to be creative I listen to kids. 

CHALLENGE 2 | DAY 13 | All about creativity

15 january '14

Lateral thinking vs. vertical thinking

Today I started reading the book of Edward de Bono. The book is called 'Lateral thinking, step by step creativity explained'.
Learning for me is also reading books about the subject. And to make it more powerful for me I make notes during the reading sessions.

A few notes of today:

- One can only admire a result but one can learn to use a process

- Liberation from old ideas and the stimulation of new ones are twin aspects of lateral thinking

- Lateral thinking is digging holes on different locations, while vertical thinking is digging the same hole deeper.

- You can't dig a hole in a different place by digging the same hole deeper

- Lateral thinking is a very basic part of thinking in general

Lateral thinking is 
--> restructuring old patterns and provoking new ones
--> the use of information for the effect
--> deliberately seeking irrelevant information
--> generative

Vertical thinking is
--> selecting only what's relevant
--> selective
--> making a conclusion after a pre determined series of steps
--> developing ideas which are generated by lateral thinking
--> proving and developing concept patterns
--> digging the same hole deeper