One of my favorite radio hosts, Michael Krasny, recently interviewed author of Imagine: How Creativity Works, Jonah Lehrer. It is important to note that it was later discovered that Jonah Lehrer fabricated some of the quotes he used in his book. The book was removed from the shelves and Lehrer fired from his job as […]
Are you Interested in Testing your Creativity?
For those of you who are interested in testing your creativity, there are several tests out there to measure your ability for 1) divergent thinking 2) convergent thinking 3) artistic assessments 4) creative self assessments. For an overview of the creativity tests available, you can click here to be directed to a website set up by […]
What does it look like to have a truly creative and innovative economy?
China has had incredible economic growth in recent years. But is growth in industry and manufacturing a sign of creativity and innovation? According to Richard Florida, author of “Why China lags in Innovation and Creativity”, the answer is an emphatic “no.” All you highly productive folks out there take note: there is a big difference […]
Do You Want To Be More Creative? Learn Another Language, Part I
Today I came across an article entitled, “Would you learn a new language if it helped your health?” In it the authors were referring specifically to the correlation between those who are bilingual and the lower/delayed rates of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease they seem to have. All of what they had to say intuitively made […]
Austin’s New Book on Creativity, Between the Bridge and the Water: Death, Rebirth, and Creative Awakening, Now Available
I am pleased to announce the release of my new book, Between the Bridge and the Water: Death, Rebirth, and Creative Awakening, available for the Kindle ebook reader. My book explores the compelling parallels between the outpouring of creativity in the San Francisco Bay Area and the Golden Gate Bridge’s infamous reputation as the world’s […]
Hackers, Artists, and Investors take Creativity and Innovation to the Streets
This from the epicenter of Silicon Valley: Block party hackathon took place in Palo Alto, California this last weekend. Creativity, collaboration, and a robotic petting zoo? Whoa! Launching in Palo Alto on March 31, 2012 from 1pm-1am, Super Happy Block Party is taking over one of the busiest streets in Palo Alto and transforming it […]
Create Together! Creativity In Groups Increases Dramatically With The Right Leadership
ShayLynne Clark, one very motivated 22-year-old student from Weber State University, has spent her university time exploring the topic of creativity in group settings. Her valued conclusion: Creativity in groups suffers with overbearing central leadership, but flourishes with an empowering moderator, one who encourages creative input from all members of the group. OGDEN — ShayLynne […]
You want creativity in your life? You can’t selectively numb emotion
It is my belief that true creativity, creativity that enlivens, inspires, and enriches the lives of everyone around them, most especially the person(s) willing to undertake the creative offering, is based on living from a place of authenticity. In this vein, I love this talk by Dr. Brené Brown as it gets to the core […]
New Study Links Creativity With Dishonesty
Everything casts a shadow. Not only have creativity and innovation produced useful things such as the vaccines for deadly diseases, inspiring masterworks of art, and non-stick cookware, they have also lead to advances in organized crime, the predatory structuring of credit card payments, and the proliferation of handguns. Disturbed by the stories of creative scams […]
Take The Childish Approach: Too Much Of An Adult Mindset Stymies Creativity
According to this article by Sam McNerney our natural ability to daydream and wonder drops precipitously for most of us around the fourth grade. Those who maintain their creative capacities throughout their lifetime, however, are those who can suspend reason and tap into their childlike selves. What happens to our innate creativity when we age? […]