Pressure & Creativity

Do people need time to think or does pressure create solutions quickly?

Creativity Versus Execution

At the end of her entertaining video on the “Anti Creativity List” Youngme Moon closes with “get back to work”.

The obvious question this seems to raise is, when do you stop being creative and switch to “getting stuff done?” After all, ideas without action usually create no value. But maybe this is the wrong question. Perhaps a more appropriate question would be, how do you effectively blend the creative process and the execution process to increase value?

Problem At The Library

Perhaps money is the only solution to this problem, see Patty Fisher article below, but I have to wonder if instead the needs of the library could be analyzed into a set of problems some of which could, perhaps, be solved by innovative solutions. For instance if staffing is a significant piece of the budget could the library be staffed by volunteers? If paying for utilities is a problem perhaps the library could only open during daylight hours - restrictive yes but better than no library.

Simple Somber Example of Applying an Idea

The following is a somber example of a simple invention applied to create a deadly effect at the Battle of the Somme.

Solve it in the shower

Solve It In The Shower
I was asked to consult with a start-up company that had developed tools for analyzing transactions on the web and detecting possible fraud. The company had sent a team of people out into the marketplace to sell the product and they had generated a lot of talking interest but very little sales. From our discussion it was clear that the company had no strategic marketing expertise and as a result they were chasing "everything that moved."

Creative Destruction Completed

BBC Sport - Football - Real Madrid unveil Jose Mourinho as their new coach: "Jose Mourinho has been unveiled as the new manager of Real Madrid after signing a four-year deal at the club.

The 47-year-old replaced Chilean Manuel Pellegrini to become Real's 11th coach in the past seven years.

'I like to give myself a challenge and this is a big one,' said Mourinho. 'I have a lot of confidence in myself and my ability as a coach.'"

The destruction is complete. Jose Mourinho has joined Real Madrid and now has to do it all over again!