Fredrik Härén's Blog, page 4
February 19, 2025
The Creativity Suite. Episode 147: The Law of Intended Consequences
Interview with Roshanie J Moraes, an accomplished corporate leader in Sri Lanka.
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In the world of creativity and innovation, ideas are often celebrated as the catalysts of change. Yet, as Roshanie J Moraes, an accomplished corporate leader, insightfully points out, “Everybody has ideas, but where most people and businesses fail is at the point of execution.” This observation brings us to a powerful concept: the Law of Intended Consequences. Unlike the more commonly discussed unintended consequences, which highlight the unforeseen outcomes of actions, the Law of Intended Consequences is about the deliberate, planned, and purposeful actions that drive a desired result. It is about the power of getting things done with intention, focus, and disciplined execution.
Beyond the Idea: The Execution Mindset
Creativity often begins with a burst of inspiration, a “eureka” moment that lights up the room. However, without the rigor of execution, even the brightest ideas can remain just that – ideas. In her conversation with me, Roshanie emphasizes that the real work begins after the idea is born. She suggests that creativity in execution is about “breaking it down into small pieces, bite-sized pieces, putting a date, a time, a resource behind it, and putting a name.”
This is where the Law of Intended Consequences comes into play. It’s not about leaving things to chance or hoping for the best. It’s about intentional actions that align with a clear outcome. Each step in the execution process is designed to move the needle forward, making creativity a disciplined pursuit rather than a fleeting moment of inspiration.
The Power of Intentional Action
The Law of Intended Consequences is a reminder that purposeful execution is the key to turning creative ideas into reality. Roshanie’s approach to leadership and project management is a testament to this principle. She explains that in her career, she has seen brilliant ideas remain stuck in the pipeline for years due to a lack of focused execution. By bringing a sense of urgency, structure, and clarity to the process – by giving dates, assigning names, and setting specific tasks – she managed to bring these ideas to market and achieve remarkable success.
Roshanie highlights the importance of what she calls “diligent energy.” Unlike the quick burst of excitement that accompanies the ideation phase, diligent energy is the consistent, steady force that keeps the team moving forward. It’s about pushing through the mundane and the tedious, all while keeping the ultimate goal in sight. This kind of intentional, sustained effort ensures that every action taken is a step toward the intended outcome.
Creative Execution: Marrying Creativity with Discipline
Many people believe creativity is all about freewheeling ideas and endless brainstorming. However, Roshanie believes that creativity also exists in the way we execute ideas. She advocates for “creative execution” – a process where one finds innovative ways to solve problems, streamline tasks, and keep the project moving, especially when faced with obstacles.
She compares this to a marriage. When you first fall in love, there is excitement and passion. But as time goes on, maintaining a relationship requires deliberate effort, compromise and hard work. Similarly, after the initial excitement of a new idea, creative execution demands that same kind of intentionality and commitment. It involves breaking down the journey into manageable steps, consistently reviewing progress, and making adjustments as needed.
Diligent Energy: The Fuel for Execution
Roshanie introduces the concept of “diligent energy” as the fuel that powers the Law of Intended Consequences. Diligent energy is not the high-octane burst of a new idea; it is the slow-burning fire that keeps teams focused, motivated, and aligned over time. This energy is about consistently showing up, ticking off tasks, and making incremental progress. It’s about seeing the big picture but being committed to the small, day-to-day actions that will eventually lead to that vision.
She describes how she keeps her team engaged by painting a vivid picture of the end goal, whether it’s a new product on the supermarket shelves or a large-scale project coming to life. By constantly aligning the team with the intended outcome, she ensures that every member remains focused and energized, even when the work becomes tedious.
Making the Intended Consequences Happen
For leaders and creatives alike, understanding the Law of Intended Consequences means embracing the power of execution. It means recognizing that while ideas are important, they are just the beginning. The real impact comes from what happens next: the planning, the follow-through, the adjustments, and the relentless drive to see things through to completion.
As Roshanie succinctly puts it, “Creativity does not automatically translate into a result or execution; it must be intentional.” In other words, creativity isn’t just about having ideas – it’s about making them happen.
Conclusion: Harnessing the Law of Intended Consequences
The Law of Intended Consequences is a call to action for anyone looking to transform ideas into impactful outcomes. It reminds us that the path from ideation to execution is paved with deliberate choices, careful planning, and diligent energy. Creativity, therefore, is not just the spark of inspiration; it is the disciplined pursuit of a vision through purposeful execution.
By mastering the art of getting things done with intention, we can ensure that our creative efforts lead to meaningful, intended consequences. In a world overflowing with ideas, those who understand the power of execution will stand out, leaving a lasting mark through the work they bring to life.
The post The Creativity Suite. Episode 147: The Law of Intended Consequences first appeared on The Creativity Explorer.
January 28, 2025
Brain Drop. (Episode 245)
This morning, while driving the kids to school, I had this brilliant idea for the opening of the book I am writing at the moment – and then I forgot it…
I do not know what it’s called when that happens, but I know it is incredibly frustrating. So I decided to call it “a brain drop”, like if you suddenly and temporarily “dropped” your mind and your line of thought. And I kind of like how it sounds like “rain drop”.
Have you ever experienced “brain drop”?
Did the idea come back to you?
And: Do you find yourself going back to the very same spot where the idea came to you to see if it would come back to you… 🙂
brain drop
(n.) informal
1. A sudden lapse or disappearance of a previously realized idea or thought, often occurring before it can be fully processed or noted down, resulting in frustration or confusion.
An instance of losing one’s train of thought or forgetting a momentary flash of insight.Example: “I had the perfect concept for our new project, but I experienced a brain drop and couldn’t recall it when I got to my desk.”
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The post Brain Drop. (Episode 245) first appeared on The Creativity Explorer.
January 14, 2025
Creative Fitness. (Episode 244)
Today I signed up for a new gym-membership. I realised I had dropped the ball on my physical training since moving to Sweden and the scale (and my kids!) were telling me to do something about it. So today I did 2 hours on the treadmill and a bunch of other exercise machines at Bosön gym. Felt great.
On the treadmill I started to think about Creative Fitness.
About how so many people drop the ball on making sure they do enough to keep their creativity in shape. To make sure they get enough inspiration. To prioritise creativity by setting aside enough time and focus for it.
To be creatively fit is perhaps the most important fitness aspect of our lives.
Are you prioritising your creative fitness?
(BTW: Treadmill is actually great, both for physical fitness and creative fitness – I got some really great ideas on it today!)
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The post Creative Fitness. (Episode 244) first appeared on The Creativity Explorer.
January 8, 2025
Think in Plural (Episode 243)
Here is perhaps one of the easiest ways of having a more open mindset around an issue: Think in plural.
Instead of “creativity” think of “creativities”, because there is not “one” creativity, there are multiple creativities. Artistic creativity, logical creativity, collective creativity, rhythmic creativity and on and on and on. So thinking of “creativities” makes you appreciate the many different kinds of creative expression that we have.
I was inspired to think about the multitude of creativities by Professor Pamela Burnard at the University of Cambridge. Pamela is a Professor of Arts, Creativities and Educations (ACE) and has dedicated a big portion of her life to helping people become more creative.
By thinking of “creativities” instead of just “creativity” we instantly see a broader spectrum of what humans can create.
But the interesting thing is that thinking in plural works for many areas..
Like when we stopped thinking of “intelligence” as one thing and instead started to think of “intelligences”. (and perhaps we should not talk about “artificial intelligence” either, but “artificial intelligences”…)
Or when people started to think of “knowledges” instead of just “knowledge” to acknowledge the wide range of knowledges that people from different cultures can have about a subject.
According to Professor Pam (as she is affectionately referred to by her students) this is how you can practise the technique of thinking in plurals:
1) Add the plural to the topic you are working on.
For example: Think of “freedom” and how it changes when we think of “freedoms”.
Or, think of “fashion” and how it changes when we think of “fashions”.
2) Then ask yourself: What happens when we pluralise it?
(How does “gardening” change when we think of it as “gardenings”, when we think of not one garden, but of many different gardens. The garden for the micro-organisms, the garden for the worms, the garden for the humans and the garden for the birds etc.)
3) Finally reflect on how the changes you notice in your thinking can create new insights.
When you hear the word “inclusion” you think of certain things, but if you turn that into “inclusions” you automatically start to reflect on the need to think of a multitude of different ways of creating cultures of inclusion.
Professor Pamela shared how Cambridge University is one of the world’s most fertile grounds for pluralistic thinking where people from all parts of the world and with expertise from all kinds of fields come together in an environment that fosters, encourages and inspires the exchange of ideas.
She told me of one group of Chinese students who had come for a summer course and been immersed into the Cambridge mindset of pluralistic thinking and how their minds had, in the words of Professor Pamela, “exploded” with the different perspectives and freedoms they had been exposed to.
Professor Pamela Burnard, who is at the moment writing a book on “The Power of Pluralising Creativities” is passionate about giving people the gift of thinking in plural. Her own creativities range from playing in a band, teaching creativity, doing poetry slam and many other ways of creative expression.
To pluralise a topic is a simple way of making the mind think in a more open, diverse and flexible way.
Basically it gives you multiple minds to think with.
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The post Think in Plural (Episode 243) first appeared on The Creativity Explorer.
January 2, 2025
The Creativity Suite. Episode 146: Think in Plural
Interview with Professor Pamela Burnard, Professor of Arts, Creativities and Educations (ACE) at the University of Cambridge.
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Here is perhaps one of the easiest ways of having a more open mindset around an issue: Think in plural.
Instead of “creativity” think of “creativities”, because there is not “one” creativity, there are multiple creativities. Artistic creativity, logical creativity, collective creativity, rhythmic creativity and on and on and on. So thinking of “creativities” makes you appreciate the many different kinds of creative expression that we have.
I was inspired to think about the multitude of creativities by Professor Pamela Burnard at the University of Cambridge. Pamela is a Professor of Arts, Creativities and Educations (ACE) and has dedicated a big portion of her life to helping people become more creative.
By thinking of “creativities” instead of just “creativity” we instantly see a broader spectrum of what humans can create.
But the interesting thing is that thinking in plural works for many areas..
Like when we stopped thinking of “intelligence” as one thing and instead started to think of “intelligences”. (and perhaps we should not talk about “artificial intelligence” either, but “artificial intelligences”…)
Or when people started to think of “knowledges” instead of just “knowledge” to acknowledge the wide range of knowledges that people from different cultures can have about a subject.
According to Professor Pam (as she is affectionately referred to by her students) this is how you can practise the technique of thinking in plurals:
1) Add the plural to the topic you are working on.
For example: Think of “freedom” and how it changes when we think of “freedoms”.
Or, think of “fashion” and how it changes when we think of “fashions”.
2) Then ask yourself: What happens when we pluralise it?
(How does “gardening” change when we think of it as “gardenings”, when we think of not one garden, but of many different gardens. The garden for the micro-organisms, the garden for the worms, the garden for the humans and the garden for the birds etc.)
3) Finally reflect on how the changes you notice in your thinking can create new insights.
When you hear the word “inclusion” you think of certain things, but if you turn that into “inclusions” you automatically start to reflect on the need to think of a multitude of different ways of creating cultures of inclusion.
Professor Pamela shared how Cambridge University is one of the world’s most fertile grounds for pluralistic thinking where people from all parts of the world and with expertise from all kinds of fields come together in an environment that fosters, encourages and inspires the exchange of ideas.
She told me of one group of Chinese students who had come for a summer course and been immersed into the Cambridge mindset of pluralistic thinking and how their minds had, in the words of Professor Pamela, “exploded” with the different perspectives and freedoms they had been exposed to.
Professor Pamela Burnard, who is at the moment writing a book on “The Power of Pluralising Creativities” is passionate about giving people the gift of thinking in plural. Her own creativities range from playing in a band, teaching creativity, doing poetry slam and many other ways of creative expression.
To pluralise a topic is a simple way of making the mind think in a more open, diverse and flexible way.
Basically it gives you multiple minds to think with.
The post The Creativity Suite. Episode 146: Think in Plural first appeared on The Creativity Explorer.
January 1, 2025
What is your ”Professional Resolution?” (Episode 242)
At the Airbnb my family is staying at while we are on a skiing holiday, the owner has a series of books called ”fact calendar”. Books with facts about the world. The last one is from 2015 (!) when the Internet had been around in Sweden for 20+ years and the iPhone had been around for 8…
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What old habits are you holding on to, that it’s time to update, upgrade or change?
What things will you do differently in your professional life this year?
My Professional Resolution is to become better at asking for help, advice and guidance in order to become better at what I do.
My goal is to deliberately ask one person per day for a specific advice.
I will start with today asking my LinkedIn readers: Based on your expertise, how do you recommend I improve my LinkedIn content?
The post What is your ”Professional Resolution?” (Episode 242) first appeared on The Creativity Explorer.
December 20, 2024
Around the World in 80 Selfies (Episode 240)
Many assume the highlight of the job as a keynote speaker is standing on grand stages in front of massive crowds. And while that’s exhilarating, it’s not the best part.
The real magic? The incredible, inspiring, and diverse people you get to meet along the way.
This year, instead of following the trend of AI-generated “year in reviews,” I created something personal: a movie of 80 selfies from around the world—80 moments of connection from Nigeria to Denmark, Vietnam to Switzerland, and beyond. 🌏📸
To everyone who shared a moment with me this year: thank you. You’ve made 2024 unforgettable. While I can’t tag everyone (there are too many of you), know that your impact stays with me. And for all I met who are not in this compilation, sorry for excluding you, but I wanted to keep it to 80 🙂 (Why 80? It’s, of course, my tribute to Jules Verne, a fellow Creativity Explorer 🚀)
Life is about connections with people. The conversations, lessons, and inspiration we give to and receive from one another is, perhaps more than anything else, what makes us human.
Here’s to 2024: the year of global connections, creativity, and endless inspiration. Cheers to more adventures in 2025! 🥂✨
👉 What’s been your most memorable meeting this year? Let’s share the inspiration!
Link to the LinkedIn video: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/fredrikharen_aroundtheworld-creativityexplorer-globalconnections-activity-7275817994306359296-WPj8?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop
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The post Around the World in 80 Selfies (Episode 240) first appeared on The Creativity Explorer.
Around the World in 80 Selfies (Episode 240)
Many assume the highlight of the job as a keynote speaker is standing on grand stages in front of massive crowds. And while that’s exhilarating, it’s not the best part.
The real magic? The incredible, inspiring, and diverse people you get to meet along the way.
This year, instead of following the trend of AI-generated “year in reviews,” I created something personal: a movie of 80 selfies from around the world—80 moments of connection from Nigeria to Denmark, Vietnam to Switzerland, and beyond. 🌏📸
To everyone who shared a moment with me this year: thank you. You’ve made 2024 unforgettable. While I can’t tag everyone (there are too many of you), know that your impact stays with me. And for all I met who are not in this compilation, sorry for excluding you, but I wanted to keep it to 80 🙂 (Why 80? It’s, of course, my tribute to Jules Verne, a fellow Creativity Explorer 🚀)
Life is about connections with people. The conversations, lessons, and inspiration we give to and receive from one another is, perhaps more than anything else, what makes us human.
Here’s to 2024: the year of global connections, creativity, and endless inspiration. Cheers to more adventures in 2025! 🥂✨
👉 What’s been your most memorable meeting this year? Let’s share the inspiration!
Link to the LinkedIn video: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/fredrikharen_aroundtheworld-creativityexplorer-globalconnections-activity-7275817994306359296-WPj8?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop
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The post Around the World in 80 Selfies (Episode 240) first appeared on The Creativity Explorer.
December 12, 2024
The Creativity Suite. Episode 145: Let’s Do It!
Interview with Remco van Haastrecht, VP Operations at Solar Nederland in The Netherlands.
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Nike got it almost right with their iconic slogan: “Just Do It”.
But to me, the concise and beautiful message is hiding a flaw.
May I instead propose: “Let’s Do It.”
Just Do It is telling someone to do something.
Let’s Do It is inviting someone to do what needs to be done.
Just Do It is categorical. (It implies that the full sentence is “Just Do It, no matter the consequences.”)
Let’s Do It is inspirational.
Just Do It is discouraging inputs from others. (“Don’t ask questions, Just Do it.”)
Let’s Do It is convincing someone without telling them.
Just Do It is not taking the current moment into consideration. (Let’s say “do it” stands for “jump”, then it becomes “Just Jump!”)
While Let’s Do It becomes “Let’s Jump”, as in “This is the time to jump, the platform is close enough right now.”
Just Do It is individual.
Let’s Do It is collaborative.
Just Do It comes from a place of authority. (An authoritative officer, boss, coach or parent says “Just Do It.”)
Let’s Do It comes from a place of equality. (A friend, partner, colleague or teammate says “Let’s Do It.”)
Want creative things to happen?
Do not just ‘Just Do It’.
Go out to the world with the message of “Let’s Do It.”
This text was inspired by a conversation with Remco van Haastrecht, VP Operations at Solar Nederland in The Netherlands who introduced me to the idea behind “Let’s Do It” – a motto that has guided his career and life.
The post The Creativity Suite. Episode 145: Let’s Do It! first appeared on The Creativity Explorer.
December 11, 2024
Let’s Do It! (Episode 239)
Nike got it almost right with their iconic slogan: “Just Do It”.
But to me, the concise and beautiful message is hiding a flaw.
May I instead propose: “Let’s Do It.”
Just Do It is telling someone to do something.
Let’s Do It is inviting someone to do what needs to be done.
Just Do It is categorical. (It implies that the full sentence is “Just Do It, no matter the consequences.”)
Let’s Do It is inspirational.
Just Do It is discouraging inputs from others. (“Don’t ask questions, Just Do it.”)
Let’s Do It is convincing someone without telling them.
Just Do It is not taking the current moment into consideration. (Let’s say “do it” stands for “jump”, then it becomes “Just Jump!”)
While Let’s Do It becomes “Let’s Jump”, as in “This is the time to jump, the platform is close enough right now.”
Just Do It is individual.
Let’s Do It is collaborative.
Just Do It comes from a place of authority. (An authoritative officer, boss, coach or parent says “Just Do It.”)
Let’s Do It comes from a place of equality. (A friend, partner, colleague or teammate says “Let’s Do It.”)
Want creative things to happen?
Do not just ‘Just Do It’.
Go out to the world with the message of “Let’s Do It.”
This text was inspired by a conversation with Remco van Haastrecht, VP Operations at Solar Nederland in The Netherlands who introduced me to the idea behind “Let’s Do It” – a motto that has guided his career and life.
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The post Let’s Do It! (Episode 239) first appeared on The Creativity Explorer.
