Fredrik Härén's Blog, page 4
March 23, 2025
The art of disassuming (Episode 151)
As Head of Trend and Innovation Scouting at Nokia, Leslie Shannon’s job is to identify connectivity-related tech disruptions and opportunities, including developments in robotics, drones, visual analytics, cloud gaming, generative AI. In a way she is an in-house futurist.
But when I asked her to describe what she does she said: “I need to constantly be questioning my assumptions.”
To her, the most important part of the job is not to understand all the new technologies emerging, but to have the skill to revise her assumptions around what the future of the world will look like.
She told me that she constantly evaluates her assumptions, and every six months she sits down for a major overhaul of her fundamental assumptions.
The skill of reviewing one’s assumptions is as valuable as it is rare.
To have the guts to re-evaluate one’s world view based on new information, to dare to say out-loud that you were wrong, takes honesty and humility.
Let’s call this skill “The art of disassuming”.
To assume is to think: “This is what I think, based on what I know.”
To disassume is to think: “This might be where I have to change my mind based on what I recently learned”
To disassume is a made up word, but it’s a word we need, because the practice of disassumption is a skill we need.
We especially need this art when we are successful.
In the words of Leslie Shannon: “Success cements assumptions, and assumptions breed blindness.”
It’s so easy to think you know how to do something when you have been successful doing just that.
But the world changes, and what used to be right can now be wrong. (Leslie works for Nokia after all, a company that learnt that the hard way.)
As a futurist in the fast changing world of digital communication, Leslie is a pro at disassuming. I asked her to share with me some techniques we can use to make sure that our wrong assumptions don’t blind us.
She said: “We need to constantly rethink the stories we tell ourselves. We need to stop, pause, take a step back and question your assumptions. An assumption, after all, is a thing that is accepted as true or as certain to happen – without proof.”
Leslie stresses that disassuming is a deliberate act, something you decide to do.
She also gave us three insights on how to develop an effective disassuming mindset.
1) Open
Leslie: “The trick is to be constantly open, to be consciously open and to be purposely open.”
Open-mindedness is the anti-dote to getting stuck in outdated assumptions.
2) Uncomfortable
Leslie: “When you find something that makes you uncomfortable, lean into it. Follow the uncomfortable – it probably means that the thing that is making you uncomfortable is challenging your assumptions.”
Leslie shared how, when she was studying new Generative AI trends, first assumed that the power of the AI would be in the cloud and that it would be great for network operators like Nokia, so when people started talking about the possibilities of Gen AI being run locally on a phone her first reaction was to dismiss it. But that uncomfortable feeling pushed her to re-assess her views on how Generative AI might be serviced in the future.
3) Memory
Leslie: “Remember what you said. In order to be able to reevaluate your assumptions you need to be able to compare the new assumptions to the old. To just talk about the newest, latest thing is easy. To compare your old thought with your new is harder – but also more valuable. The future is not a point, it’s a vector.”
Leslie is bubbling with positive energy when we talk, and I get a sense that the ability to challenge your own assumptions is not just a recipe for success, but also a recipe for happiness.
Her final words to me are profound: “What makes the practice of disassuming so difficult is that our assumptions often become a key part of our identity. Whenever you find yourself thinking, “I’m a person who always/never . . .” – what follows isn’t actually who you are, it’s an assumption. “I’m a person who never eats mangoes,” or “I’m a person who always votes for this political party,” or “I’m a person who will work at this employer for the rest of my career,” are all examples of assumptions that can keep you from seeing new possibilities, both in yourself and in the world around you. Yet these kinds of identity assumptions and the consequent blindness that they create are the most difficult to conquer because we feel that the very core of who we are is threatened if we question them.
You have to ask yourself, “Will who I truly am vanish in some way if I eat a mango?” or “Will who I truly am vanish in some way if I’m made redundant?” The answer is almost always no, and you may find that mangoes are delicious and your next job is far better than your last one. But you won’t know until you disassume even the things that seem most central to who you “are”.”
A disassuming mind is in a conscious state of constantly questioning how one looks at the world in order to change as soon as that is the right thing to do.
We should be disassuming more often.
What assumptions could you get rid of if you actively engage in the act of disassuming?
The post The art of disassuming (Episode 151) first appeared on The Creativity Explorer.
February 27, 2025
The Creativity Suite. Episode 150: Bispective – the unique competence of being able to see something from both perspectives.
Interview with Margit Kunz, Chief Executive Director at The German-Belgian-Luxembourg Chamber of Industry and Commerce.
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A person (Person A) who has worked in an advertising agency her whole life has a lot of experience in creating advertising. She has a certain perspective on advertising. A person (Person B) who has worked in a marketing department her whole life has a lot of experience in commissioning advertising campaigns. She, also, has a certain perspective on advertising.
But a person (Person C) who has worked both in an advertising agency (creating ads) and in a marketing department (commissioning ads) has the unique competence which comes from seeing the creation of advertising from both sides.
Person C has a “bispective” on advertising.
Bispective is a made up word created by combining the Latin word for “two” (bi) with the word “perspective” where “spec” means “to observe”.
So a person who can look at a situation from two perspectives has a “bispective”.
Here are some other examples of expertise that will generate bispective:
– A sales person who previously worked as head of procurement, who can now understand how people who buy services think.
– A person who becomes a parent, and can now understand both how it feels to be a child, but also can take the perspective of a parent.
– A former lobbyist who switches sides and becomes a politician, and who can now better understand the struggles of politicians trying to make their voters happy.
Having bispective is like having two eyes instead of one. A person with just one eye loses some ability to perceive depth, and a person with just one perspective on something loses the ability to perceive depth of understanding in that area.
I learned about bispective from Margit Kunz, Chief Executive Director at The German-Belgian-Luxembourg Chamber of Industry and Commerce.
A chamber of commerce always has bispective. They represent their home country (in Margit’s case, Germany) but they also represent the local market in which they work (in Margit’s current case “Belgium and Luxembourg).
In her previous life, Margit has worked both as a PR-person for a local theatre as well as a local journalist. By working both in PR and journalism gave Margit “bispective” on “media”.
According to Margit, having bispective gives a person many advantages:
1) You can better anticipate different outcomes, and you work on it much faster.
2) You become more emphatic towards your counterpart and can more easily see their point of view.
3) You get the ability to play through different scenarios and look at a situation from different angles.
And as she then added: “And on good days it allows you to be more open minded – you become less confrontational. You can more easily respect the other side and it becomes easier to change your initial plan or your strategy when you are wrong.”
The more I hear about bispective, the more I realise that it’s the opposite of an extremist. And it’s a very powerful tool. Having bispective makes you more curious, less judgmental, more open-minded and more empathetic.
After having been a professional speaker for 20 years I was tasked to organise a conference for professional speakers in 2018. Suddenly, I found myself on the other side of the “booking a speaker-table”. I thought I understood the process of booking a speaker – after all, I had been booked as a speaker more than 2000 times; but when I was the one actually booking the speakers I suddenly looked at the process in a totally new way. Getting frustrated with speakers for not sending in their slides on time made me appreciate the patience of meeting planners. Having speakers requesting a lot of changes to the schedule, length of speech etc, made me aware of the need for speakers to be more accommodating. Hearing speakers ignoring the brief I had been giving them, made me promise myself to always pay full attention to speaker briefs, and so on.
Organising a conference for speakers made me a better speaker to work with for conference organisers because now I had bispective on the speaker booking process.
Most people speak just one language, but, according to the Journal of Neurolinguistics, 43% of the world’s population is bilingual, as in “utilising two languages daily.”
A person who is bilingual not only knows how to speak two languages but being bilingual also increases creativity, flexibility and open-mindedness – and might very likely have a better cultural awareness.
Just as the world is getting aware of the advantage of speaking two languages, we also need to become more aware of the huge advantages of people having bispective on what they do.
How could you get a bispective on what you do?
The post The Creativity Suite. Episode 150: Bispective – the unique competence of being able to see something from both perspectives. first appeared on The Creativity Explorer.
February 26, 2025
Kai-taku-sha – One who cultivates the frontier (Episode 247)
The Japanese have given us some wonderful concepts related to creativity. Like Kaizen (改善), the art of continuous improvement.. Or Wabi-Sabi (侘寂), the beauty in imperfection and transience. And Shoshin (初心): Meaning: Having a beginner’s mind.
I would like to introduce you to another one: Kaitakusha (開拓者), which translates to “someone who cultivates the frontier.”
I learned about Kaitakusha from Kyoko Yonezawa, Head of Innovation at TBWA\HAKUHODO in Tokyo. Kyoko runs the Innovation Hub at TBWA\HAKUHODO where she and her team explore the latest developments in tech to find new ways of pushing the boundaries of marketing and advertising for their clients.
Kyoko is a Human Computer Interaction specialist so she is an expert on the interaction between humans and machines.
I asked her how she looked at the concept of “Human Innovation Interaction”, a concept I just made up for our discussion and by which I meant the understanding of how to best get people to develop and adopt new ideas.
She laughed and said: “In general, people are supportive of things they are already used to, things that they already know. Change is very difficult for most people.”
But she then went on to emphasise the importance of having people who try new things: “Without people who cultivate the frontier we would stagnate. We would go extinct.”
I asked Kyoko what the mindset of a Kaitakusha is and she gave me the most poetic reply:
“You know the saying
‘If you want to go fast go alone
If you want to go far go together’
But do you know how it ends?
‘If you want to go fast go alone
If you want to go far go together
If you want to go above, convince others to fly fast with you.”
This is the essence of a Kaitakusha. It is not just pushing the envelope. No, a Kaitakusha is going to the edge of the known to plant and harvest new thoughts and ideas that she can bring back to the rest of her group. Thoughts and ideas that will bring the others along towards the new.
Kaitakushas bring people closer to the future. They settle in the new.
In English we have the word “pioneer”, but it doesn’t quite capture this spirit. Especially if you keep in mind that the origin of the word pioneer is the French “pionnier” meaning “foot-soldier” or “pawn”. Pioneers were the soldiers that were first sent towards the front. They were cannon fodder.
The Japanese word Kaitakusha, with its meaning of “someone who cultivates the future”, is not only more poetic and beautiful, it is also pointing at value creation of the persons who are Kaitakushas as they bring back the “harvest” from the future.
They do not just “explore” the new land. They cultivate it.
Kyoko gave three short and concise rules to follow if you want to be an effective Kaitakusha:
1) Do not be afraid.
Do not be afraid of new ideas, new technology or new innovations. But most importantly, do not be afraid of the people who bring you these new ideas.
Remember: Approach the new.
2) Find the benefit
Do not just explore the new, actively try to find the value that it will bring. Search for what makes this better. For how it will improve our lives.
Remember: Harvest the new.
And then finally,
3) Share the harvest
A Kaitakusha is not just invested in finding the new, she is also trying to get others onboard.
Remember: Share the new.
Elon Musk, despite his polarizing nature, is perhaps the best current example of a Kaitakusha, not only is he passionately curious about the latest technologies and innovations. He is also very focused on finding ways of taking them to market and making them accessible for the masses. And finally he is spending a lot of time promoting his visions and dreams for the future to get others on board.
Do not just settle to be an innovator, a trailblazer, a pioneer or (the very boring title of) ‘early adopter’.
Instead, be a Kaitakusha.
Be a person who cultivates the frontiers of humanity.
Would love to know your thoughts. Do post a comment on LinkedIn.
The post Kai-taku-sha – One who cultivates the frontier (Episode 247) first appeared on The Creativity Explorer.
February 25, 2025
The Creativity Suite. Episode 149: Kai-taku-sha – One who cultivates the frontier
Interview with Kaitakusha from Kyoko Yonezawa, Head of Innovation at TBWA\HAKUHODO
[image error]
The Japanese have given us some wonderful concepts related to creativity. Like Kaizen (改善), the art of continuous improvement.. Or Wabi-Sabi (侘寂), the beauty in imperfection and transience. And Shoshin (初心): Meaning: Having a beginner’s mind.
I would like to introduce you to another one: Kaitakusha (開拓者), which translates to “someone who cultivates the frontier.”
I learned about Kaitakusha from Kyoko Yonezawa, Head of Innovation at TBWA\HAKUHODO in Tokyo. Kyoko runs the Innovation Hub at TBWA\HAKUHODO where she and her team explore the latest developments in tech to find new ways of pushing the boundaries of marketing and advertising for their clients.
Kyoko is a Human Computer Interaction specialist so she is an expert on the interaction between humans and machines.
I asked her how she looked at the concept of “Human Innovation Interaction”, a concept I just made up for our discussion and by which I meant the understanding of how to best get people to develop and adopt new ideas.
She laughed and said: “In general, people are supportive of things they are already used to, things that they already know. Change is very difficult for most people.”
But she then went on to emphasise the importance of having people who try new things: “Without people who cultivate the frontier we would stagnate. We would go extinct.”
I asked Kyoko what the mindset of a Kaitakusha is and she gave me the most poetic reply:
“You know the saying
‘If you want to go fast go alone
If you want to go far go together’
But do you know how it ends?
‘If you want to go fast go alone
If you want to go far go together
If you want to go above, convince others to fly fast with you.”
This is the essence of a Kaitakusha. It is not just pushing the envelope. No, a Kaitakusha is going to the edge of the known to plant and harvest new thoughts and ideas that she can bring back to the rest of her group. Thoughts and ideas that will bring the others along towards the new.
Kaitakushas bring people closer to the future. They settle in the new.
In English we have the word “pioneer”, but it doesn’t quite capture this spirit. Especially if you keep in mind that the origin of the word pioneer is the French “pionnier” meaning “foot-soldier” or “pawn”. Pioneers were the soldiers that were first sent towards the front. They were cannon fodder.
The Japanese word Kaitakusha, with its meaning of “someone who cultivates the future”, is not only more poetic and beautiful, it is also pointing at value creation of the persons who are Kaitakushas as they bring back the “harvest” from the future.
They do not just “explore” the new land. They cultivate it.
Kyoko gave three short and concise rules to follow if you want to be an effective Kaitakusha:
1) Do not be afraid.
Do not be afraid of new ideas, new technology or new innovations. But most importantly, do not be afraid of the people who bring you these new ideas.
Remember: Approach the new.
2) Find the benefit
Do not just explore the new, actively try to find the value that it will bring. Search for what makes this better. For how it will improve our lives.
Remember: Harvest the new.
And then finally,
3) Share the harvest
A Kaitakusha is not just invested in finding the new, she is also trying to get others onboard.
Remember: Share the new.
Elon Musk, despite his polarizing nature, is perhaps the best current example of a Kaitakusha, not only is he passionately curious about the latest technologies and innovations. He is also very focused on finding ways of taking them to market and making them accessible for the masses. And finally he is spending a lot of time promoting his visions and dreams for the future to get others on board.
Do not just settle to be an innovator, a trailblazer, a pioneer or (the very boring title of) ‘early adopter’.
Instead, be a Kaitakusha.
Be a person who cultivates the frontiers of humanity.
The post The Creativity Suite. Episode 149: Kai-taku-sha – One who cultivates the frontier first appeared on The Creativity Explorer.
February 21, 2025
Embracing an Opening Mindset (Episode 246)
I am sharing with you about a conversation I had with Karen Ballenden, Client Service Director at LePub Amsterdam for The Creativity Suite project.
Karen believes that much of her progress stems from cultivating what she calls an ‘Opening Mindset’. She feels fortunate to have worked on iconic global brands, contributing in small ways to the communication that shapes their stories. In our conversation, she shared how this mindset has impacted not only her career but also her approach to life.
At its core, an Opening Mindset is more than just being open to new ideas; it’s a proactive way of engaging with the world. Karen explains that it’s about actively choosing to approach new experiences, ideas, or people with enthusiasm and curiosity. “Whenever I step into a situation, I tell myself to ‘love it for the first minute,’” she shared. Whether evaluating a new campaign, meeting a person for the first time, or trying something unfamiliar, Karen’s method helps her remain present, opening up endless possibilities.
This philosophy has real-world applications. For example, during a recent project, her team pitched several ideas, but the client chose the one Karen was least excited about. Instead of feeling disheartened, she embraced the choice, saying, “This is the best idea because the client picked it. Now, how can we make it great?” This shift in perspective allowed her and her team to produce the campaign with renewed creativity and energy.
What Sets an “Opening Mindset” Apart?
While an open mindset is about being receptive, Karen’s Opening Mindset takes it further. It encourages continuous growth and a deeper exploration of opportunities. Karen stresses the importance of setting aside judgments, suspending biases, and embracing even those ideas that seem unappealing at first glance. “When you embrace something, you open yourself up to discovering its potential,” she noted.
This mindset is particularly helpful in moments when our tendency is to focus on flaws or drawbacks. An Opening Mindset shifts focus toward the possibilities, encouraging us to look beyond initial impressions and find value even in the unexpected.
Practical Strategies for Cultivating an Opening Mindset
Karen suggests a few key strategies to adopt an Opening Mindset:
Ensure Mental Presence: Start meetings or conversations only when everyone is fully present and engaged. Karen advises against rushing into discussions before participants are mentally prepared. “If they’re not with you, don’t go,” she suggests.
Prepare and Stay Grounded: While being present is essential, preparation is equally important. Being well-prepared gives you control over the situation, ensuring you can handle whatever unfolds with confidence.
Transition Thoughtfully: Karen recommends initially loving an idea with your emotional brain before analyzing it with your rational mind. “After you’ve given it a chance and found its potential, then evaluate it against your criteria,” she explains.
Inspiration from Unexpected Places
Karen’s approach to an Opening Mindset mirrors advice from Swedish Princess Victoria, who once shared that her mother, Queen Silvia, told her, “Every person has an interesting story, and your job is to find it.” This wisdom parallels the essence of Karen’s mindset-before dismissing anything or anyone, give it time to reveal its value.
By embracing an Opening Mindset, you can transform your perspective on everyday situations. It’s not just about being open but actively engaging with and exploring new opportunities. As Karen’s story shows, falling in love with an idea, even just for the first minute, can lead to breakthroughs both in your career and in life. Try it, and see what new possibilities it can unlock for you.
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The post Embracing an Opening Mindset (Episode 246) first appeared on The Creativity Explorer.
The Creativity Suite. Episode 148: Embracing an Opening Mindset
Interview with Karen Ballenden, Client Service Director at LePub Amsterdam
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Karen Ballenden, Client Service Director at LePub Amsterdam, believes that much of her progress stems from cultivating what she calls an ‘Opening Mindset’. She feels fortunate to have worked on iconic global brands, contributing in small ways to the communication that shapes their stories. In our conversation, she shared how this mindset has impacted not only her career but also her approach to life.
At its core, an Opening Mindset is more than just being open to new ideas; it’s a proactive way of engaging with the world. Karen explains that it’s about actively choosing to approach new experiences, ideas, or people with enthusiasm and curiosity. “Whenever I step into a situation, I tell myself to ‘love it for the first minute,’” she shared. Whether evaluating a new campaign, meeting a person for the first time, or trying something unfamiliar, Karen’s method helps her remain present, opening up endless possibilities.
This philosophy has real-world applications. For example, during a recent project, her team pitched several ideas, but the client chose the one Karen was least excited about. Instead of feeling disheartened, she embraced the choice, saying, “This is the best idea because the client picked it. Now, how can we make it great?” This shift in perspective allowed her and her team to produce the campaign with renewed creativity and energy.
What Sets an “Opening Mindset” Apart?
While an open mindset is about being receptive, Karen’s Opening Mindset takes it further. It encourages continuous growth and a deeper exploration of opportunities. Karen stresses the importance of setting aside judgments, suspending biases, and embracing even those ideas that seem unappealing at first glance. “When you embrace something, you open yourself up to discovering its potential,” she noted.
This mindset is particularly helpful in moments when our tendency is to focus on flaws or drawbacks. An Opening Mindset shifts focus toward the possibilities, encouraging us to look beyond initial impressions and find value even in the unexpected.
Practical Strategies for Cultivating an Opening Mindset
Karen suggests a few key strategies to adopt an Opening Mindset:
Ensure Mental Presence: Start meetings or conversations only when everyone is fully present and engaged. Karen advises against rushing into discussions before participants are mentally prepared. “If they’re not with you, don’t go,” she suggests.
Prepare and Stay Grounded: While being present is essential, preparation is equally important. Being well-prepared gives you control over the situation, ensuring you can handle whatever unfolds with confidence.
Transition Thoughtfully: Karen recommends initially loving an idea with your emotional brain before analyzing it with your rational mind. “After you’ve given it a chance and found its potential, then evaluate it against your criteria,” she explains.
Inspiration from Unexpected Places
Karen’s approach to an Opening Mindset mirrors advice from Swedish Princess Victoria, who once shared that her mother, Queen Silvia, told her, “Every person has an interesting story, and your job is to find it.” This wisdom parallels the essence of Karen’s mindset-before dismissing anything or anyone, give it time to reveal its value.
By embracing an Opening Mindset, you can transform your perspective on everyday situations. It’s not just about being open but actively engaging with and exploring new opportunities. As Karen’s story shows, falling in love with an idea, even just for the first minute, can lead to breakthroughs both in your career and in life. Try it, and see what new possibilities it can unlock for you.
The post The Creativity Suite. Episode 148: Embracing an Opening Mindset first appeared on The Creativity Explorer.
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.
