Michael J. Gelb's Blog, page 4
December 20, 2014
New Book – Available NOW!
CREATIVITY ON DEMAND: How to Ignite and Sustain the Fire of Genius
In recent years, the best thinking on leadership and organizational performance has shifted away from the idea of managing time to recognize the importance of managing energy. One of the pioneers of this shift, Professor James Clawson, of the Darden Graduate School of Business at the University of Virginia, explains, “Leadership is about managing energy, first in yourself and then in those around you.
Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz, authors of the New York Times bestseller The Power of Full Engagement, came to similar conclusions. They explain,
“Managing energy, not time, is the key to enduring high performance.”
“Positive energy rituals—highly specific routines for managing energy—are the key to full engagement and sustained high performance.”
The sages of China came to these same conclusions five thousand years ago. Now we can apply this ancient wisdom to meeting the demand of our contemporary lives. Creative energy is our ultimate resource. Throughout history geniuses (Leonardo da Vinci, Marie Curie, Thomas Edison, Nikola Tesla, etc.) had an intuitive understanding of how to connect with this energy.
This book guides you to generate and express creative energy using simple, elegant, evidence-based methods. These techniques, based on ancient wisdom and validated by contemporary science, are combined with an understanding of how to adopt a creative mindset and apply the most potent methods of the creative process. The result is a unique, energizing and transformational.
Endorsements for CREATIVITY ON DEMAND:
Creativity on Demand is the result of a lifetime devoted to facilitating creativity in people and organizations. Whether your own interest is in cultivating the creative potential of other people or connecting more deeply with your personal talents and possibilities, it offers not only the inspiration, but also the practical guidance to help you make it happen. ~ Sir Ken Robinson, Ph.D. from the Foreword
Are you hoping to make creativity a daily practice, but feel that what you’re doing just isn’t working? In his latest book, Michael Gelb shows us how to tap into a creative energy that’s been recognized and cultivated for millennia. With examples drawn from a rich array of sources, both contemporary and ancient, this book might be the something different you’ve been looking for. ~ Daniel H. Pink, author of To Sell is Human and Drive
Creativity on Demand is a highly original mixture of inspiration and executive coaching that will help you claim the creativity that is your birthright. Michael J. Gelb has generated an outstanding wellspring for creative thinking and practical problem-solving – you’ll find yourself reading it again and again to discover success and satisfaction in everything you do. And you’ll be thrilled with the results! ~ Marshall Goldsmith a Thinkers 50 Top Ten Global Business Thinker and top ranked executive coach.
Michael Gelb’s ability to inspire creative thinking and esprit de corps is unparalleled. In this unique and extremely valuable book he explains how he does it, and how you can too. ~ Gerry Kirk, former Managing Director of Merck Sharp & Dohme Central America
September 2, 2014
Upcoming Events & Announcements
New website coming soon!Free videos to accompany exercises in the new book will be on the new site!
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Meantime, hope to see you at any or all of the following upcoming events:
September 3: Book signing at Collected Works Bookstore & Coffeehouse at 202 Galisteo Street, Santa Fe, NM (6 PM)
September 7: Seminar and booksigning at Aikido Schools of New Jersey with Rick Stickles Shihan
September 10: Institute for Management Studies seminar in Charlotte, NC
October 5-10: Omega Institute, Rhinebeck, NY
November 11-14: Darden Business School Executive Education, Charlottesville, NC
November 15: Seminar at the New York Open Center co-presenting with Master Robert Peng, New York City
November 16: Seminar at ISHTA Yoga Downtown, New York City
November 18: Institute for Management Studies, New York City
November 20: 21st Annual European Mentoring and Coaching Conference, Venice, Italy
November 30: Performance Strategies Excellence Forum, Milan, Italy
December 27-Jan 1: Alexander Technique Workshops International, Malibu, CA
January 2-4: Seminar at Esalen Institute, Big Sur, CA
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
New Book – Available NOW!
CREATIVITY ON DEMAND: How to Ignite and Sustain the Fire of Genius
Do moments of inspiration have to be few and far between—or can you develop the ability to access your deepest creativity any time? Michael Gelb has discovered the missing key that allows genius to flourish: an open, reliable connection to the vital life energy we all possess. “The practices for accessing energy have been developed for thousands of years in yoga, martial arts, and Chinese medicine,” Gelb says. “I’ve asked today’s greatest living masters of these arts to contribute their most effective practices for cultivating creative energy—in a way that the average person can do in 20 minutes or less.”
With Creativity On Demand , Gelb teaches a series of simple and potent practices to clear blockages and open the flow of creative energy. He then reveals how these techniques can be integrated with the renowned creative mindset and creative process tools he’s taught to individuals and organizations worldwide. The result is Michael Gelb’s most powerful work yet on unlocking our potential to innovate and achieve.
Endorsements for CREATIVITY ON DEMAND
Creativity on Demand is the result of a lifetime devoted to facilitating creativity in people and organizations. Whether your own interest is in cultivating the creative potential of other people or connecting more deeply with your personal talents and possibilities, it offers not only the inspiration, but also the practical guidance to help you make it happen.
~ Sir Ken Robinson, Ph.D. from the Foreword
Are you hoping to make creativity a daily practice, but feel that what you’re doing just isn’t working? In his latest book, Michael Gelb shows us how to tap into a creative energy that’s been recognized and cultivated for millennia. With examples drawn from a rich array of sources, both contemporary and ancient, this book might be the something different you’ve been looking for.
~ Daniel H. Pink, author of To Sell is Human and Drive
Creativity on Demand is a highly original mixture of inspiration and executive coaching that will help you claim the creativity that is your birthright. Michael J. Gelb has generated an outstanding wellspring for creative thinking and practical problem-solving – you’ll find yourself reading it again and again to discover success and satisfaction in everything you do. And you’ll be thrilled with the results!
~ Marshall Goldsmith a Thinkers 50 Top Ten Global Business Thinker and top ranked executive coach.
Do you want to know how to fill your cup with sparkling, juicy creative energy every day? Then read and rejoice - Creativity On Demand is a unique, practical, transformational resource for all who are passionate about living a great creative life!
~ SARK Author, Artist, Succulent Wild Woman
In Creativity on Demand, Michael Gelb offers surefire methods for cracking your individual creativity code, supplying your creative spirit wings upon which to soar. Truly, heaven’s kiss of inspiration is firmly planted upon this book.
~ Michael Bernard Beckwith author of Life Visioning
May 21, 2014
New book “CREATIVITY ON DEMAND”
CREATIVITY ON DEMAND: How to Ignite and Sustain the Fire of Genius
To be released by SOUNDS TRUE on September 1st, 2014!
Do moments of inspiration have to be few and far between—or can you develop the ability to access your deepest creativity any time? Michael Gelb has discovered the missing key that allows genius to flourish: an open, reliable connection to the vital life energy we all possess. “The practices for accessing energy have been developed for thousands of years in yoga, martial arts, and Chinese medicine,” Gelb says. “I’ve asked today’s greatest living masters of these arts to contribute their most effective practices for cultivating creative energy—in a way that the average person can do in 20 minutes or less.”
With Creativity On Demand , Gelb teaches a series of simple and potent practices to clear blockages and open the flow of creative energy. He then reveals how these techniques can be integrated with the renowned creative mindset and creative process tools he’s taught to individuals and organizations worldwide. The result is Michael Gelb’s most powerful work yet on unlocking our potential to innovate and achieve.
Endorsements for CREATIVITY ON DEMAND
Creativity on Demand is the result of a lifetime devoted to facilitating creativity in people and organizations. Whether your own interest is in cultivating the creative potential of other people or connecting more deeply with your personal talents and possibilities, it offers not only the inspiration, but also the practical guidance to help you make it happen.
~ Sir Ken Robinson, Ph.D. from the Foreword
Are you hoping to make creativity a daily practice, but feel that what you’re doing just isn’t working? In his latest book, Michael Gelb shows us how to tap into a creative energy that’s been recognized and cultivated for millennia. With examples drawn from a rich array of sources, both contemporary and ancient, this book might be the something different you’ve been looking for.
~ Daniel H. Pink, author of To Sell is Human and Drive
Creativity on Demand is a highly original mixture of inspiration and executive coaching that will help you claim the creativity that is your birthright. Michael J. Gelb has generated an outstanding wellspring for creative thinking and practical problem-solving – you’ll find yourself reading it again and again to discover success and satisfaction in everything you do. And you’ll be thrilled with the results!
~ Marshall Goldsmith a Thinkers 50 Top Ten Global Business Thinker and top ranked executive coach.
Do you want to know how to fill your cup with sparkling, juicy creative energy every day? Then read and rejoice – Creativity On Demand is a unique, practical, transformational resource for all who are passionate about living a great creative life!
~ SARK Author, Artist, Succulent Wild Woman
In Creativity on Demand, Michael Gelb offers surefire methods for cracking your individual creativity code, supplying your creative spirit wings upon which to soar. Truly, heaven’s kiss of inspiration is firmly planted upon this book.
~ Michael Bernard Beckwith author of Life Visioning
August 21, 2013
7 Things Leonardo da Vinci Can Teach You About Creativity – INC Magazine
INVENTING
INC Magazine: Interview with Michael J. Gelb
BY CHRISTINA DESMARAIS
The Italian master had skill and great ideas, but he also had something else: the ability to look at the world around him differently.
I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that since his death, the world has never really had another Leonardo da Vinci. While his name might conjure up images of famous works of art such as the Mona Lisa, The Last Supper or Vitruvian Man, he was much more than an artist. In fact, he was an architect, musician, mathematician, engineer, inventor, expert in anatomy, geologist, map-maker, and botanist. In short, he was a genius.
Genius and creativity are closely linked. How does one make connections that have never been made before? Doing so is the essence of originality.
Michael Gelb–someone who makes his living teaching companies how to innovate–has written 13 books on creativity and innovation. His most famous, “How to Think Like Leonardo Da Vinci: Seven Steps to Genius Every Day,” has sold more than a half million copies and has been translated into 25 languages.
Gelb says the fodder for his book came from studying Leonardo’s notebooks. In addition to all his other talents Leonardo wrote copiously and put to paper 13,000 pages of notes and drawings, much of it in mirror-image cursive.
Here’s what Gelb learned from the Italian master about what you need to be most creative.
Curiosity
By nature children are curious, but as we grow up much of our inquisitiveness ebbs.
“Almost all children in their natural state ask lots of questions. That’s how they learn so much in the first five years of life. But then we send them to school where they learn that answers are more important than questions,” Gelb says.
Geniuses like da Vinci, however, maintain a passionate curiosity throughout life.
“When you work with an organization you can often tell, especially when you come in from the outside as I do as a consultant, whether the spirit of curiosity is really alive, whether people actually have a questing open mind or whether they’re a bunch of stuffy know-it-alls.”
Independent Thinking
Diversity is critical for creativity and innovation, which is why it’s important to seek out points of view different from your own.
“The problem is the more senior someone becomes the more likely they’re going to believe their own publicity and surround themselves with people who always agree with them. So the more senior you become, the more concerted effort you must make to seek out different opinions. Then you have a chance to think independently,” Gelb says.
Sharpen Your Senses
In business this translates into listening well and being observant, simple advice that’s difficult to heed in an increasingly distracted world.
“The Italians have la dolce vita, the sweet soulful life. The French have joie de vivre, the joy of living and in the States all we have is happy hour,” Gelb says.
He’s really talking about mindfulness, paying close attention to what’s happening right now. Not only can it help you be more creative, it’s the key to enjoying life, he says.
Gelb helps business people get better in tune with their senses by training them to appreciate beauty. He does this by having them listen to music, appreciate art, thoughtfully taste wine or chocolate, as well as write poetry.
Embrace Uncertainty
The ability to project confidence in the face of the unknown is a critical leadership principle because if it’s going to be new it means you don’t know it. You need to get comfortable with uncertainty and ambiguity in order for a creative idea to emerge. It’s not easy to do since you’ve likely been trained to believe that if you don’t know the answer there’s something wrong with you, Gelb says.
“But the essence of creativity is to be surprised, to come up with something you really didn’t know. That’s the nova in innovation. It’s the newness. And if you keep doing the same old thing you won’t do the new thing. But when you suspend the old thing the new thing doesn’t always automatically emerge,” Gelb says. “So there’s a big gap and the more you’re able to embrace that gap of knowing and uncertainty the greater the likelihood that you’ll be really creative.”
Balance Logic and Imagination
You used to be able to get by with saying you’re a right-brain (creative, imaginative, intuitive) or left-brain (logical, analytical, and linear) thinker. Today you have to be both.
To show people how to use both hemispheres of their brain in harmony Gelb teaches them Mind Mapping, a way of organizing ideas that integrates logic and imagination and helps people generate more ideas in less time.
To do it, you start by drawing something that represents the topic you’re thinking about. From there you use free association to branch words and more pictures from the center image. For example, a doodle of an onion might make you think of vegetables, so you draw a carrot, which makes you draw a rabbit, which leads to you sketch a cat, since it’s another small furry animal.
What if you can’t draw? Gelb says “fake it ’til you make it” and overcome your adult judgment of your drawing ability.
“You start to access that more childlike quality where you just drew without worrying about it. What’s happening when you do that is you’re waking up parts of your brain that have been dormant since you were in nursery school. And those are exactly the parts of your brain that are going to help you be more creative,” he says.
Balance Body and Mind
You might not know that Leonardo was an exceptional athlete, widely known as the strongest man in Florence and an accomplished athlete, fencer, and horseman.
“We think of creativity as an intellectual exercise but it requires tremendous energy. Learning to cultivate your life force, your life energy is a very important part of this,” Gelb says.
For businesses it means healthier organizations are better equipped to innovate.
Make New Connections
Logical and linear-thinking types–engineers, analysts, and scientists, for example–can have a hard time looking for patterns and new connections, but doing so is the key to creativity.
Again, Gelb likes to use mind mapping, although it take a while to train these kinds of folks since they’re used to doing things in a formal order.
“At first it feels very messy… thinking through association and letting the mind go free and generating lots of key words and other images in different directions,” he says.
Other Tips
Not convinced you can start banging out killer ideas? While creativity may come easier to some people, everyone has the potential to be creative.
A couple of things to keep in mind, though.
It’s not uncreative to get ideas from other people, in fact that’s where most come from.
“It’s a myth to think that you have to spontaneously create something that’s entirely original and no one ever thought of it before. That very rarely, if ever, happens. Almost all ideas are inspired by somebody else’s idea,” Gelb says. “One of the big principles of creativity is you don’t have to reinvent the wheel you just give it a new spin. So if you can give a new spin to somebody else’s idea you’ve done something creative.”
Also, some people who have a hard time with creativity censor themselves too early in the idea generation process. Your goal should be lots of ideas, so don’t shoot them down before they make it on a list. Generating a high volume of ideas stimulates the associative process of your mind and even if you don’t get a breakthrough right away, it will likely come when you’re not expecting it, like at 4 a.m. or when you’re driving or in the shower. And when it does, write it down, Gelb says. Leonardo certainly did.
CHRISTINA DESMARAIS is an Inc.com contributor who writes about the tech start-up community, covering innovative ideas, news, and trends.
July 19, 2013
Curb Your Cynicism
Cynicism masquerades as wisdom, but it is the farthest thing from it. Because cynics don’t learn anything. Because cynicism is a self-imposed blindness, a rejection of the world because we are afraid it will hurt us or disappoint us. Cynics always say no. But saying “yes” begins things. Saying “yes” is how things grow. Saying “yes” leads to knowledge. - Stephen Colbert
I work with clients in New York City frequently. I love New York, but people there can be rather cynical. On my last visit I saw someone wearing a T-shirt displaying the phrases:
Yada Yada Yada,
Blah Blah Blah,
Whatever,
F*#^ You!
(And it was worn by the concierge at my hotel!)
I lead many seminars for people who are cynical (and fatigued). They don’t come to my class with a creative mindset. They’re pretty sure it’s going to be a waste of time. A few weeks ago I had a group of very busy engineers. Their boss sent them an email telling them that attendance was MANDATORY. You can imagine how enthusiastic they weren’t when they arrived. I’ve entered many rooms to teach where I’m lucky if I get cold stares, instead of just people who refuse to look at me altogether. I love it. And I love them. I look through the hard faces to the image of the first grade class photo. I empathize. If I was that busy in such a demanding job where I wasn’t encouraged or rewarded for creativity, well I might be cynical too. The cynic believes that pessimism is realism and that positive thinking is just self-delusion. But I know that cynics are broken-hearted idealists. My goal is first to get them to shift to becoming skeptics, and then eventually, enthusiasts for their own creative evolution.
April 4, 2013
Two One-Armed Paragons and the World’s Greatest Neuroscientist
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Anne Grethe Solberg
Since 1979 I’ve been traveling the world on a mission: to inspire people about their potential to change, grow and learn throughout life. We are all gifted with the same cortical endowment as Leonardo da Vinci and my goal is to help people learn the practical skills for accessing and applying that gift. I love inspiring others and I love meeting people who inspire me. On my recent Creativity and Innovation World Tour (Lucca, Florence, Rome, Carlsbad, Adelaide, Canberra, Sydney, London, Paris, Basel, Miami, New Orleans!) I met 3 very inspiring people, here’s the story:
In October I spoke to a group of 1000 women in Rome at the Women’s International Networking Conference. The theme of WIN is “Women [and a few men] inspiring Women.” Of the many impressive women I met, Anne Grethe Solberg from Norway is the most inspiring. Anne is a beautiful, upright, clear-eyed gender consultant. I met her when we appeared together at the pre-conference press event and then was lucky to enjoy a drink with her on the final gala evening. Six years ago, Anne’s former husband tried to murder her when they met to sign their divorce papers. He shot her twice with a shotgun at close range crushing her right hip and blowing off her entire left arm. (He then turned the gun on himself and died shortly after the murder attempt).
After three months in the hospital and endless surgeries Anne was told by her doctors that she would probably never walk again and that she would have a hard time living a “normal” life. She explains her reaction: “First, I was very depressed. I felt all alone. I had my children of course, but felt I had to be strong for them. But suddenly lying there I realised: WOW, I have to do this on my own. I am born into this world all alone, I live all alone and I will die alone. This meant that I was not able to externalize or depend on other people to recover. I was responsible.”
She adds, “In spite of the doctor’s verdict I thought: Heyyy Heyyyy – I will aim to be the most fancy and coolest lady with one arm in Norway – WATCH ME!”
Anne now runs her own successful consulting business (she received the Norwegian Consultant of the Year Award 2012), and she also runs marathons! She recently completed the Oslo, Berlin and New York Marathons. Anne also completed her PhD in Sociology. She quips,” I refused to quit my Doctoral project. I started it with 10 fingers and finished with five.”
Although traumatized physically and emotionally by the horrific assault Anne impressed and inspired me with her poise and positivity. She still has nightmares about the incident but has developed a method for freeing herself from painful thoughts. Her method is simple and elegant: Mindfulness. Anne states, “I am not my thoughts.” While we were enjoying flutes of Prosecco overlooking the illuminated dome of St Peter’s on the gala evening she explained, “I consciously focus on the positive.” She said this with a steely resolve and freedom from any discernible resentment or self-pity. As we spoke I felt a renewal of my own experience of inner freedom, emotional courage and deep gratitude.
Sam Cawthorn
A few weeks after my Italian trip I flew to Sydney, Australia where I spoke at a conference entitled Mind and Its Potential another extraordinary event with many inspiring presenters including Sam Cawthorn. In 2006 Sam’s car was smashed by a huge truck and he was pronounced clinically dead at the scene. Miraculously, EMTs helped revive him. They brought him to the hospital, where he spent 5 months recovering from 2 collapsed lungs, multiple broken bones and the loss of his right arm. Doctors told Sam, “You will never walk again.”
I first saw Sam as he walked on stage to address the group of 700 conference participants. He explained how his positive attitude in the face of crushing adversity enabled him to regain his ability to walk and to live a fulfilling and active life. (Sam is the CEO of Empowering Enterprises, a successful consulting firm focusing on Leadership, Resilience, Crisis Management and Future Trends.) Sam, who playfully boasts that he is the world’s greatest one-armed guitarist, serenaded the group with a beautiful song entitled “I am Blessed,” as the audience sang along eyes moistened and hearts opened. He then shared the story of meeting the Prime Minister of Australia in Canberra when he was honored as “The Young Australian of the Year.” Apparently, the PMs handlers hadn’t briefed him on the status of the hand he’d be shaking (prosthetic!) and it came off during the meeting. Tears turned to laughter as Sam quipped that this “was a disarming moment.”
What I like most about Sam, besides his winning smile and delightful sense of humor, is his genuine desire to help the audience in the best way possible. I felt a deepening of my own commitment to help others and was honored that I was able to speak to this group from the same stage.
Vilayanur Ramachandran
The highlight of the second day of Mind and Its Potential was an interview with Dr. V.S. Ramachandran, Director of the Center for Brain and Cognition and Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of California in San Diego. Nicknamed “Rama,” he’s been hailed as “The Marco Polo of neuroscience” by Richard Dawkins and Time listed him as one of “the most influential people in the world” in 2011.
Rama is one of the world’s greatest neuroscientists and it just so happens that he’s best known for his work on phantom limbs. What is a phantom limb? When people lose an arm or leg they often continue to experience the sensation of the missing limb as though it were still present. These sensations can include extreme pain, itching and other unpleasant phenomena that make the phantom limb problem more than just an area of academic interest. Rama has devised an approach to “remapping” the missing limb in the brain in a way that has provided profound relief for many patients.
Rama was interviewed by Natasha Mitchell an award winning science writer who serves on the board of the World Federation of Science Journalists. Natasha, who I had met on a previous occasion, is an appropriately skeptical, tough-minded science journalist. She asked Rama point blank: “ Isn’t neuroplasticity being oversold?”
I must confess that I held my breath a bit as I waited for his answer. My experience of meeting Anne and Sam had touched me deeply, and, at this point I’d been on the road for most of the year ( and much of the last 33 years) aiming to empower others to apply the principle of neuroplasticity to their lives. Was I overly enthusiastic about neuroplasticity? Did I go too far out on a limb? Had I oversold human potential to my audiences?
I sighed with relief, as Rama answered, “No!” He went on to explain that most of us underestimate our potential to change, grow and learn.
Anne and Sam choose, every day, to consciously “re-map” not just their missing limbs but their minds and hearts to focus on the positive and to help others. They didn’t need Rama’s research to help them, as Sam expresses it “ Bounce Forward.” And, the combination of the examples of these two paragons with the validation of contemporary neuroscience can inspire all of us to be more grateful for our blessings, more resilient in the face of adversity, and more focused on change, growth and learning every day.
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The post Two One-Armed Paragons and the World’s Greatest Neuroscientist appeared first on Michael J. Gelb - Keynote Speaker, Seminar Leader & Executive Coach.
2 One-Armed Paragons and the World’s Greatest Neuroscientist
Since 1979 I’ve been traveling the world on a mission: to inspire people about their potential to change, grow and learn throughout life. We are all gifted with the same cortical endowment as Leonardo da Vinci and my goal is to help people learn the practical skills for accessing and applying that gift. I love inspiring others and I love meeting people who inspire me. On my recent Creativity and Innovation World Tour (Lucca, Florence, Rome, Carlsbad, Adelaide, Canberra, Sydney, London, Paris, Basel, Miami, New Orleans!) I met 3 very inspiring people, here’s the story:
In October I spoke to a group of 1000 women in Rome at the Women’s International Networking Conference. The theme of WIN is “Women [and a few men] inspiring Women.” Of the many impressive women I met, Anne Grethe Solberg from Norway is the most inspiring. Anne is a beautiful, upright, clear-eyed gender consultant. I met her when we appeared together at the pre-conference press event and then was lucky to enjoy a drink with her on the final gala evening. Six years ago, Anne’s former husband tried to murder her when they met to sign their divorce papers. He shot her twice with a shotgun at close range crushing her right hip and blowing off her entire left arm. (He then turned the gun on himself and died shortly after the murder attempt).
(PHOTO: Kjetil Hasselgaard)After three months in the hospital and endless surgeries Anne was told by her doctors that she would probably never walk again and that she would have a hard time living a “normal” life. She explains her reaction: “First, I was very depressed. I felt all alone. I had my children of course, but felt I had to be strong for them. But suddenly lying there I realised: WOW, I have to do this on my own. I am born into this world all alone, I live all alone and I will die alone. This meant that I was not able to externalize or depend on other people to recover. I was responsible.”
She adds, “In spite of the doctor’s verdict I thought: Heyyy Heyyyy – I will aim to be the most fancy and coolest lady with one arm in Norway – WATCH ME!”
Anne now runs her own successful consulting business (she received the Norwegian Consultant of the Year Award 2012), and she also runs marathons! She recently completed the Oslo, Berlin and New York Marathons. Anne also completed her PhD in Sociology. She quips,” I refused to quit my Doctoral project. I started it with 10 fingers and finished with five.”
Although traumatized physically and emotionally by the horrific assault Anne impressed and inspired me with her poise and positivity. She still has nightmares about the incident but has developed a method for freeing herself from painful thoughts. Her method is simple and elegant: Mindfulness. Anne states, “I am not my thoughts.” While we were enjoying flutes of Prosecco overlooking the illuminated dome of St Peter’s on the gala evening she explained, “I consciously focus on the positive.” She said this with a steely resolve and freedom from any discernible resentment or self-pity. As we spoke I felt a renewal of my own experience of inner freedom, emotional courage and deep gratitude.
A few weeks after my Italian trip I flew to Sydney, Australia where I spoke at a conference entitled Mind and Its Potential another extraordinary event with many inspiring presenters including Sam Cawthorn. In 2006 Sam’s car was smashed by a huge truck and he was pronounced clinically dead at the scene. Miraculously, EMTs helped revive him. They brought him to the hospital, where he spent 5 months recovering from 2 collapsed lungs, multiple broken bones and the loss of his right arm. Doctors told Sam, “You will never walk again.”
I first saw Sam as he walked on stage to address the group of 700 conference participants. He explained how his positive attitude in the face of crushing adversity enabled him to regain his ability to walk and to live a fulfilling and active life. (Sam is the CEO of Empowering Enterprises, a successful consulting firm focusing on Leadership, Resilience, Crisis Management and Future Trends.) Sam, who playfully boasts that he is the world’s greatest one-armed guitarist, serenaded the group with a beautiful song entitled “I am Blessed,” as the audience sang along eyes moistened and hearts opened. He then shared the story of meeting the Prime Minister of Australia in Canberra when he was honored as “The Young Australian of the Year.” Apparently, the PMs handlers hadn’t briefed him on the status of the hand he’d be shaking (prosthetic!) and it came off during the meeting. Tears turned to laughter as Sam quipped that this “was a disarming moment.”
What I like most about Sam, besides his winning smile and delightful sense of humor, is his genuine desire to help the audience in the best way possible. I felt a deepening of my own commitment to help others and was honored that I was able to speak to this group from the same stage.
The highlight of the second day of Mind and Its Potential was an interview with Dr. V.S. Ramachandran, Director of the Center for Brain and Cognition and Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of California in San Diego. Nicknamed “Rama,” he’s been hailed as “The Marco Polo of neuroscience” by Richard Dawkins and Time listed him as one of “the most influential people in the world” in 2011.
Rama is one of the world’s greatest neuroscientists and it just so happens that he’s best known for his work on phantom limbs. What is a phantom limb? When people lose an arm or leg they often continue to experience the sensation of the missing limb as though it were still present. These sensations can include extreme pain, itching and other unpleasant phenomena that make the phantom limb problem more than just an area of academic interest. Rama has devised an approach to “remapping” the missing limb in the brain in a way that has provided profound relief for many patients.
Rama was interviewed by Natasha Mitchell an award winning science writer who serves on the board of the World Federation of Science Journalists. Natasha, who I had met on a previous occasion, is an appropriately skeptical, tough-minded science journalist. She asked Rama point blank: “ Isn’t neuroplasticity being oversold?”
I must confess that I held my breath a bit as I waited for his answer. My experience of meeting Anne and Sam had touched me deeply, and, at this point I’d been on the road for most of the year ( and much of the last 33 years) aiming to empower others to apply the principle of neuroplasticity to their lives. Was I overly enthusiastic about neuroplasticity? Did I go too far out on a limb? Had I oversold human potential to my audiences?
I sighed with relief, as Rama answered, “No!” He went on to explain that most of us underestimate our potential to change, grow and learn.
Anne and Sam choose, every day, to consciously “re-map” not just their missing limbs but their minds and hearts to focus on the positive and to help others. They didn’t need Rama’s research to help them, as Sam expresses it “ Bounce Forward.” And, the combination of the examples of these two paragons with the validation of contemporary neuroscience can inspire all of us to be more grateful for our blessings, more resilient in the face of adversity, and more focused on change, growth and learning every day.
December 22, 2012
Upcoming Public Programs in 2013 & A Recent Article
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The Wealthy Visionary
February 5-10, 2013
I will be in Torrance, California speaking at a program entitled The Wealthy Visionary organized and hosted by my friend Marcia Wieder.
Visit The Wealthy Visionary website for more information.
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How to Think Like Leonardo at Esalen
March 29-31, 2013
I’m thrilled to return to Esalen for another weekend program on thinking like the Maestro. Register for the seminar.
Esalen has featured this seminar in their Winter/Spring catalogue. You can read the Seminar Spotlight interview here.
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ARTICLE
2 One-Armed Paragons and the World’s Greatest Neuroscientist
by Michael J Gelb © 2012 All Rights Reserved
Since 1979 I’ve been traveling the world on a mission: to inspire people about their potential to change, grow and learn throughout life. We are all gifted with the same cortical endowment as Leonardo da Vinci and my goal is to help people learn the practical skills for accessing and applying that gift. I love inspiring others and I love meeting people who inspire me. On my recent Creativity and Innovation World Tour (Lucca, Florence, Rome, Carlsbad, Adelaide, Canberra, Sydney, London, Paris, Basel, Miami, New Orleans!) I met 3 very inspiring people, here’s the story:
In October I spoke to a group of 1000 women in Rome at the Women’s International Networking Conference. The theme of WIN is “Women [and a few men] inspiring Women.” Of the many impressive women I met, Anne Grethe Solberg from Norway is the most inspiring. Anne is a beautiful, upright, clear-eyed gender consultant. I met her when we appeared together at the pre-conference press event and then was lucky to enjoy a drink with her on the final gala evening. Six years ago, Anne’s former husband tried to murder her when they met to sign their divorce papers. He shot her twice with a shotgun at close range crushing her right hip and blowing off her entire left arm. (He then turned the gun on himself and died shortly after the murder attempt).
(PHOTO: Kjetil Hasselgaard)
After three months in the hospital and endless surgeries Anne was told by her doctors that she would probably never walk again and that she would have a hard time living a “normal” life. She explains her reaction: “First, I was very depressed. I felt all alone. I had my children of course, but felt I had to be strong for them. But suddenly lying there I realised: WOW, I have to do this on my own. I am born into this world all alone, I live all alone and I will die alone. This meant that I was not able to externalize or depend on other people to recover. I was responsible.”
She adds, “In spite of the doctor’s verdict I thought: Heyyy Heyyyy – I will aim to be the most fancy and coolest lady with one arm in Norway – WATCH ME!”
Anne now runs her own successful consulting business (she received the Norwegian Consultant of the Year Award 2012), and she also runs marathons! She recently completed the Oslo, Berlin and New York Marathons. Anne also completed her PhD in Sociology. She quips,” I refused to quit my Doctoral project. I started it with 10 fingers and finished with five.”
Although traumatized physically and emotionally by the horrific assault Anne impressed and inspired me with her poise and positivity. She still has nightmares about the incident but has developed a method for freeing herself from painful thoughts. Her method is simple and elegant: Mindfulness. Anne states, “I am not my thoughts.” While we were enjoying flutes of Prosecco overlooking the illuminated dome of St Peter’s on the gala evening she explained, “I consciously focus on the positive.” She said this with a steely resolve and freedom from any discernible resentment or self-pity. As we spoke I felt a renewal of my own experience of inner freedom, emotional courage and deep gratitude.
A few weeks after my Italian trip I flew to Sydney, Australia where I spoke at a conference entitled Mind and Its Potential another extraordinary event with many inspiring presenters including Sam Cawthorn. In 2006 Sam’s car was smashed by a huge truck and he was pronounced clinically dead at the scene. Miraculously, EMTs helped revive him. They brought him to the hospital, where he spent 5 months recovering from 2 collapsed lungs, multiple broken bones and the loss of his right arm. Doctors told Sam, “You will never walk again.”
I first saw Sam as he walked on stage to address the group of 700 conference participants. He explained how his positive attitude in the face of crushing adversity enabled him to regain his ability to walk and to live a fulfilling and active life. (Sam is the CEO of Empowering Enterprises, a successful consulting firm focusing on Leadership, Resilience, Crisis Management and Future Trends.) Sam, who playfully boasts that he is the world’s greatest one-armed guitarist, serenaded the group with a beautiful song entitled “I am Blessed,” as the audience sang along eyes moistened and hearts opened. He then shared the story of meeting the Prime Minister of Australia in Canberra when he was honored as “The Young Australian of the Year.” Apparently, the PMs handlers hadn’t briefed him on the status of the hand he’d be shaking (prosthetic!) and it came off during the meeting. Tears turned to laughter as Sam quipped that this “was a disarming moment.”
What I like most about Sam, besides his winning smile and delightful sense of humor, is his genuine desire to help the audience in the best way possible. I felt a deepening of my own commitment to help others and was honored that I was able to speak to this group from the same stage.
The highlight of the second day of Mind and Its Potential was an interview with Dr. V.S. Ramachandran, Director of the Center for Brain and Cognition and Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of California in San Diego. Nicknamed “Rama,” he’s been hailed as “The Marco Polo of neuroscience” by Richard Dawkins and Time listed him as one of “the most influential people in the world” in 2011.
Rama is one of the world’s greatest neuroscientists and it just so happens that he’s best known for his work on phantom limbs. What is a phantom limb? When people lose an arm or leg they often continue to experience the sensation of the missing limb as though it were still present. These sensations can include extreme pain, itching and other unpleasant phenomena that make the phantom limb problem more than just an area of academic interest. Rama has devised an approach to “remapping” the missing limb in the brain in a way that has provided profound relief for many patients.
Rama was interviewed by Natasha Mitchell an award winning science writer who serves on the board of the World Federation of Science Journalists. Natasha, who I had met on a previous occasion, is an appropriately skeptical, tough-minded science journalist. She asked Rama point blank: “ Isn’t neuroplasticity being oversold?”
I must confess that I held my breath a bit as I waited for his answer. My experience of meeting Anne and Sam had touched me deeply, and, at this point I’d been on the road for most of the year ( and much of the last 33 years) aiming to empower others to apply the principle of neuroplasticity to their lives. Was I overly enthusiastic about neuroplasticity? Did I go too far out on a limb? Had I oversold human potential to my audiences?
I sighed with relief, as Rama answered, “No!” He went on to explain that most of us underestimate our potential to change, grow and learn.
Anne and Sam choose, every day, to consciously “re-map” not just their missing limbs but their minds and hearts to focus on the positive and to help others. They didn’t need Rama’s research to help them, as Sam expresses it “ Bounce Forward.” And, the combination of the examples of these two paragons with the validation of contemporary neuroscience can inspire all of us to be more grateful for our blessings, more resilient in the face of adversity, and more focused on change, growth and learning every day.
November 29, 2012
COO: Chief Opera Officer
Opera is a planet where the muses work together, join hands and celebrate all the arts. –Franco Zeffirelli
Backstage at New Orleans Opera
I recently returned from that planet… I flew from Basel, Switzerland to New Orleans in order to hear my wife, Deborah Domanski, in the role of Rosina in the Barber of Seville with the New Orleans Opera. (Deborah had recently performed the same role with Michigan Opera Theater in Detroit). Watch a clip of the New Orleans performance.
The review in the Greater New Orleans Times-Picayune newspaper expressed the nuance and magic of Deborah’s performance as well as highlighting the brilliance of the whole cast:
“As a mezzo, Domanski made her Rosina vocally flexible and lustrous in a way that confirmed how this role can suit singers of differing tonal perspectives. “Una voce poca fa,” Rosina’s early act-one cavatina, did not devolve into mannerism; it was a confession of deep and mysterious longing. Elsewhere, Domanski -– because she never gave too much too soon – could fool a listener into believing her voice was fundamentally modest in scale. Then, in a rush of thrilling crescendo, she would reveal a ringing and securely supported top. That’s what we call skill, and just as important, taste.”
On December 14 I’m flying to Asheville, North Carolina so that I can enjoy Deborah’s performance with the Asheville Symphony on December 16. The program includes inspiring Christmas music and one of my favorite pieces: The Messiah by Handel.
Then Deborah will perform a concert of exquisite Christmas music with The Santa Fe Pro Musica A BAROQUE CHRISTMAS:Thursday, December 20 at 8PM
Saturday, December 22 at 6PM and 8PM
Monday, December 24 at 6PM and 8PM
In January and February of 2013, Deborah will be in New York City covering the role of Countess Ceprano in Verdi’s Rigoletto for the Metropolitan Opera.
You can listen to excerpts of Deborah’s exquisite CD and order copies as Christmas gifts at www.DeborahDomanki.com
September 3, 2012
Creativity & Innovation World Tour 2012
On Tuesday September 4, 2012, I depart for Pittsburgh to lead a program entitled How to Think Like da Vinci and Innovate Like Edison for the Institute for Entrpreneurial Excellence.
Then it’s off to Hawley, PA and the magnificent Lodge at Woodloch where I will speak on Brain Power. After visiting my parents in New Jersey, I will spend 3 days in NYC leading an Executive Presence and High Performance Presentations seminar for a construction management client.On September 18 I will be in Orlando for a Da Vinci Thinking event sponsored by Configurations, and then an Edison seminar for Interval International followed by an Edison keynote in Atlanta for a large consulting firm.
On September 25 I depart for Bella Italia. I’m leading a Da Vinci Thinking program for a software solutions company in Lucca, (home of Puccini), and after a few days off in Florence (my favorite city besides Santa Fe, NM), I will take the train down to Rome to give the opening keynote at the Women’s International Networking conference. The theme of the keynote will be “Integrating the Masculine and Feminine Energies” and I will follow it with a workshop on Thinking Like Leonardo and then a class in Qi Gong, focusing on the harmony of yin and yang.
On October 12, I’m back in the USA teaching an Executive Presence program for a group of Chiropractors. On October 18, I go to Carlsbad, California to do a series of programs for the students, faculty and supporters of a progressive school. I then depart from LAX for Adelaide, Australia where I will speak about Leonardo and lead a wine and poetry event for the YPO South Australia chapter.
After a corporate Innovation seminar in Canberra, I will head to Sydney to give a full day pre-conference workshop, an opening keynote on Brain Power, and a juggling class, at the Mind and Its Potential event, followed later that week by a special Innovation Day, featuring a wine and poetry program, for AMP.
I fly from Sydney to London to do private consulting with long time clients and then to Basel, Switzerland to keynote the Swiss Innovation Forum.
Emerson noted, “Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us or we find it not.”
I find beauty in all the places I visit and I aspire to bring the beauty of great minds and powerful ideas to every destination.
