It's time to move out of your box
Seeing things from another perspective is the first step in getting out of your own box. Many of us are living in boxes that we created years ago, and now are too comfortable to move out and to see how our lives could be changed by doing so. Below are several popular books that might move you out and into another world of thinking.

The Fred Factor: How passion in your work and life can turn the ordinary into the extraordinary

We Are All Self-Employed: How to Take Control of Your Career

The Do It Yourself Lobotomy: Open Your Mind to Greater Creative Thinking

1. California
2. New York
3. Texas
4. Michigan

5. Massachusetts
6. Illinois
7. New Jersey
8. Ohio

Being Creative in All Aspects of Your Work

What exactly IS creativity? Artists, writers, musicians and others in "the arts" seem to be tagged with this moniker most often, but creativity is a very important skill in any job—arts or otherwise. EVERYONE can be creative in their own way. When you're choosing an agency, you will want to be sure that you're not selecting them "just" on what is typically referred to as their "creative" (their ads, their writing style, their cartoonist and so on). If their client managers, administrators, and really the whole team are not "creative," you could end up with award-winning projects that miss the mark, or that were so painful to complete in terms of the process that you'd gladly trade in the awards for a team who's easier to work with! (If you need any confirmation on this, go rent the movie "Pollack" about Jackson Pollack. He is widely regarded as one of the most creative artists in the last half of the 20^th century, and it was pretty much impossible to work with him).

So, what is creativity? Sometimes creativity appears through artistic, clever, cool project output. It may also appear in many other ways, such as a new way of documenting technical instructions to improve understanding, or locating critical information from a little known database, or a process change that cuts project turnaround time. A good agency will not only be creative in the materials it creates for you, but will be innovative in providing ideas that make it easier for you to do YOUR job and help your business meet YOUR goals. They'll be productive, they'll be prolific, they'll be visionary—for YOU.

Interested in being more creative on the job? Read about innovations in your field, such as new techniques or software. Knowledge in one area can often spark ideas in another, so read about subjects in other areas too. Keep a log of what you've read, jot down future project ideas before they get away from you. Make lists of your goals. Network with people who have similar interests or share the same profession. Get out of the office for an afternoon! Or, call the folks at M45—we have half-day and day-long workshops that can help you get—or get back—the spark of creativity in your own office or business. Wouldn't that be a great way to start the new year? Happy "creative" 2005!

Need more information about creativity and work? Visit these Websites:
Innovation and Creativity in the Workplace
Internet resources on the topic of creativity and work.

Creativity, Innovation and Problem Solving
Practical information on creatively solving problems.

What would the holidays be without toys and games for the kids? Did you ever wonder where the ideas came from for some of your childhood toys? They were each the result of someone thinking creatively, outside of the box. And of course, a little marketing savvy didn't hurt either! For a look at some of these great and often unrecognized innovators, check out the History of Toys and Games.

"You'll shoot your eye out, kid!"—
Trivia for A Christmas Story
Internet Movie Database

Jean Shepherd Salute

Nitpickers Quotes and Trivia