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Innovation

How Diversity Makes Us More Creative!!

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Diversity is key to creativity. Not just diversity in your workplace, but also in your personal life.

It encourages the search for novel information and perspectives, leading to better decision making and problem solving. 

Diversity can improve the bottom line of organizations, and lead to incredible discoveries and breakthrough innovations.

In fact, many people consider diversity one of the most important ingredients for creative thinking!

When you are looking for solutions to a problem (virtually all creativity is the result of trying to solve some kind of problem), your brain will automatically work with information that is related to the problem. It defaults to the patterns that are known and comfortable.

So, if you want to get creative, you need to diversify your thinking and encourage your mind to look for information associated with completely unrelated concepts.

Tests have shown that the one way of improving your creativity is to move. Not travel, but move. Living in a new culture, learning new ways of doing things and diversifying your life, immediately makes you more creative.

There are quite a few examples of creative individuals who did their best work while they were living abroad. Picasso, Handel, Hemingway and Stravinsky all created their most well-regarded work while living in foreign countries.

In the workplace diverse teams produce more creative results than teams in which all members are from a similar background.

Hire people with diverse backgrounds, education, knowledge and experience.

Better yet, hire people from other countries and cultures. Not only do such people provide diversity within your workplace, but each of them will also have diverse networks whose knowledge they can tap in order to solve problems.

Deep-level diversity is critical.

Usually, diversity focuses on demographics (e.g., gender, age, and race).

But, the most interesting and influential aspects of diversity are psychological (e.g., personality, values, and abilities), known as deep-level diversity.

Focusing on deep-level diversity as opposed to demographic diversity will carry you further.

Demographic variables perpetuate stereotypical and prejudiced characterizations.

Deep-level diversity focuses on the individual, providing a much deeper understanding of human diversity.

The bottom line is being around people who are different from us makes us more creative and innovative!

Marilyn

Barefoot Brainstorming

If it’s time to ramp up your team’s innovation and collaboration abilities – we can help! Contact us today. 

For brainstorming tips, presentation and storytelling skills, or keynote speaking pointers be sure to follow Barefoot Brainstorming on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. OR see us in action on YouTube and Instagram!
We would love to hear from you! Leave us a comment down below or tag us on social media.

Crisis Crushes Conformity and Fuels Creativity

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I was so inspired when I read FourSight’s recent article Creativity Surge: How to Sustain Your Energy during a Global Crisis https://blogs.foursightonline.com/  that I was inspired to dig a little deeper!

The world is battling a deadly virus, the global economy is in a perilous state, and millions of people are closeted away in lockdown.

So why is this a good time to be thinking about creativity?

In every day, non-pandemic life, we tend to engage in more conforming behavior rather than creating behavior.

During a crisis, however, our survival instincts kick in, and we recognize that past patterns that evolved for one environment are no longer helpful in the face of change.

 A crisis often challenges established practices, think of physical distancing before and during the pandemic.

Given the fact that crisis crushes aspects of conformity, humans naturally shift focus and energy to their innate creating behavior.

Some of humankind’s greatest inventions have emerged from our most trying times.

Think of the philosopher Isaac Newton, who first began to reflect on the notion of gravity while he was quarantining from the Great Plague of London.

Or Archibald McIndoe, who pioneered the development of plastic surgery by treating burned airmen during the Second World War.

Here are 3 tips that I think are super helpful when we consider fueling creativity!

  1. Remember that avoiding failure quashes innovation

Fostering a truly innovative culture means letting go of certain old-fashioned corporate ideals.

Look at the way your business is structured. Does an innovative idea have to be turned into paperwork and signed off by a whole host of people before it can be implemented?

Generally, businesses put these cumbersome practices in place to avoid making mistakes. But, if you’re avoiding failure completely, you’re inevitably quashing innovation too.

That’s why it’s essential that you move to a new set-up where creative employees are able to voice their ideas without fear of reprehension. Your processes may be inhibiting its creativity.

  1. Understand that innovation isn’t a “project”

Innovation is an ongoing process, not a “one-and-done” activity.

Ideas need to have as direct a route as possible to the primary decision-maker.

 If you have to convince the finance heads to release money for an unproven idea, you’ve got a hard battle ahead of you. It’s easier for interesting ideas to happen when there’s a budget for them.

 If your people has the skills to spot opportunities, generate ideas, develop the ideas and do some prototyping – you’ll get far better thinking from them.

  1. Recognize that creativity problems can run deep

Creating the right environment to foster creativity, idea generation and bottom-up improvement requires employees to be engaged and feel safe to fail.

I think we are all seeing evidence of this very real fact – ‘those most likely to survive and thrive economically through, and immediately after, the pandemic, are those ready to embrace their creativity surge’.

Marilyn

Barefoot Brainstorming

If it’s time to ramp up your team’s innovation and collaboration abilities – we can help! Contact us today. 

For brainstorming tips, presentation and storytelling skills, or keynote speaking pointers be sure to follow Barefoot Brainstorming on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. OR see us in action on YouTube and Instagram!
We would love to hear from you! Leave us a comment down below or tag us on social media.

Inspiring Advice from Female Entrepreneurs

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Entrepreneur text with young woman holding a tablet computer in a chair

The quotes below are the perfect inspiration for women that are in need of some words of wisdom from some of the most influential and talented women in their field.

“Knowing that things could be worse should not stop us from trying to make them better.” – Sheryl Sandberg, Facebook CEO, Author

“Dear optimist, pessimist, and realist – while you guys were busy arguing about the glass of wine, I drank it! Sincerely, the opportunist!” – Lori Greiner, Inventor, Entrepreneur and Television Personality

“Life-fulfilling work is never about the money- when you feel true passion for something you instinctively find ways to nurture it.” – Eileen Fisher, Clothing designer and founder of Eileen Fisher Inc.

“Define success on your own terms, achieve it by your own rules, and build a life you’re proud to live.” – Anne Sweeney, Co-Chair of Disney Media Networks

“We need to accept that we won’t always make the right decisions, that we’ll screw up royally sometimes – understanding that failure is not the opposite of success, it’s part of success.” – Arianna Huffington, Co-Founder of The Huffington Post

In this video we hear from some local entrepreneurs who have earned it, and learned it, through being brave!

I was honoured to be included.

 

Marilyn

Barefoot Brainstorming

If it’s time to ramp up your team’s innovation and collaboration abilities – we can help! Contact us today. 

For brainstorming tips, presentation and storytelling skills, or keynote speaking pointers be sure to follow Barefoot Brainstorming on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. OR see us in action on YouTube and Instagram!
We would love to hear from you! Leave us a comment down below or tag us on social media.

The Definition of Freedom…

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I started Barefoot Brainstorming when I was 45.

It’s actually the second time I have started a business.

My first business was an advertising agency called Square Peg Inc.

My dream, when I launched Square Peg, was to build a unique, no bullshit, nimble, highly creative shop, that one day I could sell to a bigger agency that needed what we had built.

That sale was my retirement plan.

And, that sale never happened.

Instead, we were faced with SARS, an economic downturn, and clients squirreling their budgets away to prop up lousy P&L’s.

So, I shut it down.

The part of me that I could never shut down was my entrepreneurial spirit.

I returned to corporate life, paid the bills, and agonized over getting out of bed every morning!

I realised then that I am a serial entrepreneur with no sense of age limitations.

I left a secure senior well-paid position in the corporate world to start a brainstorming company.

When I told people what I was doing, I was meant with silence, shuffling of feet, eyes wide open, gaping-mouth shock!

I didn’t care. I was so far past needing or caring about anyone’s approval.

I guess by 45 years of age, I had figured out what fed my soul in terms of work … or what I loved to do to earn an income that never felt like work.

My intention and my passion set my path. I finally knew what my motivations and goals were.

You absolutely have to know, otherwise you’ll chase the wrong things and end up somewhere miserable.

True entrepreneurs seek freedom.

The definition of freedom is completely subjective, and knows no age limits.

It’s more about a lifestyle than a benefits package, or an end-of-the-year bonus … or a retirement plan.

Chase the lifestyle, not the paycheque.

Marilyn

Barefoot Brainstorming

If it’s time to ramp up your team’s innovation and collaboration abilities – we can help! Contact us today. 

For brainstorming tips, presentation and storytelling skills, or keynote speaking pointers be sure to follow Barefoot Brainstorming on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. OR see us in action on YouTube and Instagram!
We would love to hear from you! Leave us a comment down below or tag us on social media.

Dear Women and Girls!

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Dear women and girls!                                           March 8th, 2020.

I am writing to you on this very important day to congratulate you on how far you have come, and everything you have accomplished!

I am writing to you because I am so very proud of your strength, your bravery, and your will to make the world a better place!

I began my career in advertising in the 80’s … and yes it was exactly like Mad Men, even though it was several decades later!

Anyone who knew me then, knows I have always had a tough time keeping my mouth shut when I feel something needs to be said.

I opened my mouth and spoke up when men in the agency had golf memberships included in their salary.

I wore ties to the office on a regular basis because whenever a man in the agency received a promotion, they cut off his tie and hung a portion of it in the bar upstairs (of course there was a bar in the agency!). I figured they weren’t promoting me because I wasn’t wearing a tie!

I sent back the expensive gifts that arrived on my desk from clients for no apparent reason, until the call came the next day to meet them for dinner so we could ‘discuss business’.

I made a deal with all of the girls in the agency who had to work late, that they would call each other, and meet as a group to go down in the elevator together. It was never safe traveling alone in the elevator when the bar upstairs was in full swing.

I went to H.R. and reported a sexual harassment incident when a senior client was inappropriate during a business dinner in the U.S. They told me never to speak of it again, since the business was worth 50 million dollars … U.S.D. There will always be reasons we’re told not to speak up, or speak out. Those are the most important moments of all to follow your instincts and to stand up for what is right.

I said what needed to be said, and I suffered for it.

Today on International Women’s Day, I am excited to not only watch, but also to experience the incredible changes that have taken place!!

Thank you to the women and men who have opened their mouths and spoken up. We certainly aren’t there yet, but every day we continue to strive for what is fair, and what is right.

The year 2020 represents an unmissable opportunity to mobilize global action to achieve gender equality and human rights for all women and girls.

Marilyn

Barefoot Brainstorming

If it’s time to ramp up your team’s innovation and collaboration abilities – we can help! Contact us today. 

For brainstorming tips, presentation and storytelling skills, or keynote speaking pointers be sure to follow Barefoot Brainstorming on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. OR see us in action on YouTube and Instagram!
We would love to hear from you! Leave us a comment down below or tag us on social media.

Tips from tough, creative women!

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Every creative career is littered with mistakes and learning things the hard way.

Mine sure as hell was!

I guess that’s how it should be.

Here are a few tips from tough creative women that I wish I had known before launching my career in advertising!

No one will make your dreams come true but you!

“Whatever it is that you think you want to do, and whatever it is that you think stands between you and that, stop making excuses. You can do anything.” – Katia Beauchamp, co-founder and CEO of Birchbox.

Learn to conquer your fears.

“Fearlessness is like a muscle. I know from my own life that the more I exercise it, the more natural it becomes to not let my fears run me.” – Arianna Huffington, editor-in-chief of Huffington Post Media Group.

Don’t ask for permission.

“The question isn’t who’s going to let me; it’s who is going to stop me.” – Ayn Rand, writer and philosopher.

Hard work is compulsory.

“I never dreamed about success. I worked for it.” – Estée Lauder.

Stay flexible in your thinking.

“Option A is not available. So let’s kick the sh*t out of option B.” – Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook.

Know where you’re going.

“So often people are working hard at the wrong thing. Working on the right thing is probably more important than working hard.” – Caterina Fake, Co-founder of Flickr.

Be open to change and learn as you go.

“The road to success is always under construction.” – Lily Tomlin, actress, comedian, writer and producer.

Push through your panic.

“I always did something I was a little not ready to do. I think that’s how you grow. When there’s that moment of ‘Wow, I’m not sure I can do this,’ and you push through those moments, that’s when you have a breakthrough.” – Marissa Mayer, former CEO of Yahoo.

Gradually build your confidence.

“Confidence is achieved through that willingness to continually put yourself in vulnerable situations. Success or failure has nothing to do with it.” – Debbie Millman, graphic designer and founder of Design Matters.

Making mistakes is a way to grow.

“It’s through mistakes that you actually can grow. You have to get bad in order to get good.” – Paula Scher, graphic designer and Pentagram partner.

You define “success”, not them.

“Success isn’t about how your life looks to others. It’s about how it feels to you. We realised that being successful isn’t about being impressive; it’s about being inspired. That’s what it means to be true to yourself.” – Michelle Obama.

Embrace what makes you special.

“Whatever you do, be different – that was the advice my mother gave me, and I can’t think of better advice for an entrepreneur. If you’re different, you will stand out.” – Anita Roddick, founder of The Body Shop.

Keep your integrity

“Don’t compromise yourself. You are all you’ve got.” – Janis Joplin.

 

For Brainstorming, Presentation or Planning workshop information click here

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Marilyn

Barefoot Brainstorming

If it’s time to ramp up your team’s innovation and collaboration abilities – we can help! Contact us today. 

For brainstorming tips, presentation and storytelling skills, or keynote speaking pointers be sure to follow Barefoot Brainstorming on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. OR see us in action on YouTube and Instagram!
We would love to hear from you! Leave us a comment down below or tag us on social media.

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