A Whack on the Other Side of the Head

1. A Whack on the Other Side of the Head Hasquilla Cauchon

2. Try this…

3. The Student Returns to the Creativity Teacher • A few months after his initial encounter with the creativity teacher, the student returned to him to tell him of his progress. “Things are really cooking,” he said enthusiastically. “I’ve opened my mental locks, and I’m getting all kinds of ideas. I take time to ask ‘what if’ and explore in outside areas. I used to loathe problems, but now when they pop up, my mind dances looking for opportunities. When I evaluate ideas, I try to use even the stupidest ones as stepping stones to something new.” • The teacher replied, “What are you going to do with these ideas?” • “I haven’t really decided. But I’m getting ready to do something,” he answered. At this point the teacher picked up a stick and gave him a whack on the other side of the head. The student was stunned. The teacher followed that act with this counsel: “ Ideas are great, but they aren’t worth much if you don’t use them. Now you need to get your ideas into action. Here are some straightforward tips to help get the ball rolling.”

4. Be Dissatisfied • An inventor was asked why he spent 16 hours every day tinkering with his work . “ Because I’m dissatisfied with everything as it currently exists in its present form.” • Dissatisfaction can be beneficial to the creative process. Otherwise you lose the prod you need to spot problems and opportunities

5. Map Out Your Plans • What is your objective? • What are you trying to accomplish? • Can it be stated in a sentence or two? • Can you draw a picture of it? • Can you make a map (possibly a concept map) of where you need to go and things you’ll need to do to accomplish this? • What planning do you need to do? • Can you visualize yourself reaching your objective. • Visualizing is an important part of mapping out plans. If you can picture the result it will give you a drive to succeed.

6. Take A Whack At It • You can’t hit a home run unless you step up to the plate. You will never catch a fish if you don’t put your line in the water. You can’t make your idea a reality unless you take a whack at it. Many of our personal goals are stranded on a little island called “Someday I’ll…” You've got to just DO IT. “If you want to sing out, sing out. And if you want to be free, be free.”- Cat Stevens

7. Get Rid of Excuses • When the Spanish explorer Cortez landed in Veracruz, the first thing he did was burn his ships. He told his men: “You can either fight or die” Burning the ships left the men out of options except for the ones he gave. • Sometimes it takes more creativity to get rid of excuses we put in the way than it does to come up with the idea in the first place.

8. Have Something at Stake • A frozen-fish processer had trouble selling a new line of frozen fish because it tasted “flat.” the company tried everything to keep the fish fresh, including holding them in their tanks until just before processing. But to no avail. Then someone suggested: “Put a predator in there with them. That should keep them fresh. This idea worked like a charm. The fish kept moving and retained their vitality. • Moral : Have something at stake, be it survival, self- esteem, money, or reputation. That way, you will be motivated to make your idea successful.

9. Get Support • One reason gypsies have a good health record is the role the family plays in establishing a positive health environment. When a gypsy gets sick, it’s not uncommon for 6-8 other gypsies to accompany her to the doctor. • Such family participation provides not only a support system for the ill member, it also creates a high expectancy for getting well. • Similarly, it’s much easier to be creative if your environment both supports and expects new ideas

10. Sell, Sell, Sell • “It’s not creative unless it sells,” goes the advertising line. You can have the greatest idea in the world, but if you can’t sell it, you won’t get very far. • What are 3 reasons that someone else would want your idea or product? • What benefits does it provide? • What does it promise? • All of these questions are things you need to consider in order to sell your idea.

11. Be Courageous • “ To fight a bull when you are not scared is nothing,” says a well- known bull fighter. “And not to fight a bull when you are scared… that is something. • What gives you the courage to act on your ideas?

12. Give Yourself A Deadline • Commercial jingle writer, Steve Karmen, once remarked, “The ultimate inspiration is the deadline. That’s when you have to do what needs to be done.” • Similarly , entertainment entrepreneur, Nolan Bushnell, has said, “The fact that twice a year a creative talent of this country is working until midnight to get something ready for a tradeshow is very good for the economy. Without this kind of pressure, things would turn to mashed potatoes”

13. Fight For ItMy Personal Favorite • “The only person who likes change is a wet baby,” observes educator Roy Blitzer. Two basic rules of life are : 1) change is inevitable; and 2) everybody resists change. • Much of the world has its defenses up to keep out new ideas. Thus, you need to become a warrior and do what’s necessary to make your idea a reality. Sometimes, this means fighting your way past the obstacles you encounter. “Try? There is no try. There is only do or not do”-Yoda

14. Be Persistant • Once upon a time, two frogs fell into a bucket of cream. The first frog, seeing that there was no way to get any footing in the white substance, accepted his fate and drowned. The second frog didn’t like that approach. He started to thrash around in the cream and doing whatever he had to in order to stay afloat. After a while the cream was so churned by his thrashing that it turned to butter and he was able to hop out. • Moral: Keep kicking. It could save you.

15. And… • The student listened to all the wise teacher had said. He pondered this for a moment, then he spoke. “Thank you. I appreciate your giving me these additional whacks. Now I can go do something with my ideas.” • “You’re welcome,” said the creativity teacher. “Oh, yes, there is one more piece of advice I can give you.” • “And what’s that?” • “After you implement your idea, give yourself a pat on the back. Then go earn another one.”