On the road again? Innovation Willie Nelson style!

In his book, Brain Rules: 12 Principles for Surviving and Thriving at Work, Home, and School, John Medina, a developmental molecular biologist suggests in Rule 3 that our Brains are all wired differently.

We all have neural networks like major highways but our side streets, our winding countryside roads are based on our experience. As no two of us have the same set of experiences, all our maps are unique.

When I need to be creative, I find myself travelling the side roads, the single track routes rutted with potholes that bump you to attention or those that run alongside beautiful scenery that inspires.

Alternatively, when in delivery mode, the highway is the best and shortest route. It gets me from A to B optimising the use of my resources: time, fuel and can I say “wear and tear”?

Medina also informs us that when we look at something, our brain dissect the image into multiple elements which are stored in a host of different areas, disassembling the vision like a jigsaw to bring back together when we need it. What if, however, we could create a different picture from the elements? Now that’s innovation! Like, Tim Hurson suggests in “Think Better” that’s the third third – the final stretch where the really great ideas emerge.

So on what route do you find inspiration? What is the scenery of your creativity? I’m interested to hear from you.

Want to find out more of the “Brain Rules”? Check out the following video by Polar Unlimited.

 

 

 

Comments

[steve cunningham]

Bill - I often find myself creating my best and most innovative ideas when I'm physically active and away from work. I also find that my best ideas come when I'm studying something seemingly disconnected from my work - like applying gaming theory to a marketing plan.

In one sentence - my best ideas come in the most unlikely places and from the most unlikely sources.

[Bill @simplifywithus]

Steve - I totally agree. Getting away from the daily grind into a more relaxed space is a great way of freeing creativity.

Interested in finding out how applying gaming theory in a marketing plan works out. Have you read, "Extra Lives - Why Video Games Matter" by Tom Bissell. (Hat tip to Mitch Joel)