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I've got a confession to make... there are many ways\rleaders can be more creative, innovative and ingenious than\rare presented in this article. It does not matter if you desire to be a marketing,\rentrepreneurial or organizational leader, you do have to use\ryour creativity to be successful. Most leaders have trouble discovering new opportunities,\rgenerating good ideas and promoting innovative solutions. In\rthe game of creativity, you need both quality and quantity\rto win the prize. I'll show you how to use 3 simple ways to boost the number,\rpower and value of your ideas. All you need to do is learn\rthem, practice them and make them the most used tools in\ryour personal leadership-toolkit. Create It This Way! Map It Out, Map It All! Want a way out of that mental block or trap? Don't look for\rsome guidebook, create yourself a map and follow it out of\ryour troubles instead. How do you draw a map to find new ideas, opportunities or\rcreate inventions? It's easy, all you need is a place to\rstart! And like Dorothy learned in the Land of Oz, you\ralways begin at the beginning. Do you have a problem you're trying to solve? Do you have an\runmet need? Do you want to search for something? Do you\rsuspect something is missing or something is out of place or\rsomething is more than what is needed? Use those questions to define your map's point of origin.\rPlace that starting point in the center of the paper and\rthen draw lines to any related problems or missing items. Once you identify your problems, needs, missing pieces or\rsuspicions and connect them in some logical order [by\rputting your worse problems at the bottom of the page and\reasier ones on the top] - then you can do the following: => List possible ways to find solutions => Draw lines to groups or people who can help you solve\rthe problem => Use different shapes to show problems, solutions and key\rpeople or tools => Color your problems and their related solutions with the\rsame colors [use red for the main problem and its solution,\rbut use green for another problem and its solution] => Include push pins, sticky notes, stars or artwork when\rpossible to add vitality, depth and substance to your map Create It That Way! Ask and Answer It Quickly! 1) What is the situation, what is happening or going on\rhere? 2) What are the problems, difficulties or challenges? 3) How do those problems impact, affect or influence the\rsituation? 4) What good will the solutions to those problems need to\rdo, provide or fix? Ask those 4 questions and always ask 'why' at least 5 times\rfor each answer and you will find tons of beneficial\rsolutions. Create It Anyway! Bend It, Shape It, Anyway You Want It! So you tried mapping, drawing, picturing and asking or\ranswering it and you still aren't getting any great ideas,\rare you? Well here are some last chances for you - just re-arrange\rit, combine it with its own or different parts,\rmix-it-all-around, shuffle it, remove parts of it, throw it\rat the walls, step into the middle of it, step away from it,\rturn it upside down or inside out or round and round, talk\rabout it with others or even yourself, meditate on and pray\rabout it. Whatever you do, do not let it just sit there without making\rsome effort to move it or yourself. ------------------------------------------------------------ Even though these seem a bit lightweight, they are the most\rpowerful ways known to mankind for solving problems, finding\rideas and opportunities and for creating useful inventions. When you use these techniques, you will be employing the\rsecrets of history's greatest inventive minds like Edison,\rNewton, Copernicus, Jesus Christ, Marie Curie, Franklin and\rEinstein. You can do this, it takes only a few moments a day to master\rthem and then you will find yourself lighting-up the world\rwith your bright and valuable ideas. Necessity is and always will be the Mother of invention.\rMake your Momma proud by using these methods whenever you\rhave the need to bring meaningful contributions to our\rlives! Copyright ? 2004, Mustard Seed Investments Inc., All rights reserved. ------------------------------------------------------------ ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Bill Thomas publishes "Your Leadership UltraNet!" - a\rHands-On, Affordable, Performance Improvement Program,\rfeaturing web-based ULTRA-Powerful Training courses,\rcoaching & mentoring support plus follow-ups GUARANTEED to \renergize, empower, enhance your leadership results.\rAll-the-Tools-You-Need-to-Lead-&-Succeed! http://www.leadership-toolkit.com/skills.html ------------------------------------------------------------
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