Chapter 10Chapter 10

A Creative LifeA Creative Life

CreativityCreativityCreativity can be a flash of enlightenment, Creativity can be a flash of enlightenment, but it almost always follows year of hard but it almost always follows year of hard work, research, and thinking.work, research, and thinking.

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A Creative LifeA Creative Life

“While the intelligent personarrives at the correct answermore or less quickly, the

creativeindividual is more likely to befluent, to come up with manyplausible answers and,

perhaps, even with some answers ofstriking originality.”

Howard Gardner andConstance Wolf, Psychologists, in “The fruits ofasynchrony: A psychologicalexamination of creativity”

“It takes at least five years of rigorous training to be spontaneous.”

Martha Graham, (1894-1991) American modern dance choreographer and dancer

from from Frames of Mind: The Theory of Frames of Mind: The Theory of Multiple IntelligencesMultiple Intelligences by Howard by Howard GardnerGardner

“We all possess different types of intelligence, not just the kind measured with a standard IQ test. It is our unique combination of these intelligences that makes up our talents.”

IntelligenceIntelligence

Identify Your IntelligencesIdentify Your Intelligences

1. Linguistic – ability to use written or spoken 1. Linguistic – ability to use written or spoken languagelanguage

2. Musical – ability related to musical expression2. Musical – ability related to musical expression3. Logical-mathematical – ability to analyze 3. Logical-mathematical – ability to analyze

problems logicallyproblems logically4. Spatial – ability to understand and 4. Spatial – ability to understand and

manipulate space manipulate space 5. Bodily-kinesthetic – ability related to using 5. Bodily-kinesthetic – ability related to using

the body as a primary means of expressionthe body as a primary means of expression6. Personal –ability to understand one’s own 6. Personal –ability to understand one’s own

feelingsfeelings

Creativity and TechniqueCreativity and Technique

Techniques are Techniques are procedures that procedures that have been proven have been proven to work repeatedly. to work repeatedly. They are methods They are methods by which a by which a complex task can complex task can be accomplished.be accomplished.

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Creativity and TalentCreativity and Talent

Talent is a natural ability.Talent is a natural ability.

Talent can be influenced by:Talent can be influenced by: EnvironmentEnvironment EducationEducation Culture Culture ReligionReligion SocietySociety And many other factorsAnd many other factors

Characteristics of Creative Characteristics of Creative PeoplePeople

A Burning CuriosityA Burning CuriosityThe Power of ConcentrationThe Power of ConcentrationThe Ability to Find OrderThe Ability to Find OrderMental Agility and Ability to Find Mental Agility and Ability to Find

OptionsOptionsWillingness to Take Risks and Accept Willingness to Take Risks and Accept

FailureFailure

The 10,000 Hour RuleThe 10,000 Hour Rule

In In Outliers: The Story of Success,Outliers: The Story of Success, Malcolm Malcolm Gladwell suggests that all masters of Gladwell suggests that all masters of creativity -- from Bill Gates to Michael creativity -- from Bill Gates to Michael Jordan-- spent a minimum of 10,000 hours Jordan-- spent a minimum of 10,000 hours practicing before they rose to significant practicing before they rose to significant and consistent success. and consistent success.

Enhancing Your CreativityEnhancing Your Creativity

Consider your environmentConsider your environmentTemper your criticism Temper your criticism Assess your motivationAssess your motivationAdjust your scheduleAdjust your scheduleLet your mind wanderLet your mind wanderChange your lifeChange your life

Creativity is About Problem Creativity is About Problem SolvingSolving

• Specify the Specify the problemproblem

• Break the problem Break the problem into smaller into smaller componentscomponents

• Brainstorm for Brainstorm for possible solutionspossible solutions

• Test the solutions Test the solutions to see if it worksto see if it works

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A Director PreparesA Director Preparesby Anne Bogart - American by Anne Bogart - American

DirectorDirector

“Do not assume that you have to have some prescribed conditions to do your best work. Do not wait. … Work with what you have right now. Work with the people around you right now. … Do not wait for maturity or insight or wisdom. Do not wait till you are sure that you know what your are doing. Do not wait until you have enough technique. .. And, … be patient.”

Curtain CallCurtain Call

““Ever tried. Ever Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. failed. No matter. Try again. Fail Try again. Fail again. Fail better.”again. Fail better.”

Samuel Beckett, Samuel Beckett, PlaywrightPlaywright

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