Nine considerations for thinking
creatively:
Thinking creatively is a state of mind that
enables you to
approach tasks, problems, and situations
with openness to alternatives.
Being bold in considering options may help
you
to re-define what you are working on,
and come up with creative alternatives:
As you work through these options,
consider which one or two may help you think creatively
Re-think:
Look at a challenge in new or unusual ways.
Find new ways that others are too lazy, or don't think
about, to try:
Example: Finding a
job or internship.
Expand your target
visits:
What class did you
do well in, and what jobs might be related?
What other fields
are interesting?
Market yourself: develop your
"brand."
Develop a
portfolio, a list of qualifications, and or examples of your
work that match each company you visit. Prepare a summary
of each company you go to and how you match their interests.
Check every
resource you can think of:
online Web
employment sites; your school's job search; business windows
Ask friends, friends of your
parents, neighbors, teachers, and/or community leaders about
opportunities and referrals
Visualize: Picture your problem and its
solutions.
Map it!
In just a couple
words, summarize a challenge you are facing.
Then add three
related concepts.
Then draw lines to
connect the words.
Remake the map on
a separate piece of paper; add images.
Play with this
idea and find your solution.
Produce:
A genius is
productive.
Don't be lazy!
Combine:
Make new
combinations.
Combine and
recombine ideas, images, and thoughts no matter how
strange or unusual.
Form relationships; make connections.
This applies to
people and objects.
Get to know the
people in your area of interest that can help you improve.
Demonstrate interest in them; ask questions! At the arrow,
enter some contacts, either by name and/or by title and/or by
qualification.
Opposites
Think in opposites.
Think opposite these words:
Hip hop | Flow | Employment | Organic | Blue | Nature
Then find a middle concept for one
Metaphor! Simile!
A simile uses "like" or "as" to build an image. Examples:
The jungle's river
was like a peaceful path through a chaos of green.
The bird rose
straight and fast as a rocket.
The service line
moved as fast as stalled rush hour traffic.
A metaphor is
more direct:
The event was
viewed through the mist of sadness.
The garden became
a quilt of cared-for colors.
She led them with
the carrot of reason and the stick of embarrassment.
Now create your
images:
The exercise
illustrates how situations can take on new meaning, problems new
solutions. Enter your thought quickly for the following phrases with the first
image that
comes to mind. Print, reflect, and make new connections if
inspired.
The football team
played as if they...
The computer
screen looked...
My study schedule
is a...
Fail!
Great
accomplishments are often the result of chance, but chance born
of many "unsuccessful" experiments. Learn from these experiences;
preparation to fail is the path to success.
Patience
Some people are
not recognized until their "later" years.
Paul Cézanne (1839
– 1906), French impressionist, did not have his first exhibition
until age 56.
Accomplishment
does not come in 10 minutes.
Give yourself 10
days, or ten years! Practice patience.
Thanks for taking the time to consider
alternative ways of approaching your life's considerations.
We hope one or two of these tips serve you
well.
May your successes and failures
bring you knowledge and peace.
Website overview: Since 1996 the
Study Guides and Strategies web site
has been researched, authored, maintained and supported by
Joe Landsberger
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