Sunday, May 31, 2015

Creating an Environment That Fosters Creativity

            I believe everyone is creative. However, most don’t believe it. So, how do you create an environment that fosters creativity? Let me share some pointers.

REMOVE FEAR

            The worst car I ever bought was a ’77 Malibu. The car had been mistreated before I bought it—a fact I didn’t learn until I owned the beast. The previous owners had not changed the oil as they should. The passages that allowed the oil to flow through the engine had become blocked. Oil was sitting on top of the valves. This caused serious oil burning.
            After the passages were cleared, the car ran better and used less oil. It only took a little sludge to cause massive engine problems. The brain has a sludge that blocks the flow of lubrication through its engine. That sludge is fear. Ever have to give a speech and your brain freezes? Ever see people freeze in an emergency situation? Ever had to write a paper and you can’t think of a word? In all these cases, it’s fear—fear of public humiliation, fear of injury, or fear of the instructor’s red pen. When afraid, the brain goes into survival mode and creativity suffers.
            To foster a creative environment, fear must be eliminated. This is so contrary to the education system, where the fear of the red pen is often the prime motivator. It’s also contrary to the work environment, where fear of unemployment is often the prime motivator. As a society, we teach students and motivate employees based on fear. But, why do we do this?

ELIMINATE THE EGO

            So, why do people use fear to motivate? They’re insecure. They don’t believe they have the ability to persuade others. So, instead they use intimidation. Some simply don’t care as long as they get what they want. Much of our education system and industry is based on intimidation. The underlying principles of most of these systems of intimidation are based on reward and punishment. Do what I say and you’ll be rewarded. Don’t do it, you’ll be punished.
            Such external systems of rewards and punishments are only good at one thing—producing compliance. Everyone conforms and creativity grinds to a halt. But, then the buts start:
            “But, if I don’t punish N then X, Y and Z will happen.”
            “But, if I don’t reward N then X, Y and Z won’t happen.”
            And, you’re right. I know what you’re thinking. “So, if I remove rewards and punishment, then people won’t do what they’re supposed to do. But, this is what you’re recommending to foster creativity?” Yes, it’s what I’m recommending. So, how do you break this doomed-if-you-do, doomed-if-you-don’t paradox?

RESOCIALIZE THE MASSES

            We need to understand why removing rewards and punishments doesn’t work—at least initially. People have been conditioned through rewards and punishments. It’s the cornerstone of much of our education systems, our employment systems, and even many of our religious systems. People know the rules of those games. And, they follow those rules.
            What happens when you throw people into a new game? They don’t know the rules and they freeze. Initially they look either like slackers or vagabonds. You need to give them time to adapt to new rules. And, what are those rules:
· Worth is based on humanity, not production. Seems weird, but it’s really just the principal of love. Love people and they’ll produce more. But, it can’t be the fake love that some employers mimic. It must be genuine.
· Rewards are given for challenging the system. New ideas, even if they are wrong, must be rewarded. People need to be free to fail. Once people feel free to fail, they often come up with the best ideas—the ones that lead to success.
· Everyone is creative. This must be preached. People don’t become creative until they believe they are creative. Once that belief is set, creativity explodes.
· People must be secure. This rule is going to bite Corporate America in the butt. People can’t be creative when they’re not paid enough to meet basic needs. People can’t be creative when they don’t have a balance of work and home—one that allows them to take care of themselves and their families. People can’t be creative when they are constantly confronted with inequality and injustice. Corporate America views workers as pieces in a machine. Because of that, it will receive mechanical thinking.


            If you want more creativity, you must change the rules—from rules based on external systems of rewards and punishments to rules based on internal motivation. It’s not easy. You’ll need to drop your insecurities. You’ll need to open up to others and care. You’ll need to give them time to adapt to new ways of working and thinking. But, in the end it will be worth the effort.

Tuesday, May 26, 2015

Delly Gate

            I don’t normally write about sports, but this is my blog. There has been a controversy brewing over Matthew Dellavedova being a dirty player. This had been based primarily on three plays this post season. So, let’s analyze those three plays.

TAJ GIBSON

            This controversy wouldn’t exist if the announcers and television producers were being fair, but I think what happened is they were doing their job. By that, I mean that were creating controversy for the sake of television drama. They placed the focus on what happened after Dellavedova and Gibson were on the ground. The focus should be on what happened immediately preceding.
            Gibson gave Dellavedova a mild clotheslines as they were fighting through picks. Watch the tape and see Gibson’s body language. He was looking for a fight and was looking to put a hurt on Dellavedova. He was angry, because a smaller guy was playing him tough. After the mild clothesline, he then gave Dellavedova a shoulder on a pick. That shoulder was a foul, and possibly a flagrant 1 if called. Then, as Dellavedova boxes Gibson out, Gibson just steamrolled right over the back of him. It’s clear on the video that it wasn’t just body contact, because Gibson’s arms and shoulders raised as he clearly pushes Dellavedova. This should end the controversy. Right there is the flagrant 2 if the refs are doing their job, and any response from Dellavedova that isn’t malicious is merely the natural reaction of someone protecting themselves from assault.
            So, what about the “leg lock”? I love how the announcers pick that term, as if Dellavedova performed some sort of MMA move. Gibson was looking for a fight. He had already assaulted Dellavedova three times and Dellavedova was letting him know he wasn’t happy about it. Dellavedova wasn’t playing dirty. Gibson was playing dirty.

KYLE KORVER

            Well, the refs weren’t doing their job on this one. Watch the video. The reason the ball was loose was because Dennis Schröder was reaching in. He clearly bumps Dellavedova from behind. Had the refs made the call, the play would have been stopped before the injury.
            After the ball went loose, Dellavedova did what any hustling player would do. He went after the ball. This whole notion that he rolled on Korver’s ankle is ridiculous. He grabbed the ball and spun away from his opponent to protect possession.
            Again, the announcers and the producers seem to be focusing on what makes for controversy and television drama. They failed to point out that Dellavedova was fouled. They failed to point out that had the refs made the call, the play would have stopped before the injury. They also used inflammatory language of Dellavedova rolling onto Korver's ankle. Dellavedova did nothing dirty and the only foul on the play was committed by Schröder.

AL HORFORD

            Seems Al Horford and Taj Gibson are both afflicted by the same malady—that they become enraged when a smaller man plays them tough. First, Horford dropped a shoulder into Timofey Mozgov. It was deliberate and it was dirty. He should have been called for a charge. Demarre Carroll fell over Mozgov, who was on the ground after receiving the shoulder. This started the domino effect of bodies hitting the floor. Horford started it and then he drops an elbow onto Dellavedova. The dirty player was no doubt Horford!
            Horford then goes on to make some post-game comments that can only qualify as imbecile. “He’s got to learn. He’s only been in this league for a couple of years but he’s got to learn that at the end of the day, it’s a big brotherhood here. Guys look out for each other and I don’t think it was malicious but he’s got to learn.” So, apparently Horford was trying to teach Dellavedova a lesson. What could that lesson be? The only lesson that seems likely, considering the facts, is Horford thinks smaller men shouldn’t play him tough.

THE PATTERNS

            Only two patterns seem to emerge from this controversy. 1) Dellavedova plays hard. 2) NBA big men develop tempers when smaller guys out hustle them.

Sunday, May 24, 2015

Remember

            Memorial Day is a day to remember. So, what should we remember?

THE TROOPS

            Let’s remember our troops. Some gave their lives. To those, we owe our highest honor. Some lost a limb, a friend or the security of living in freedom. We must remember them, but remembrance doesn’t cut it. Proper medical care, jobs and kind words are deserved for all our service members. They should come back to a land that embraces them and helps them heal the wounds of war.

CIVIL SERVANTS

            Many put their lives on the line on our soil. It could be the police officers who serve with honor. I’m not sure my brother would still be alive if it wasn’t for the help of some kind officers. I’m sure they’d say they were just doing their job, but often that job involves saving lives.
            On 9/11 the towers fell. Into the fray rushed police, firefighters and EMT’s. They were also backed by nurses, doctors and medical aides that helped to treat the wounded. Let’s remember their service—both on that dreaded day and the service they give every day of the week.
            Let’s not forget the teachers who help to impart knowledge to our youth. Teaching is a hard job. I can tell you this from first-hand experience. Let’s remember those who gave their lives—not through death, but by living on and bringing that life to the classroom every day.

LOVED ONES GONE ON

            Let’s not forget our loved ones who have gone on. I remember my Grandpa. We had a special bond the last few months of his life. That bond and the lessons I learned were priceless. I was a light and source of strength, and he responded with great love. My life is better because of that experience.
            I’ve lost two grandmothers. I was the beloved grandchild. Those that have had that relationship know the warmth and you have countless stories. I also remember the grand dad I never knew—who passed away before I was born.
            I also remember my Uncle Ted. He was a kind, gentle man. I wish the world was filled with men like him—men who are willing to show kindness to others. I would love to have a day with him, but I know he’s gone on to heaven. I look forward to seeing him again.
            So, amidst the picnics and family gathering let’s not forget to remember.

Monday, May 18, 2015

Lessons from Comedy

            This weekend I was in a comedy competition. I placed 3rd. Yeah me! I’ve been doing comedy since 2008 and this is the first time I’ve placed in a competition. Of course, I could complain about how unfair comedy competitions are. The best comedian doesn’t always win. But, truth be told, I’m not the best comedian out there. Still, I’ve learned some valuable lessons.

DON’T BE AFRAID OF FAILURE

            This last competition I tried an entirely new approach to the stage. I didn’t plan out where I was going to go. I played off the moment and the crowd. Usually I have everything exactly planned out and that makes me appear a little stiff. I did a little better just riffing.

LEARN FROM YOUR MISTAKES

            Yes, riffing was good, but at a few points I was flat. I need to find a point where I’m both prepared and ready to riff—almost a paint-by-numbers approach, where I have the basic lines drawn in before I take the stage, but am free to play with the colors. Right now, I don’t know how to do that or what that will look like.

KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE

            I’ve played this crowd before and I know the comedians who do the best are the ones that interact with the audience. My last performance there I did that a little. This time I did it much more and it worked—for the most part. Learning comedy is a trial and error affair.

LEARN FROM OTHERS

            One of the areas I’m flat as a comedian is crowd work. Other comedians are far better at it than I am. The winner of the competition really related to and even at points picked on the crowd—in a fun way. There’s much I can learn from watching him and the other comedians. They all have strong points and they all made mistakes.

STAY POSITIVE

            In order to succeed, you need to stay positive. You can’t let one bad performance beat you down. I’ve had some bad—really bad—performance, but so has every comedian. Every time you take the stage, you take that risk. But, as you mature, the likelihood of failure decreases and the likelihood of success increases. You begin to learn how and when to take risks and that wisdom makes all the difference in the world.

Sunday, May 3, 2015

The Power of Positivity

            Lately I’ve been learning the power of positivity. Tomorrow I start teaching a new academic term. That’s why I’m posting on Sunday as opposed to my normal Monday. What I’ve found is the first class sets the tone. This is particularly true with my Oral Communication class. If they are laughing and having fun the first day, the rest of the term will go well. In order to get people to open up and share, I need to set a tone. The class must become more of a family than a sterile classroom. When that happens, learning increases and I hear marvelous speeches. There are some other examples I’ve found of positivity.

MY WRITER’S GROUP

            I’m involved in two writer’s groups. I learn from both, but one I absolutely love. Why? It’s because of the positivity. There is an infectious energy when we meet. I’m surrounded by linguistic geniuses. Every week someone else shares something that just wows me—not that it’s-kinda-good wow, but the whoa-this-is-genius wow. Sometimes the writing make me laugh, sometimes it makes my skin crawl and sometimes it just fills me with awe, but every time I meet with the group, I am amazed and it’s pushing me to be better—as both a writer and a person.

MY DAD

            Dad is recovering from stage IV cancer. It’s been a tough battle. One thing I see is how much strength he gains from mom and me. Our presence inspires him and helps him to push on. Part of positivity is supporting others.

MY FRIENDS

            I have some wonderful friends. They have different energies, but I can say that all of them have a positive energy. Some are hopeful. Some are happy. Some are supportive. Some are creative geniuses. My advice to everyone out there is to find these kinds of people and hang around with them. Your life will be better.

MY FAITH


            There’s a Biblical principle that says you reap what you sow. If you’re positive, positive comes back to you. One thing you need to understand about this principle is that it functions long-term. Short-term it doesn’t always work that way. You’ll let someone in front of you in traffic and they’ll flip you the bird. You’ll trust someone and they’ll cheat you. These things happen. But, over the long run, if you treat people well things will work out better for you. It’s a principle that engrained in the universe by the Creator.