Author Archives: admin

Is Creativity Different from Innovation?

By my definition it is!

There is not a universally accepted definition of creativity. In fact, there are more than sixty different definitions in psychological literature. Is it really only problem-solving? Is it the same as innovation? Creativity is indeed mysterious. It is no wonder there is not one accepted definition. My definition is simply anything that is new and useful. By “useful” I mean a person’s creative act might only be useful to them at the time. It does not have to be useful from a commercial standpoint, which distinguishes it from innovation.

02 Genetic's FlowchartFor example, the scientist and monk Gregor J. Mendel studied peas in the 1800s. He tested about 29,000 pea plants, which led him to make two generalizations or “laws” about inheritance. It was new creative work, but nobody paid much attention to it at the time. It was only useful to Mendel. His discoveries immensely pleased himself.

The significance of Mendel’s work was not recognized until the turn of the 20th century. The independent rediscovery of his “pea laws” formed the foundation of the modern science of Genetics. Who would have guessed this quiet friar growing peas at a monastery would now be revered as “the father of modern Genetics”?1

The mysterious process of creativity is at the front-end of innovation. This is likely why the two get lumped together so often. However, one can be creative without it leading to innovative success. Here is how I distinguish between the two terms:

Creativity: the capacity within individuals to develop new ideas for the purpose of solving problems and exploring/exploiting opportunities.

Innovation: the application of creativity to give rise to a new product, service or process delivering something new and better to the world.

Please note by my definition—creativity is not a team sport. It is an individual pursuit. Innovation more often involves many people to make a creative idea useful to the world. What do you think about these definitions? Do you think the two are different?

My new book is available now at:
amazonlogo      BN      ibooklogo

2

 

Own your creativity

Your creativity is a composite of your head, heart and gut centers acting as distinct sources. Many don’t believe they are creative, which is baloney! However, your creativity may be lying dormant within you and in need of waking up… Get in touch with your three centers and learn to trust them as sources. You can start with the free center assessment available on this website.

My new book is available now at:
amazonlogo      BN      ibooklogo

2

 

My book icons

After spending years doing the research for my creativity book, I became well acquainted with the characters. I feel as if each became a friend of mine in the process!  The exemplars demonstrate how they dealt/deal with their creative sources. We connect with their deep center struggles and triumphs. Likewise, we learn more about our own creative patterns through them.

Inspiration comes from: Einstein’s genius experiments (and greatest blunder), the reluctant revolutionary Charles Darwin, King Solomon’s glory and demise, Thomas Edison’s gut in overdrive (and Nikola Tesla’s “head” reaction to him), Meryl Streep’s secret, Antonio Gaudi’s Cathedral from heaven, J Paul Getty’s mysterious kouros, Wayne Gretzky “improv” skating, Jackson Pollock’s dancing art, LBJ and MLK’s unlikely gut collaboration, Craig Ventor’s versus the Gov’s human genome wresting match, St. Peter’s gut-filled reactions, Navy seals, Eckhart Tolle’s power of now, President Lincoln’s extraordinary heart fruit, Steve Jobs’ heart driven i-creativity, Mother Teresa’s anguished higher calling, McCartney & Lennon’s harmonic heart songs, Seinfeld’s anti-heart sitcom, Lance Armstrong’s tormented heart, the social entrepreneur Eleanor Roosevelt, musician King David, and many more.

The exemplars exhibit the six patterns of creativity clearly for us, these naturally flow from our three sources. I hope you enjoy getting to know them as much as I have!

Free Chapter: Introduction from The Three Sources Book
Preorder Amazon e-Book here.
Paperback is available now.
Barnes % Noble e-Book
Smashwords discount code is BD28T

2

Final approvals received

Its official. I’ve received my final approvals from the major book distributors. They will all distribute my new book! Here is a brief description:

Everyone is creative—even you! You have THREE INTELLIGENCE CENTERS, which serve as DISTINCT SOURCES for CREATIVITY. Each one is EQUAL in its capacity to deliver breakthrough results. Learn how to take advantage of each source in your own creative process: Your head, heart and gut intuition. The goal is for one source not to suffocate the other two sources, but to unite and create intersections bringing forth synergistic NEW CREATIVE LIFE.

Find out why:
Creativity is a mystery and is tapped into by three sources
There are six natural creative patterns flowing from the three centers
You are undervaluing your own creative strengths

This is not another book about theory or someone else’s prescription for creativity. It is about YOUR OWN UNIQUE BRAND OF CREATIVITY. The Three Sources of Creativity contains a self-assessment, exemplars (modern and ancient), many illustrations and exercises/applications tailored to you. It offers a new way of looking at creativity, and takes a long view of approaching your creative life. You learn about how the three sources of creativity work in your life and the iconic characters’ lives. This candid evolutionary view opens new windows for revolutionary creative change. You complete a three-center self-assessment and learn about your composite creative process, through your head, heart, and gut centers. You learn which center is: most dominant, supportive, and which is least used or “hidden.” This composite significantly impacts your creativity. Unlocking your undervalued/underused center is key. By proactively building your three centers’ awareness, you build muscle memory and can multiply your creativity. You will explore a chosen problem/opportunity that you have passion for throughout the book.

In Part 1, three distinct ways to tap into creativity are explored to gain creative self-confidence. In Part 2, we apply the concepts of the “three sources of creativity” to our lives. We learn about the six creative patterns naturally flowing from the three sources. We observe the intersections between the three intelligence centers (synergistic and contradictory) and how these impact creativity. Our exemplars demonstrate how they dealt/deal with their creative sources. We connect with their deep center struggles and triumphs. Likewise, we learn about our own creative patterns.

Inspiration comes from: Einstein’s genius experiments (and greatest blunder), the reluctant revolutionary Charles Darwin, King Solomon’s glory and demise, Thomas Edison’s gut in overdrive (and Nikola Tesla’s “head” reaction to him), Meryl Streep’s secret, Antonio Gaudi’s Cathedral from heaven, J Paul Getty’s mysterious kouros, Wayne Gretzky “improv” skating, Jackson Pollock’s dancing art, LBJ and MLK’s unlikely gut collaboration, Craig Ventor’s versus the Gov’s human genome wresting match, St. Peter’s gut-filled reactions, Navy seals, Eckhart Tolle’s power of now, President Lincoln’s extraordinary heart fruit, Steve Job’s heart driven i-creativity, Mother Teresa’s anguished higher calling, McCartney & Lennon’s harmonic heart songs, Seinfeld’s anti-heart sitcom, Lance Armstrong’s tormented heart, the social entrepreneur Eleanor Roosevelt, musician King David, and many more.

Authentic creativity happens when what we think, feel and what we do intersect. Learn about how to apply the six natural patterns, and different intersections to your life to gain breakthroughs.

In the last chapter Brandt addresses organizations as having three centers too, influenced from the top down. Examples include: Rick Warren’s Saddleback church’s BHAG (big hairy audacious goal), Apple Corp., and how creative “flow” applies to organizations’ centers too. Chinese artist Ai Weiwei shows how creativity at a higher level can/will change worldviews.

The manifesto is always trust your three ways of knowing, all equally important as sources for your creativity. These distinct paths build your creative confidence. You are enough!

2

 

New Book Coming Soon…

2

You are Already Creative: You have THREE INTELLIGENCE CENTERS, which serve as DISTINCT SOURCES for CREATIVITY. Each is EQUAL in its capacity to deliver breakthrough results. Learn how to take advantage of each one in your own creative process: Your head, heart and gut intuition. The goal is for one source not to suck the life out of the other two sources; but to unite to create intersections, which synergistically bring NEW CREATIVE LIFE.

Find out Why:
Creativity is a mystery and not the same as innovation
Creativity is not about having the “right tools”
You are undervaluing your own creative strengths

This is not another book about theory or someone else’s prescription for creativity. It is about YOUR OWN UNIQUE BRAND OF CREATIVITY. The Three Sources of Creativity contains a treasure chest of proven approaches, a self-assessment, exemplars (modern & ancient) and exercises tailored to your own purposes and processes. Learn to strategically LEVERAGE YOUR THREE SOURCES OF CREATIVITY in your life and workplace.