Mike Schnaidt

[3.25] If you’ve never read a book that explores creativity -- or maybe read one such work -- then ____’s practical guide to creative thinking will likely provide dozens of useful insights. Having read nearly a dozen personal development books that focused on creativity, innovative thinking and leadership, I’m sad to say that “Creative Endurance” unearthed no new revelations. But the book deserves to stay in my 3-star tier based on its news-you-can-use format and its ability to remind us of important strategies for fostering creativity. The author has wisely included question-and-answer sections that showcase successful people in a diverse mix of arenas. He also provides frequent “takeaways” that succinctly summarize key points. For me, “Creative Endurance” helped to reinforce numerous important tactics for igniting our creative spark. Here are some helpful strategies:
-- Harness simple tasks such as walking or doing the dishes to allow the subconscious to kick in and help devise solutions or unexpected ideas.
-- Recognize that many projects will not pan out as planned. We must adapt to thrive.
-- Avoid going into any project with concrete answers. Keep an open mind.
-- Variety is the key to creative endurance. Shake up your routine on occasion by changing the time or place in which the creative process is launched.
-- “Gamify” daunting tasks for laborious or tedious projects. In other words, set fun short-term goals that are attainable (Footnote: I’ve been practicing this since I was a 16-year-old clerk in an office supply store. During long work shifts, I would try to avoid boredom by setting my own hourly goals to sell a certain dollar value of goods. No, I wasn’t working on commission. I was just a weird kid.)
-- Short “power naps” that last 15 or 20 minutes are often perfect ways to hit our creativity “reset” buttons.
-- “Diligence is stronger than talent.” I practiced this strategy during my years as a news director and managing editor in radio newsrooms. I often said I would rather hire an incredibly hard worker of “average” intelligence who consistently produced solid content than a lazy genius who works only slightly more often than the groundhog looks for his shadow in any given year.… (more)