Real Genius - IQ or Creativity? By Steve Gillman

What is real genius, and how do we cultivate it in ourselves? A common dictionary definition is, 'Extraordinary intellectual power especially as manifested in creative activity.' Some definitions refer to a high IQ as well, but that doesn't seem to be an important component. Both intellectual power and creativity can certainly exist without a high level of intelligence, as I will explain.

Real genius, then, whether in the sciences, arts, or business, is about finding new, creative and effective ways to do things. How high a man or woman scores on some test of intelligence is not so relevant. How productive he or she is in producing new ideas is the most defining factor.

Genius Is In The Software

If we look at the brain and mind as a computer, we can see that the physical part, made up of neurons and such, is the hardware. This is the computer before we install the operating system and various programs. If it is potentially more powerful, that's great. But it isn't enough. In order to realize that power, to use it, we need the programs. What would the computer on your desk be worth without any software? The same is true of our brains.

The software, then, consists of our ways of thinking. These are developed starting in childhood, but they are not static. We can continue to add new 'programs' throughout life, and the right ones can dramatically increase one's creativity. This is why a less intelligent man can be a genius at something, while a man with a much higher IQ may add little in the way of new ideas, thinking or products to the world. It is all about the software.

What about these 'programs?' What are they, where do you get them and how do you install them? The bad news is that they do not install as easily as programs do on your desktop computer. You have to work with them for at least several weeks to make these new ways of thinking habitual. The good news is that once they do become a habit, they work for you almost effortlessly.

A 'program' might be as simple as 'the exploration of creative alternatives by looking at purposes.' This is something anyone can do, but few do it systematically or habitually. Work with this enough consciously, though, and it becomes a regular part of your thinking. You look at a textbook from a school, for example, and your mind asks 'What are the purposes, and what does that suggest for alternatives?'

You see that a textbook is supposed to impart knowledge to the student. The questions that naturally arise include, 'Does it do that well?' and 'What else might suit this purpose?' The question of effectiveness makes you wonder what you would find if ten different textbooks on the same subject matter were used to teach students, and then we tested the students to see which group learned more. That leads you to the idea for a textbook testing service (currently, textbooks are often chosen according to the preferences educators, rather than by effectiveness). The 'what else' part could get you thinking about making educational material into video games.

Other creative ideas will start to come to mind as you look at the matter, at least if that is the way your brain is programmed to work. And the 'program' above is just one example of many techniques for creative thinking which you can 'install' in yourself. A higher IQ could be helpful, and raising yours may be possible, but that is not nearly as important to developing real genius as changing the ways in which you think.

Resource: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=275639&ca=Self

Are There Lucky People? By Steve Gillman

Most of us know lucky people, those who seem to lived a charmed life. They may not even be all that smart, and yet they seem to almost stumble into good situations. Opportunities open up for them, things are 'handed' to them. Perhaps they win in the stock market, find a dream job, or get married to their ideal spouse.

Then there are the unlucky people. Maybe you know a few of these as well. Some of them may even be very intelligent or well educated, and yet they're unlucky in love, lose money on investments, miss opportunities, and have unexpected bad things happen.

You might be somewhere between these two extremes. You have some good luck, and you have your share of 'bad luck' as well. But have you ever tried to learn how to be one of the lucky people?

Generally there are two approaches to the idea of luck. Some think it is a random or mysterious thing that we have no control over, while others say it doesn't exist, that what we call luck is hard work, or a lazy way to explain cause and effect. Yet we all see that some people have easier successes, whether we call it luck or not. What both approaches tend to miss is the obvious question: How can you become one of these 'lucky people?'

The answer to that starts with avoiding that mistake right there. Stop arguing about definitions. It's more profitable to make good things happen. Does it really matter if you earn the title of 'lucky' even though you feel that 'luck' had nothing to do with it? The bottom line is that good results are good results, whatever they are called.

One Thing Lucky People Do Differently

There are many things that lucky people do differently, and there is even serious research that demonstrates this. It has been shown that people who are identified as lucky smile more often, for example. And among those who are superstitious (entirely unnecessary for luck), the research shows lucky people have more positive beliefs, like crossing the fingers, while those who avoid black cats and fear the number thirteen have less luck.

Of all the many things that lucky people do differently, though, perhaps one of the most effective is simply asking for things. How many of us don't ever ask for a nicer table in a restaurant, or ask for a raise at work. Doing so doesn't guarantee anything, but asking certainly increases the odds of receiving. It's safe to say that you'll get more raises and nice tables in life if you ask.

For example, in his book, 'Screw It - Let's Do It,' Richard Branson tells the story of how he bought a $3,000,000 pound island for $180,000. That's just 7% of the asking price, by the way. Here's the short version of how he did it: He asked. I imagine there were those who would have loved to get the island for twice what he paid, since that would still be an 86% discount. But they probably never made the offer, embarrassed to ask for such a low price.

As a young man I bought my first house by advertising. I put a small ad in the paper saying I was looking for a small home with a small down payment and seller financing. I got a call and soon bought my first home. Ask and you shall receive, as the saying goes.

So are there lucky people? Yes, and if you want to be one of them, consider the following three premises:

1. 'Lucky' people are those who have more happy surprises and good situations in their lives.

2. Their good luck is a result of the way they think and act.

3. You can become one of them by learning and applying certain principles (like the one above.)

Resource: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=278748&ca=Self

Try This Creative Problem Solving Technique By Steve Gillman

There are many creative problem solving techniques, and each will lead you to different kinds of solutions. One of the simplest, though, is the 'add, subtract and change' technique. What follows is a basic explanation of how to use it to generate more creative solutions.

Add

Whatever you are working on, whether a scientific experiment, a business concept, or a personal issue with family, this technique can help. It starts with the simple question, 'What can I add to this?' Open your mind up in answering this. If designing a new vehicle for people who love the outdoors, it's easy to imagine things to add; a tent platform on the roof, a skylight for star viewing, windows with screens, etc.

With other problems you will have to think more widely. For example, if you are trying to find a way to travel to India, you may not immediately think of things to 'add' to the problem. Money does come to mind, though, and something as seemingly meaningless as 'a group of people' might trigger the idea to go free as a guide, or to get a reduced fare for selling a tour to friends. Let a few random thoughts enter here, and see how adding this or that might lead to a new solution.

Subtract

The second step of this creative problem solving technique is also very easy if you are just working on product innovation and invention. What can you take away from a television? How about half of the buttons on the remote, or half the weight? Look at what is there and ask what would happen if you subtracted it (or part of it). The screen? You might have a television receiver that displays through the user's computer screen.

With a business problem, like how to gain more repeat customers for your restaurant, you have to think more broadly. What if you subtract payment? Hmm... Customers order from a 'subscribers menu,' which includes the fast meal at a set price, billed monthly. They don't have wait for the bill. Subtract the menu? Perhaps for a discount customers would prepay for tokens good for specific meals, to be redeemed anytime. They just hand a token to the host when they walk in, and get their meal fast. Once they prepay, they have to come to your restaurant to redeem the token, thus guaranteeing repeat business.

Change

This is the fun step, where you ask what you can change about the problem or the current situation. If you are looking for a way to increase the value of your home before selling it, you ask what you can change about the home, the way you advertise it, the terms of the sale, and anything else you can think of. But to make your problem solving more creative, get a bit crazy in your questions. For example, ask, 'What can I change about the buyer?' This may seem silly at first, but it also might suggest targeting a market with buyers who are willing to pay a bit more.

Look for all the things that might be changed, and all the ways you might change them. As with all problem solving techniques, the idea is to generate as many different ideas as possible. Only afterwards do you look at them more critically to find the good ones.

For example, John had a neighbor with too much junk in his yard. It was lowering the value of his home, and he planned to move in a year or so. He asked what he could change about his approach, where he lived, where the neighbor lived, the junk itself, the view, and so on. Asking about changing where the neighbor lived was not so silly as it first seemed. As it turns out, he was a renter, and wanted to move, but was short on cash. John loaned him a few hundred dollars, figuring that even if he was never repaid he would gain ten times that on the increased sale's price of his own home. That's a creative solution.

What can I add? What can I subtract? What can I change? Just ask these three questions and be open minded in answering them. That is the basis of this simple problem solving technique.

Resource: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=276214&ca=Self