This Explains A LOT...

Kudos to Dan Pink at Just One Thing for scooping me on this article!

An explanation for crazy ideas.
Researchers at Stanford who studied people suffering from manic-depressive disorder have found "that creative people tend to share more personality traits with the mentally ill than they do with the middle-of-the-road masses." Reuters has the intriguing story.
posted by Dan Pink 5/29/2002

Yeah, it's been awhile...

But I finally found something worth sharing!

Have you seen the new Panasonic commercials for e-wear?
There are currently two of them on the air, and they were directed by my favorite indie filmmaker, Kevin Smith.

You can check out the commercials here.
And if you like the e-wear so much that you just GOTTA buy one... tell Panasonic you heard about it from DON the IDEA guy -- maybe they'll give me one for free!

I don't know if it's art -- but I like it!

Art doesn't just imitate life -- it directs traffic!

The Idea Guy is all about creative solutions ~ how could I not bestow proper recognition on this guy?
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-050902artist.story

Kudos to you my brave warrior of problem solving, you rebel of innovation!
And my gratitude to the people in power who actually showed a little common sense (and some good humor) when they decided NOT to press charges on this guy - they even said there's a possibility of leaving his "artistic" changes in place!

...We interrupt this program...

Another reason Jeffery Gitomer kicks sales-butt!

Those of you who've known me for more than five minutes knows I'm always talking up the sales guru, Jeffrey Gitomer.

He's a sales trainer, author, syndicated columnist, and I have it on good authority he's also a marvelous ballroom dancer. (I have no idea about that last point, but I wanted to see if you were awake.)

Every Monday in Columbus, Ohio a new issue of Business First brings Jeffery's column Sales Moves to my door. And every Monday I get at least one more idea and the occasional "A-ha!" from his words. This week's column brought all that and a big, fat, bonus "DUH" to boot!

Wanna know what I'm talking about?
Read his column in your local business journal.

Your business journal doesn't carry Sales Moves?
Click here to read the article, then IMMEDIATELY call -- or better yet WRITE -- your business "rag" (and rag is what it will remain until it carries Sales Moves!) and ask them why they don't care enough about their subscribers to carry the best column on sales skills available. Then send them the link to Jeffrey's article.

If they STILL won't carry it, cancel your subscription to THEIR paper and subscribe to one that does... even if it's not in your hometown. You'll still be better off.

Hungry for more of Gitomer's sales insight?
Buy one of his best-selling sales books:

The Sales Bible
Customer Satisfaction is Worthless, Customer Loyalty is Priceless

ALERT: Gitomer has a brand NEW book now available!
The Poker MBA How to win in business no matter what cards you are dealt.
Get it at his website: Gitomer.com

Think Funny | WEDNESDAY

The Secret Society of Happy People

I KNEW there was a conspiracy... some folks just seem to be WAY too happy!
The Secret Society of Happy People essentially exists to sell books and the speaking services of the author, Pam Johnson, but it's done in such a clever and humorous fashion that it begs the question --
What Secret Society can YOU create to increase your sales and enhance your services?

The Association of Super Talented People...
The National Bureau of Brainstorming...

How can you get your customers to join your Society of Super Happy Clients?
Do they get a membership card?
A certificate?
A t-shirt?

Think the creation of your new organization requires a press release? You bet it does!
And if you make it interesting enough, the local press could hardly resist sharing it with their readers.

Let the whole city learn about your "Secret Society"
...and don't forget to let know how they can join!


Don't Even Think of Raining on My Parade:
Adventures of the Secret Society of Happy People
(PJ Press, June 2001)
Chronicles the Society's amusing journey from the beginning to present and identifies the types of happiness through insightful stories and witty pieces.

Think Funny | TUESDAY

Did you know that rearranging the letters of "George Bush" gives "He bugs Gore", "Madonna Louise Ciccone" gives "Occasional nude income" and "William Shakespeare", "I am a weakish speller"??!

The above text is from The Anagram Genius Server.
It's great (free!) online tool that will take whatever words you submit and email you an exhaustive list of words that can be formed by rearranging the letters.

So what kind of words did it come up with from "Don the Idea Guy?"
Ya! Indeed! tough
Oi! naughty deed
Huge day on diet
Thy unaided ego
Die young death
Yeah! united god
Any huge, odd tie

...and my favorite...
Indeed! a hot guy :)

It's a fun tool that can spark you onto greater creative ideas... check it out!

Think Funny | MONDAY
I'm going to post humorous links this week that can help improve your creativity.
Today's featured site is InternetBumperstickers.com

Internet Bumperstickers are just what they sound like (look directly above this posting for an example.)
They're funny GIF graphics that are free to use on your own site. Visit their website for hundreds of stickers on a wide variety of topics and themes.

Some are rude, some are crude, some are sheer genius!
How many new ones can YOU come up with?

Submit them to the InternetBumpersticker.com website and perhaps yours will be selected for inclusion in their online library.

Do You Think Funny?
Comedy is a great source for spurring your creativity.

Laughter releases all sorts of positive chemicals into your brain, thus altering the way you think.
One of my creative techniques is to take core concepts to the point of the ridiculous.

For instance ~
Core Concept: Home delivery of food.
Goal: Create a higher-caliber of delivered cuisine.
Build to the Ridiculous: A tuxedo server appears at your door complete with mini table for two, candles, and a violin player. Food is served from covered silver platters, sterling silver tableware, and antique china.

A little over the top?
Maybe. But not as far from a great idea as you think.
I feel the basic concept of gourmet cuisine delivered by a tuxedo besuited server could be pretty lucrative. Especially for us care-out kings that are sick of calling the prototypical pizza-guy.

...And if you get really good at getting really ridiculous, perhaps there's a career for you in stand-up comedy!

As a matter of fact, I'm considering trying my own hand at stand-up.
I figure with all the real-world material I've been getting lately, it won't be long before I'm featured on Letterman!

Have YOU ever thought about doing stand-up?
Here's a great reference for those of us who've given it some thought...
So You Wanna Do Stand-Up Comedy?

Since my last posting was rather long-winded, I'll make this short and sweet.
Another cool creativity site for you to visit ~
Creativity For Life