"A plain iron bar is worth $5.  If you make horseshoes from it the value increases to $10.50. If you make needles it is $3285. If watch springs, $250,000. Ergo ,the difference between $5 and $250,000 is creativity." Anonymous. Thinking creatively has a high pay-off and EVERYONE can be more creative, even if they don't think so.

At the core of creativity is the ability to connect the unconnected and come up with something new. Steve Jobs connects technology with style and the result is a long line of exciting and cool products like the iPad.  Lady GaGa connects music with outrageous costuming and she is a stand-out in the music field. TV producers connect cooking with entertainment and suddenly Emeril, Mario Batali and Rachel Ray become celebrities. Creativity is not limited to technology and entertainment.  It manifests itself in all fields from science, gaming and the arts to business, negotiating and sales. I know this to be true because of the results I see when I run creative thinking programs for clients.

In the spirit of believing everyone can be more productive by being more creative, I would like to share this excellent article from the Harvard Business Review to remind you what you can do to stimulate your own creativity.

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To those who celebrate it this week, a very Happy  Healthy, and Prosperous New Year to you and your families.

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Words Matter: Make What You Say Pay!