Rise Of The Creative Class: Revisited By Richard Florida

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In 2002 Richard Florida presented a thought to the world in his book The Rise Of The Creative Class.

The idea was about how creative people- Artists, writers and other creative professionals help make a place better and contribute in economic growth.

We have clearly seen an uprise of creative and innovation culture. While it is still not as easy to be a creative professional, people are talking about it and appreciating the folks who do it.

After 10 years Richard Florida is now back with an updated version of his book. How his predictions fared? What are the new developments in these 10 vital years?

Finding Hope in Creativity: 5 Questions for Trend-Watcher Richard ...
University of Toronto management professor touched off an extensive conversation—and some controversy—10 years ago with the publication of his book The Rise of the Creative Class. A decade later, he's back with a ...
Publish Date: 08/29/2012 11:30

Being a creative person yourself how do you think we can make a difference to the world?

Creativity: It's More Than Just Connecting The Dots!

People say creativity is just about connecting the dots.

I wonder what do they mean by 'just'? 

This whole thing about connecting the dots is not about connecting any damn dots.

It's a matter of expertise: Which dots to connect and how to connect it?

That's why once a creative person understands this he becomes fluent in idea generation and creating new breakthroughs.

That's why the great inventors from Edison to Tesla are not one patent wonders. Once they know which dots to connect and how to do it, whereever they focus there is a potential for new discoveries.

This is something which we learn by doing. By connecting the dots and exploring what happens.

By making mistakes and sharpening our skills.

Just reading about new inventions and commenting on forums, or liking and sharing it on Linkedin and Facebook doesn't give us the expertise.

That's why I think the Reconnect project makes a lot of sense. It asks you to blackout the internet for a day and do something creative in the real life!

What's your view about this?


Reconnect from © By Jono on Vimeo.

Reconnect Project Spurs Creativity with Online Blackout
The Reconnect Project challenges you to disconnect from the Internet, and go out and participate in the real world.
Publish Date: 08/27/2012 5:02
http://mashable.com/2012/08/26/reconnect-project-online/

Apple v/s Samsung Patent Suit: It's a Win For The Consumers!

We all know the verdict!

Apple won! Not just won, the decision was lopsided in  Apple's favour.

Now the clamour on the websphere is:

"Will it be a loss to the consumers?"

Some experts are even calling it harmful to the innovation process in the industry.

There are 2 pertinent questions here.

1:If patents are not adhered to, how will it help the innovation process?

Why innovators will put their soul, efforts and investments in something which others are allowed to copy and get away with? 

So, in the short term consumers may have to give away some of the features, but it will deter the copycats. And the spirit of motivation will drive new breakthroughs.

If patents are not respected in the name of lower prices, all great ideas can be replicated and produced in the Chinese factories and will be sold in the world markets at dirt cheap prices. 

Good for the consumers? In the short term.

But in the long term human spirit to invent, to create will be lost. 

Will it be good for consumers? 

2: Can't Samsung make a better phone than iPhone?

There is no dearth of creative genius. If Samsung (and their other Android brothers) go back to drawing board, they can sure create a better smartphone experience.

It will be painful. They will have to put the best minds and a lots of money behind it. It's better to put it there than to invest in fighting the legal battles all over the world.

They will fail a couple of times. But, if they decide to give Apple a run for its money and create a better phone, will it give consumers more choices are not?

Will that not be better for the innovation culture?

You are the jury!

Here is how I discovered my creative side!

People often ask me: How can I be more creative?

They want a tip or a technique that they can apply and become more fluent with their idea generation.

Here is what I tell them. It's not a technique. It is a subtle mindshift.

You must have heard of cricketing greats going through a dry run phase. Even Sachin Tendulkar had it.

And then a peer or a coach suggests them to change the stance or the bat grip and again runs begin to flow.

I am talking about such a shift.
I discovered it about 15 years back. I was a copywriter. 5 years in the business of advertising.

Things were going well.Promotions and increments were happening regularly.

But something was amiss.

While people used to call me creative, I didn't feel like one. I was good with language and I could create some nice headlines and slogans.

But Creative? NO! I knew that.

The mental shift:

I still remember the day when I made the mental shift. I was in a crowded Mumbai local train, surrounded by share market brokers returning home.

They were discussing share prices of the day. Shouting even while they were discussing one to one.

I realised my life was so very different from theirs. We were living in the same city. But was it the same?

I realised creativity is not about cracking some lines, it's about our unique perspective on life.

It's about the choices we make every single day. And all those choices are influenced by one choice that we make: Our self identity!

If we say "I choose to be a profit maker!" that choice will reflect in everything that we do. From relationships to making money, to where we buy our stuff from.

If we instead 'choose to be creatve' we will make choices which will lead us to very different kind of projects, different kind of people.

We will allocate our time and resources differently. Our parameters of evaluation won't be the same.

We will experiment, just to explore. We will tread a new path, without any map. We will break the barriers, to create a new world.

And we will realise our ideas are transformed in the process. Our slogans will have an aroma and business plans will have a soul.
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 W7SHX923CHVA

5 Creative Thinking Lessons From Mars Rover Curiosity!

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/multimedia/gallery/pia14156.html

It's another great leap, another great achievement for humanity. Everyone is excited about Mars Rover Curiosity's success. Not just at NASA,all over the world.

Let us cull out some significant creative lessons from the mission Mars.

1:Be prepared to fail:
It was not a 100% guaranteed effort. The descend was risky, involved 1000's of operations simulteneously in a short time and that too without human control(In those '7 minutes of terror')

Many earlier attempts have failed in such operations.There were many voices criticising the effort, yet it was funded and the team NASA and JPL was working towards it with full commitment.

None of the groundbreaking efforts ever get 100% approval. Critising voices will always be there. As a creative thinker one must believe in her own belief in the idea, and keep moving.

Anyone who is scared of being booed if the idea doesn't happen, will never be able to create anything significant.

2:Take baby steps:
When it comes to breakthroughs, specially in uncertain conditions, every effort is a learning opportunity.

The Mars campign is running for 14 years. Every single attept has taught scientists some new aspect about the planet Mars.

Today there is a much better understanding about the challenges which confront us during the journey, landing and later investigations by rovers on the planet.

It's like a little baby failing to walk,each fall only helps her get better.

3:Increase the stakes:
Rather than getting cowed down by uncertainities, complexities and critisism the breakthrogh thinkers increase the stakes. They make it more difficult.

While earlier Mars rovers 'Spirit' and 'Opportunity' landed on Air bags, rover Curisosity was descending on it's own.It was a big step ahead.

Once it was confirmed 'Curiosity' has landed safely on the Martian soil, the proud announcement was:

“We are wheels down on Mars!"

4:Prepare for success:
Putting a self descending Rover on Mars was a tough goal. And not just descend, it has to survive in tough weather conditions in the Martian environment.

The Atmosphere is about 10 times thinner than earth. It will work in temperatures of minus 130 degree centigrade. As per earlier experience soil structure on Mars can change much even in a short distance travel.

That's why scientists performed millions of simulations of the landing. Perfecting the performance with every effort.

Every failure possibility was predicted and scientists worked on those areas.

3 months before landing they were living on Mars time! A Mars day is 24 Hrs and 37 Min.

Creativity and innovaton is just not about thinking 'out of the box'. It means being ready to do everything to create that 'outside' more meaningful. It's also about changing old habits, learning new skills and going through the grind without any guarantee of success.

5:Success is just a milestone, not a destination:
With 'wheels down on Mars' the job has just begun. 'Curiosity' will sample soil, monitor the environment.It's a kind of laboratory in itself. It will give us indication of any possibility of life on Mars.

It will show the way to a possible human mission on the red planet.

Every successful creative campaign brings many more opportunities to explore. A creative thinker just can't sit on the laurels.

The artistic side of Olympics!

http://www.google.com/doodles/finder/2012/All%20doodles

Today's Google Doodle is about 'Synchronized swimming' events. Often called the water ballet.

And that brings our attention to the artistic side of Olympics.

While the motto for Olympic games is:
"Faster, higher, stronger', once we watch 'synchronized swimming' you will appreciate the artistic dimension.

Here is the Russian team in their synchornized routine:



Apart from this, Artistic Gymnastic events are also...well artistic!

While this definitely needs physical mastery,years of discipline, and training, you will see that dimension of art to it without which human spirit won't  be satisfied.

You may want to add equestrian dressage events to this list. This is often called horse ballet. Again the focus is on rhythem, beauty, a sense of art.

So in my view the Olympic motto 
will be complete if we say:

"Faster, higher, stronger and beautiful!"

What you say?