So, it’s no surprise how much heat is being generated over an opinion piece by Susan Cain in the NY Times called The Rise of the New Groupthink.

“Groupthink“.  Would we call that a positive label?  The term was coined in 1972 by Irving Janis in his analysis of US military fiascoes–clearly, NOT a good thing.  For years it’s been employed to describe the worst of group dynamics.  Ms. Cain has recently written a book called Quiet: the Power of Introverts.

She makes some valuable points.  Most brainstorming is heinous.  Nobody likes pointless meetings with people posturing for the benefit of superiors.  I recognize and crave the power of solitude in my creative process.  But does she mean that I, a moderate Extravert, can’t ‘do quiet’?  Or worse, that I’ll never be as creative?

Unfortunately, she plays it fast and loose with her research.  For an elegant response to her inaccuracies I refer you to the excellent Keith Sawyer.  He corrects her mistakes and provides a reasonable point-of-view.

I wish Ms. Cain had subtitled her book the Power of Introversion instead of dividing us into right and wrong sub-groups.

The creative process is just too complex to assign superior powers to a specific group.  All of us, regardless of style, can make a contribution and we need to take responsibility for ensuring we occasionally have an environment that fosters our preferred process.

photo by Stu French

The Sunk Cost Effect

The book, Into Thin Air, tells the story of a disaster on Mount Everest in which 8 climbers were killed.  The causes of the accident are in controversy but some of the factors suggest that the climbers were too close to quit.  They’d invested $80,000.  They’d almost made it the year before but had been disappointed.  They were within a short 100 yards of their goal.

We experience the Sunk Cost Effect when  we are reluctant to pull out because we’ve invested time and resources into a project or idea.  We continue in blind hope.  “I’ve already spent so much!”.

Additionally, there is an element of shame associated with quitting.  Nobody wants to be a quitter.  I remember getting a fresh dose of hope when a friend said to me, “You don’t want to quit just before the miracle happens.”  Hope sprang forth anew.  I didn’t quit when it was time and wasted another two months on a fruitless effort.

So When Should You Quit?

I suggest there are a few areas to help you with these difficult decisions.

• Where is your energy?  Do you still feel energized by the work/project/journey?
• Are you getting fresh reasons to hope or are you starting to look delusional?
• What’s your track record?  If you err toward dilettance try staying with it a little longer.
• Are you looking backward for forward?  Sunk costs are already sunk.  Perhaps you’ve heard the adage, “Don’t throw good money after bad.”

This is never an easy decision.  But one of the hallmarks of innovation is the recognition that not every idea is a precious pearl.  Know when to quit and put your energy where it can pay off.

(photo credit: Terry Voss)

Vana O’Brien described him as a man without embrarassment.  Jim’s sons were eloquent and heart-breakingly authentic as they talked about their Dad.  Twig Webster spoke about Jim’s gifts: his ability to immediately lighten a room with laughter and his generosity, his desire to entertain and please.  Twig encouraged each of us to daily “Pull a Caputo”.  That is, share the best of yourself at least once a day.

Of course, not all of us have the gifts of a talented actor .  Very few of us can claim the stage and conspire to laughter.  But ALL of us, have a unique and personal way to share our creative self with the world.

My daughter works at a drive-through Starbucks.  She is practical, down-to-earth and not overly sentimental (yes, her mother’s opposite number) and she enjoys her work.  “Where else can I make a positive difference in someone’s day at 5:30 am?“, she asks.  She describes episodes of one person letting another car in the line and then 5 to 6 cars each ‘paying it forward’, buying coffee for the car behind them.  She is impressed by these small acts of kindness and so am I.

But “Pulling a Caputo” need not be just about kindness.  You may be a misanthrope with great creative gifts.  Many of the greats and somewhat-greats were massively annoyed by other human beings.  The point is to make a difference, in any way, by expressing exactly who you are.  At the very least, indulging your creativity makes you a happier person which is also good for the world.

You may not know yet what your legacy will be.  If you asked some of your close friends or colleagues I bet they have a clue.  I remember leaving a job some ten years ago and at my farewell fete people repeatedly thanked me for my mentorship.  At the time it surprised me but now it makes loads of sense.  At my heart I am a cheerleader for others.

It’s too bad that Jimmy wasn’t there at his Celebration.  I like to think he was watching from somewhere.  So, here’s a bit of enouragement:  Have a Celebration of your life before you’re gone.  I had one on my 50th birthday and it was a grand night.

And. later today, Pull a Caputo.

I believe this day to be one of the signature holidays of creative people. Why? First of all, you get carte blanche to be silly and that’s always healthy for the creative process. But the Fool archetype goes deeper than practical jokes.  It is ancient and crosses cultures.

Consider King Lear’s wise fool:

Have more than thou showest,

Speak less than thou knowest…

..and the symbolism of the Tarot Fool card:

The optimistic traveler sets off on his journey with full confidence that all will be well.  As creative problem solvers we can learn several lessons from this naive young person.

Begin the Journey

The creative process rarely follows a straight or predictable line.  Take the first step even when you don’t know the destination.  Step off the ‘cliff’ with a heart filled with curiosity and a sense of adventure.  Be ready to take risks.

Be Willing to Appear Foolish

Cynics may consider you and/or your ideas naive.  So what?  Departing from the evaluative norm of the meeting room (“I can see at least three problems with your idea“) and take a more generative, constructive approach.  This will, ultimately, set you apart.  There is a time and place for evaluation but no one ever built anything without an imagination.

Use Your Knapsack

Each of us has a set of unique tools in our little rucksack.  You have a unique point of view and a set of experiences that no one else has.  Apply your diversity of thought.  Use metaphors that can illuminate a challenge.  Tell stories of similar situations.  Oh, and listen.

Now, off you go, Dear Reader.  Be a Fool

That simple question is the basis for a burgeoning new area of psychological research called self-compassion — how kindly people view themselves. People who find it easy to be supportive and understanding to others, it turns out, often score surprisingly low on self-compassion tests, berating themselves for perceived failures like being overweight or not exercising.

Dr. Kristen Neff, an associate professor of human development at the University of Texas at Austin, has studied how we treat ourselves in difficult times.  She believes that self-compassion is directly connected to motivation, especially when it comes to making positive health changes.

Classic over-achievers (like you?) often ignore their health in service of work pressures.  When you are pushing yourself, when you are driving yourself and STILL find yourself lacking,  a simple question might be, “Would I treat my best friend this way?“  If the answer is , “No, I would never be this mean to my best friend.” then it’s time for a break. Short refreshments will extend your productivity:

• Physically walk away from your computer and seek fresh air.
• Call a friend and fail to do anything useful for 15 minutes.
• Listen to a guided meditation.
• On the weekend, ensure that you schedule your own ‘flow’ experience.

You deserve it.

Are you curious about your own levels of self-compassion?  Here is a short questionnaire from Dr. Neff’s resource-rich website.

Adele Enersen tries to imagine her baby Mila’s dreams. While some may call it ‘babyploitation’, I call it charming.  Bravo Mom!

So, what’s stopping me?

In a word: Tamoxifen.  I am not getting a nanobit of estrogen and it’s making me….well, not my happy-go-lucky self.

The reality is that the technical conversions have been beyond frustrating.  I don’t have the energy to make money in my jammies because I’m spending the day in my jammies wishing I felt better.  This morning I walked to the library to pick up a book they are holding for me  and it was closed for another hour.

I’ve been Maggie McWeepie the past few weeks but the CLOSED sign just made me chuckle.

OK.  I get it.  It’s just not happening for me right now.  There is a clog in my creative flow.

That’s my story at this time.

Maybe you have your own story.  Whether it’s illness, family obligations or the gods on Mt. Olympus having some sport, sometimes you just can’t build momentum.

And that’s a good time to step away from what you’re doing.  Take a rest.  Reconsider the urgency.

Creative flow will come back.

Eureka!  I have found it!

Steven Johnson, in Where Good Ideas Come From, The Natural History of Innovation, examined innovations throughout history to discern patterns.  Previously, Mr. Johnson has written in depth about the discovery process in The Invention of Air and The Ghost Map.   I had the chance to hear him speak last week and found him thoroughly engaging.  He is well steeped in the body of knowledge and its relevance to the innovation today.  Among Johnson’s insights:

The Art of the Slow Hunch

Innovations rarely come from the Eureka Moment.  Instead, significant breakthroughs are preceded by years of thought.  Johnson describes the slow hunch that is pondered and researched  over time.

The Value of Collaboration

Significant breakthroughs are often attached to a single name.  Yet, as Johnson poked about for the deeper story he found most Lone Inventors had a collaborator.  Joesph Priestly, the scientist who discovered oxygen, had Ben Franklin (yes, the Founding Father Franklin) as a collaborator.

Here’s an excellent summary from his publisher.

Give yourself 30 minutes to take an excursion while completely tuned to your senses.

To begin:

Formulate a question you want answered and then close your eyes.  Allow yourself 60 seconds of total relaxation and let the answer rise up.  Write down whatever comes–a feeling, an image, or a simple phrase.

Now, Take a walk.  Walking is a wonderful way to become centered, focused and calm.  Stop periodically to tune into your senses.  Here are your prompts:

Look. When a scene becomes too familiar you may stop seeing your surroundings.  Find another way to look.  Choose a view and let your eyes go soft.  Search for directional lines.  Seek out a certain color.  Observe how the light strikes a surface.  Look only at the shadows or negative space.

Smell. Your sense of smell has close connections with the parts of the brain that process emotion and make associations.  For that reason is is the most evocative of the senses–a mainline to memories.  Seek out the scents that have associated memories for you: the smell of cinnamon,  Mom’s perfume, play-doh.  Or breathe deeply and identify the scents of your current surroundings.

Listen. We tune out sounds to keep our sanity.  Yet, wherever you are, you are surrounded by sound.  What do you hear?

Touch.  Feel the nub of your sweater and the roughness of the concrete.  Sweep your hand over a smooth table.  Pet a dog or a cat and relish the soft, warm fur.  Close your eyes and attune to your sense of touch.

When you have completed your Sensory Stroll you might want to go back to your original question.  Now that you have had a chance to relax and allowed your brain to feast on new stimui you might have some new insights.

Or, you could just take a nap.