“Think outside the box.” We’ve all heard this phrase, been told to follow its advice, and probably even instructed others to do so.  However, thinking outside the box is, in all actuality, a myth. It’s one of those things that’s been passed down throughout the years and repeated over and over again but that’s really a misguided idea. In this episode, I’m going to explain why. Tune in to learn what’s wrong with the phrase, “think outside the box” and what you can do instead to become a more...

Without even realizing it, you’ve used the creativity technique of division before. In fact, you’ve probably used it many times. When it comes down to it, division is simply taking a big problem, chopping it up, and solving each little individual part of it. It’s basically the application of the common phrase, “Let’s cut our problems down to size.” In this episode, I want to get into some of the details of the division technique. I’ll explain some of the deeper complexities of it that you...

How many times have you found yourself fumbling for the best way to describe something? Perhaps you’ve felt that no matter how clearly you’ve explained your subject, your description just doesn’t match the emotions you felt when witnessing it.  I’m here to tell you that creative writing doesn’t have to be your expertise in order to write compelling descriptions.  Today’s episode will walk you through a tip I discovered when writing my most recent book. As I was writing, I found it...

Have you ever wondered if certain creativity techniques are better to use in certain situations? If so, this episode is for you. As you know by now, creativity is a skill that anyone can learn. It is a structured process and involves using structured techniques. These techniques are patterns that mankind has used for thousands of years to create new solutions without consciously realizing it. They are embedded into the products and services we use and see around us every day. In this...

Let me ask you: which is more important, curiosity or creativity? Well, the truth is, that’s a trick question. As I’ve spent years studying the world of creativity, I’ve learned over and over again that curiosity is really a precursor to the creative act. The two go hand in hand. Throughout today’s show, I’m going to explain why this is. I’ll share why I’m learning to appreciate curiosity more than ever before and how it’s connected to creativity so intricately. Then, I’ll give you some...

What can doctors teach us about creativity? People in the medical field actually have a lot of knowledge and experience around innovation. Why? Because they deal with uncertainty daily.  Doctors often take risks and make decisions all in the face of uncertainty. To simply get their jobs done, they’ve got to get creative. In fact, uncertainty forces you to be creative. Today, I want to share some of my experiences from the medical device industry with you. I’ll explain some things I...

Imagine taking an exam that tests you on your creative skills. Then imagine your final grade in a graduate course rides on how well you do on that exam. That’s what my students at the University of Cincinnati have to go through every semester. I teach a course called “Innovation Tools” and teach my students a variety of methods for becoming more creative thinkers. I also teach them the same SIT method that I teach here on the podcast. Tune in to put yourself in my student’s shoes, take on...

Are you as creative in the virtual world as you are in person? This is an important question to be asking right now. The virtual world is taking over. More and more companies are going remote. You may even be working fully remote! We need to know if our creative output can remain the same online. An article recently came out that says it can’t. It asserts that your innovation abilities and creative skills decrease when you’re virtual. Today, I want to discuss this article and its...

We know that creativity is, simply put, the sudden collision of two previously unrelated things. However, have you ever stopped to think about what would happen if you combined two related things?  It just so happens that that is a fun little tool called fusion. Fusion is used by marketers, designers, artists, and all other kinds of creative people around the world. When you combine two related things, it turns out that something remarkable can result.  Today, let’s talk all about fusion...

As a professor, I’ve worked with people of various backgrounds and majors and given them career coaching. I’ve taught them what to think about as they leave college and enter their career.  Today, I want to do the same for all of you listeners. Whether you’re graduating college, new to the workforce, or changing careers, creativity is your best friend. So, in this episode, I’m giving you three pieces of advice on how to think about creativity and innovation when at this particular...

Attribute dependency is one of the most challenging creativity techniques to master. For many of us, it can be confusing to figure out what it means let alone apply it. However, in my opinion, it’s the most powerful creativity technique of all. We must get a good grasp on it so we’re able to use it confidently. Well, today’s your lucky day! There’s a new web app out that allows you to perform attribute dependency. Tune in and I’ll tell you all about it. In this episode you’ll hear: A...

I hate Post-it notes. No, that’s not true. I love them as a product. I use them nearly every day. What I do hate is how they are used as an example of innovation and creativity. To me, they set a terrible example of creative thinking. Tune in to learn some of the history of Post-it notes and why I don’t think they teach us any good lessons about creativity.  In this episode you’ll hear: Who invented Post-it notes and why. Why serendipitous products aren’t that creative. How the...

Ever said, “I’ll know it when I see it?” I said this recently to a salesperson in an art gallery. I wasn’t looking for anything in particular but knew that if there was something I really liked and was interested in, it would jump out at me. I’m sure you’ve done the same. Well, sometimes our judgments aren’t quite right. We may not be as good at assessing creative work as we think. In this episode, I discuss this and give some reflections on the matter that may surprise you. Join me! In...

It’s graduation season! College seniors are getting ready to walk that stage, receive their diplomas, and enter the workforce. As a new graduate, working on your creative ability is important. Being an asset to your company by generating creative ideas will make you stand out and leave a great impression on your new employer. In every challenge you encounter in adult life, being able to think about and attack those situations creatively puts you a step ahead of everyone else. Today, I want...

Success doesn’t mean doing everything perfectly. It doesn’t even depend on what you accomplish in life. Rather, success is based on how you overcome the challenges presented to you daily. In this episode, I want to teach you five ways to tackle the challenging problems you may be facing. This is called problem-solving.  Problem-solving is different from creativity. They are often intertwined but solutions don’t always have to be creative. Tune in to learn ways to change your thinking...

I always say “think inside the box.” However, this week, I want you to instead think inside the skyscraper! We’re going to take a little trip to the world’s tallest building and see what we can learn about creativity from it.  I recently had the opportunity to travel to Dubai and visit the world’s tallest building. I even went to the very top floor. That caused me to reflect on all skyscrapers have to teach us regarding creativity and creative patterns. Today, I want to share some of the...

Do you want to be a more creative person? Of course you do! Otherwise, you wouldn’t be listening to this podcast. There’s one thing that will make you a much more creative person: pattern spotting. Pattern spotting is when you take the time to analyze things you find creative. Then, you try to understand the underlying structure of those things and figure out why they’re creative. In this episode, we will talk all about pattern spotting while you travel. Airports are a neat venue where you...

There is an old saying that necessity is the mother of invention. Well, is that really true? Does necessity cause us to want to be more creative? You will find it out on our episode today! What if your parking ticket isn’t working because it’s defective and you get stuck in the parking lot? What would you do in this situation? That actually happened to me when I was traveling recently and the QR code in my parking ticket got smudged.  How can we then apply the systematic inventive thinking...

Water that follows the path of least resistance is the easiest route to arrive at its final destination. The same can be said about our minds, too, which tend to take the path of least resistance. In other words, we lean into taking avenues familiar to us.  However, most creative ideas come from following the path of most resistance, not the least resistance. The best innovators are those comfortable with recognizing and looking for the more difficult, tortuous path. This is why we need to...

Do you think of yourself as a creative person? In this episode, you're going to find out! Now, I’ve read a blog about the creative stereotypes or what a “creative person” looks like where the author looked at gender, individuality, beliefs, and upbringing.  Forget about the stereotypes. It doesn't matter how you compare to these so-called creativity stereotypes. And if you look at those stereotypes of creativity as your benchmark, then forget about it because it's not relevant.  At the end...

Do you think computers will be able to do creative thinking as humans do? The idea of artificial intelligence has been around for a very long time. And since then, it has been rising in popularity. But what are the limits to it? How far will technology go in taking over this important task?  You have probably been using technology to take over many things you're doing today. Think about robotics such as the robotic vacuum or a robotic lawnmower. Now, what would it take to have a machine or...

Welcome to Creativity Inside the Box, formerly Innovation Inside the Box. I started this podcast back in 2020 and I was talking about innovation broadly - how you get new products and services to market with a decidedly business-focus - but the podcast grew and evolved over the past two years.    This podcast really is all about you, though, and I want this to be like a one-on-one conversation where we get to talk about what I’ve learned in the 20+ years of working in the field of...

Is there a room or a space in your home where you think you are your most creative? If not, how do you then create a space that allows you to be your most creative self?  You've probably seen rooms dedicated to brainstorming as well as some people taking all those different efforts to create creative spaces.  Now, let's explore it in your own experience! There's no worse metaphor for innovation and creativity than the famous brainstorming room where you walk in and you see beanbags and...

Back in 2012, The New York Times released an article entitled “32 Innovations That Will Change Your Tomorrow.” It was basically a list of 32 different innovations which they predict will change the future. In today’s episode, let's turn the clock back and see how well they did as we look ahead from 2012 to today. Now the people in 2012 couldn't possibly have predicted this pandemic. Interestingly, a lot of the innovations in the list actually resonate with the context of today’s...