Why I Blog

Last week a good friend and colleague asked me why I blog. It wasn’t a “what’s the point” kind of question but more of a “what keeps you going” query. He then pointed me to a great post along similar lines by Katya Andresen, host of “Katya’s Non-Profit Marketing Blog.” All of...

The Recycled Orchestra Jan14

The Recycled Orchestra

My very favorite element of the internet is the ability to share inspirational stories with others, and especially inspirational videos. I use that word “inspirational” with some trepidation. Often what’s labeled “inspirational” in our culture moves in the direction of sappy, happy, and Hallmarky (I know that’s not a word but you know what I mean). But I mean inspirational in the old-fashioned sense of where the word came from. “Inspiration,” like “respiration,” has to do with breathing, with breath. In fact, “in-spire” literally means “to breathe into.” And breath, of course, is connected to life. Hence, to...

The Connection between Time and Creativity

Creativity is in as high demand now as perhaps it ever has been. And I don’t just mean in marketing a product better or preaching a more interesting sermon. I mean that we need creative parents to raise healthy children in an increasingly complex world. We need creative political leaders to help move us beyond partisan gridlock to solve serious problems. We need creative business leaders who can run successful businesses while also putting the larger community and society along side of shareholders as persons to whom they are accountable. We need creative religious leaders who can help us imagine how faith speaks to us in a relentlessly...

Beyond Brainstorming

Ah, brainstorming. We’ve all relied on it at one time or another when we need to come up with fresh ideas. But does it work? If you’re anything like me, you’re probably pretty sure it does. Haven’t we all been taught, after all, that brainstorming is one of the most effective...

Schools, Factories, ...

Seth Godin is nothing if he is not one to push the boundaries. By nature or training or experience, he can’t help but challenge the conventional wisdom – about marketing, about leadership, and now about education. Earlier this year, Seth released a free ebook called Stop Stealing Dreams,...