You wouldn’t think that stacking glasses together is a big deal, but in the restaurant industry, it is . And it’s not so much stacking them that is the issue, it’s taking them apart once they’ve been put together.
We often think of good design as being glaringly obvious. In fact, like these tumblers
Good design is often transparent.
These tumblers may seem simple, but clever design elements have been incorporated to solve issues before they happen.
On the inside, you’ll notice three plastic ridges running vertically starting at the bottom running up along the walls for a couple of inches.
This simple, molded feature allows the tumblers to neatly stack inside each, wet or dry,without them adhering together.
For most, this feature goes unnoticed. Yet, it brings value to the restaurant in that it addresses issues of storage, transportation, and processing of wet and dry tumblers en masse.
Thoughtful designs like these inner tumbler ridges permeate our world, though they frequently go unnoticed.
“I always say that I don’t believe I’m a chef. I try to be a storyteller.” -Chef Jose Andres
Renowned Chef Jose Andres compares his craft to storytelling. it’s not just about food preparation.
There’s a lesson in this for corporate innovation: the most successful products tell stories and cast the customer as the hero.
Think of Apple. Its brand story doesn’t glorify the iPhone’s features as much as it spotlights how customers use the device to enrich their lives. The customer’s journey is the narrative. This makes them feel empowered and simultaneously connected to the brand.
Innovators should recognize that while products have their own stories, ultimately, the customer must be the protagonist.
Don’t just sell features and benefits.
Craft experiences that enable customers to write their own compelling stories through your offerings. Empower them to overcome obstacles, transform their workflows, achieve goals.
Chef Andres immerses diners in culinary theaters. Corporate innovators likewise should orchestrate experiences where customers become active participants in their own stories, not passive consumers.
Product experience becomes part of a transformational personal journey.
Innovations provide us a means for authoring our own life stories and the product is the supporting actor.
When corporations embrace this mindset, they create lasting connections through shared narratives.
What are your true limits when you know Infinite Source dwells in you? Embrace the vastness within you and live boldly.
You are the universe in ecstatic motion… Life, all Creation, lives, breathes, and pulses, and you are its unique expression. Dance with Joyful abandon
Set your life on fire… Burn away the dead wood of old habits and limiting beliefs. Ignite your passion and purpose. Shine your light fully and fearlessly!
When it comes to brainstorming, many assume that bigger groups are better. More minds ideating together should spark greater innovation, right?
Wrong.
Research shows that smaller groups of just 1-2 people actually outperform larger groups when generating ideas.
Why is that?
In big brainstorming sessions group dynamics can hamper creativity. Not everyone shines in a large crowd. Plus, the energetic vibe makes it seem like the session is successful, even if it’s not.
We forget that at its core, brainstorming involves individuals sharing creative ideas – an intimate act of courage and vulnerability.
The key then is to give people space to feel comfortable with themselves and their ideas.
Let people brainstorm solo or in pairs first, without pressure to perform on a stage. This allows them to generate ideas without fear. Then, open it up to the full group to build on those initial concepts. After that, if you want, you can send people back to brainstorm alone again, their heads pollinated with the ideas of the group. This layered approach produces higher quality, more varied ideas.
Try it- You may be pleasantly surprised by the results!
******* As someone passionate about creativity, I’m happy to facilitate and/or join your brainstorms. In one-on-one or larger sessions, we can get those ideas flowing freely. Then, we’ll bring our concepts together and see where they lead. Please reach out if you’d like to design an effective brainstorming process tailored to your goals. I look forward to sparking new ideas and innovation! *******
Creativity is a highly valued skill in the 21st century, but sometimes harnessing it seems elusive.
However, there is a natural way to boost your creativity by tapping into the power of anandamide, a brain chemical that has been dubbed the “bliss molecule”.
Anandamide is one of the endocannabinoids, compounds that are produced by our own body and act on the same receptors as THC, the psychoactive ingredient in cannabis. Anandamide goes hand in hand with the state of flow, the state of optimal focus and performance where you feel fully immersed and engaged in what you are doing.
Research shows that flow states are linked to increased creativity, learning, and problem-solving. And not just while you’re in flow. The effects of flow are felt long after the flow event.
So how does anandamide come into the creativity equation?
According to Steven Kotler, a leading expert on flow and author of “The Rise of Superman” and the “Art of Impossible”, anandamide works by opening up more lateral thinking, deepening access to data in our brains, allowing us to make connections between seemingly unrelated concepts (creativity!)
Anandamide also improves mood, memory, appetite, and pain perception, making us feel happier and more relaxed. This reduces stress and anxiety, which are known to inhibit creativity.
So how can you increase your anandamide levels?
Chocolate
Yes, chocolate – darker chocolate to be precise.
It contains small amounts of anandamide and other compounds that prolong its effects in the brain. But not all chocolate is equal. Choose dark chocolate with at least 70% cacao content, which has more antioxidants and less sugar and fat than milk or white chocolate.
The optimal dose of dark chocolate for health and creativity benefits is around 40 grams (about 1.5 ounces) per day, according to some studies. Some say it’s better to consume before and during creative tasks. Try and see what works best for you. There are worse experiments you can do 😁
Now, if you are anti-chocolate, you can also meditate or exercise outdoors. Both of these activities decrease stress, increases your anandamide levels, your mood quality, memory, and lateral thinking.
But it seems to me that dark chocolate is something that is easier (and tastier) to work into our daily schedules. Plus, you can share the gift of cacao creativity with friends and colleagues. 😊
When interacting with people from different backgrounds, it’s crucial not to assume “common sense” is universal.
What’s obvious to some may be unfamiliar to others based on their distinct experiences.
For example, countersteering is a motorcycle technique where you turn by leaning in a preferred direction and steering the handlebar in the opposite direction. This maneuver would seem counterintuitive to non-riders, though it’s second nature to bikers.
Similarly, the habit of scanning the ocean for rip currents is everyday common sense for frequent beachgoers. Yet inland residents would not have an intuitive grasp of this safety ritual.
In essence, “common sense” depends greatly on one’s context.
By recognizing diverse perspectives exist, we can avoid erroneously believing something is self-evident to all. Curiosity about how others think fosters open-mindedness.
On the other hand, presuming common sense across contexts risks miscommunication and judgment.
Understanding our fellow human beings requires appreciating that common sense is not so common across contexts. This is crucial in the design world.
When creating products and experiences, designers must account for people’s varied mental models, not treat “common sense” as universal.
Taking context into account results in more inclusive, intuitive designs rather than assuming one-size-fits-all “common sense”.
Research has shown positive emotions (and positive self-talk) can result in lowered self-consciousness and an altered perception of time – two key components of the flow state. Because of this, positive self talk can actually set the stage for us to achieve flow.
In contrast, when we are focused on ourselves and cutting ourselves down with negative talk, doubting our abilities, flow becomes elusive to achieve.
Elusive, not impossible…
So how can we shift our self-talk away from the negative?
Try these tips for getting into the right head and body space for flow:
– Practise mindfulness and meditation. Don’t focus on the negative thoughts and don’t speak them aloud. Watch them without judgement and let them go.
– Write down your negative thoughts. Then burn the paper, bury it, shred it and cast it upon the wind or in a river. Getting the thoughts out diffuses their power.
– Listen to an uplifting song or inspirational podcast. Use music to change your emotional state.
– Take a walk outside. Exercise. Get moving to release endorphins and that will help release the grip of negativity.
– Remember a time you were in flow, a championship moment. Feel it, re-live it.
– What if no Champion moment comes to mind? Visualize doing something you love, being in flow. Picture yourself engrossed, fully focused, and succeeding.
– Knock out a quick task. Don’t judge yourself for doing something small. Just start. Momentum builds as you get things done.
The goal of all these techniques is to prime your system, turn your state of mind around and create the right conditions for flow. (Or at least start breaking down barriers to flow)
With practice, you’ll get better at non-negative self-talk. It might not be easy- the thicker the wax, the longer you need to hold the flame to it. But at the core of your creative nature, you are a beautiful glowing light.
ZenStorming 