Methods of the Masters

A blog on the art & science of creative action.

Creativity, Curiosity Jeremy Utley Creativity, Curiosity Jeremy Utley

Permission To Seek Diversion

Noodling on yesterday's post about Einstein's productive diversion, I found myself wondering: when is diversion NOT a waste of time? When is it the good kind of procrastination, and NOT the bad kind?

When, if you will, does one have permission to seek diversion?…

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Creativity, Curiosity Jeremy Utley Creativity, Curiosity Jeremy Utley

Love, or Curiosity

Yesterday I mentioned the importance of LOVE in driving a team to push beyond the competition in designing spectacularly lovable products. Paul Graham wrote a recent post ("Think For Yourself") that touched on this idea, at least superficially…

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Creativity, Curiosity Jeremy Utley Creativity, Curiosity Jeremy Utley

Playground Rules For A Junto

In case you missed the post from Thanksgiving Day (and who can blame you? Certainly not this guy, who allowed a guest post from a science fiction writer who died nearly 30 years ago), I wanted to underline one portion in particular, as it has special bearing upon an idea I mentioned earlier in the week: the rules of engagement that Ben Franklin laid out for his Junto. I’m more and more persuaded that such gatherings are an indispensable tool for individuals seeking to drive fresh thinking in their own unique context…

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Jeremy Utley Jeremy Utley

Seek Random Inputs

David Ogilvy said, “The majority of business men are incapable of original thinking because they are unable to escape from the tyranny of reason.” Here’s a highly effective means of escape.

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Creativity, Curiosity Jeremy Utley Creativity, Curiosity Jeremy Utley

A Confession...

I still remember the day I read my friend Charles O'Reilly's fantastic (and now award-winning) paper on the stages of disruptive innovation. He had asked me and Perry for comments on an early draft, and almost instantly, I felt like Neo…

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Jeremy Utley Jeremy Utley

A Reading List

I’m always getting asked for recommendations for books that have influenced my thinking about innovation. Here’s a not-comprehensive-but-close list of the ones I reference most…

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