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MESSAGE FOR WEEK BEGINNING 4th April 2005 FOCUSES
One of the projects I am pursuing through the World Cewntren for New Thinking is a focus project. The idea is to invite each member country in the European Union to send two representatives to the Centre for a meeting that would draw up a focus list or agenda of 'areas that might benefit from new thinking'.
Such areas might include pensions, juvenile crime, entrepreneurship etc. Once this agenda for focuses is in place then it becomes possible to set up task forces and conferences around the different focuses.
Having a focus is a key part of the creative process. Many people sit around saying, "I am very creative, now what shall I be creative about?" In organisations I recommend a formal 'Creative Hit-list' to make focuses visible and available to everyone.
The Hit-list should never consist only of problems. One of the key mistakes of creativity - and thinking in general - is to believe that it is all about 'problem solving'. Some of the most valuable thinking is not about problems at all but about improving or changing concepts and ideas which have always been considered adequate - or even excellent.
Edward de Bono nmt |