101 Tips on How to Become More Creative

Next time you are feeling particularly "uncreative," use these tips from Michael Michalko to change your usual mental thinking patterns.

1. Take a walk and look for something interesting.

2. Make metaphorical-analogical connections between that something interesting and your problem.

3. Open a dictionary and find a new word. Use it in a sentence.

4. Make a connection between the word and your problem.

5. How is an iceberg like an idea that might help you solve your problem?

6. Create the dumbest idea you can.

7. Ask a child.

8. Create a prayer asking for help with your problem.

9. What does the sky taste like?

10. Create an idea that will get you fired.

11. Read a different newspaper. If you read the Wall Street Journal, read the Washington Post.

12. What else is like the problem? What other ideas does it suggest?

13. What or who can you copy?

14. What is your most bizarre idea?

15. List all the things that bug you.

16. Take a different route to work.

17. Make up and sing a song about the problem while taking a shower.

18. Listen to a different radio station each day.

19. Ask the most creative person you know.

20. Ask the least creative person you know.

21. Make up new words that describe the problem. E.g., “Warm hugs” to describe a motivation problem and “Painted rain” to describe changing customer perceptions.

22. Doodle

23. What is the essence of the problem? Can you find parallel examples of the essence in other worlds?

24. Go for a drive with the windows open. Listen and smell as you drive.

25. Combine your ideas?

26. How can a bee help you solve the problem?

27. Write your ideas on index cards. One idea per card.

28. Give yourself an idea quota of 40 ideas.

29. What can you combine?

30. Can you substitute something?

31. Which of two objects, a salt shaker or a bottle of ketchup best represents your problem? Why?

32. What can you add?

33. What one word represents the problem?

34. Draw an abstract symbol that best represents the problem.

35. Think of a two-word book title that best represents the problem. E.g., if the problem concerns receptivity to change a suggested book title could be Involuntary Willingness.

36. Write a table of contents for a book about the problem.

37. Ask the person you like least for ideas.

38. What is the opposite of your idea?

39. Imagine your idea and its opposite existing simultaneously.

40. Daydream.

41. Draw abstract symbols to describe the problem.

42. Think out loud. Verbalize your thinking out loud about the problem.

43. List 20 ideas or thoughts into two columns of 10. Randomly connect ideas from column 1 to column 2. Combine the ideas to see what you get.

44. How would Abraham Lincoln approach the problem?

45. Write the alphabet backwards.

46. How would a college professor perceive it?

47. How would an artist perceive it? A risk-taking entrepreneur? A priest?

48. Imagine you are at a nudist beach in Tahiti. How could talking with nudists help you with the problem?

49. Can you find the ideas you need in the clouds?

50. Eat spaghetti with chopsticks.

51. Make the strange familiar.

52. Make the familiar strange.

53. What if you were the richest person on earth? How will the money help you solve the problem?

54. If you could have three wishes to help you solve the problem, what would they be?

55. Wear purple underwear for inspiration

56. Write a letter to your subconscious mind about the problem.

57. How would George Clooney solve the problem?

58. Forget the problem. Come back to it in three days.

59. Look at the problem from, at least, three different perspectives.

60. Imagine the problem is solved. Work backwards from the solution to where you are now.

61. How would the problem be solved 100 years from now.

62. Think about it before you go to sleep.

63. When you wake write down everything you can remember about your dreams. Next, try to make metaphorical-analogical connections between your dreams and the problem.

64. Imagine you are on national television. Explain your ideas on how to solve the problem.

65. What one object or thing best symbolizes the problem? Keep the object on your desk to constantly remind you about the problem.

66. List all the words that come to mind while thinking about the problem. Are there any themes? Interesting words? Surprises?

67. What if ants could help you solve the problem? What are the parallels between ants and humans that can help?

68. Create a walk that physically represents your problem.

69. Talk to a stranger.

70. Keep a written record of all your ideas. Review them weekly. Can you cross-fertilize your ideas?

71. How would an Olympic gold medal winner approach the problem?

72. Read a poem and relate it to the problem. What new thoughts does the poem inspire?

73. What associations can you make between your problem and an oil spill?

74. If your problem were a garden, what would be the weeds.

75. Change your daily routines. If you drink coffee, change to tea.

76. List your assumptions and then reverse them. Can you make the reversals into new ideas?

77. Make something that symbolizes the problem and bury it.

78. Draw the problem with your eyes closed.

79. Create a dance that represents your problem.

80. Mind map your problem.

81. Become a dreamer and create fantasies that will solve the problem.

82. Become a realist and imaginer your fantasies into workable ideas.

83. Complete “How can I _____?” Then change the words five different ways.

84. Suspend logic and think freely and fluidly.

85. Learn to tolerate ambiguity.

86. What have you learned from your failures? What have you discovered that you didn’t set out to discover?

87. Make connections between subjects in different domains. Banking + cars = drive in banking.

88. Immerse yourself in the problem. Imagine you are the problem. What would you feel?

89. What are the parallels between your problem and the Viet Nam war.

90. Hang out with people from diverse backgrounds.

91. Create a funny story out of the problem.

92. Make analogies between your problem and nature.

93. Imagine you are the opposite sex. Now how do you perceive the problem?

94. Force yourself to smile all day.

95. Use mashed potatoes to make a sculpture of the problem.

96. Sit outside and count the stars.

97. Walk through a grocery store and metaphorically connect what you see with the problem.

98. How would you explain the problem to a six year old child?

99. Cut out interesting magazine and newspaper pictures. Then arrange and paste them on a board making a collage that represents the problem.

100. Write a six word book that describes your progress on the problem. E.,g, "At present all thoughts are gray," “I am still not seeing everything.”

101. Still can’t find the answer? Buy a copy of Thinkertoys: A Handbook of Creative Thinking Techniques.  

*Read the full article by Michael Michalko HERE 

Tour de ORU + Tulsa

Many prospective students want to get a feel for the ORU campus and Tulsa as a city. We'd welcome you to contact us (gradbusiness@oru.edu) and set up a Campus Tour anytime!

In the meantime, check out our incredible new 360-degree virtual tour. You'll see everything from the Hava Java coffee shop and Prayer Tower on campus, to Utica Square, Philbrook Museum and the Riverwalk in Tulsa.

Enjoy a little taste of life as an ORU student!

Do What You Love & Love What You Do

It's Spring Break here at ORU.

Spring Break signifies the soon-coming life change many students will be facing: Graduation!

It's an exciting, scary and momentous time of life. As many of you will be commencing on life, consider these wise words from the innovative and brilliant Steve Jobs.

"You've got to find what you love.

The only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to LOVE WHAT YOU DO.

If you haven't found it yet, keep looking and don't settle.

As with all matters of the heart, you'll know it when you find it."

--Steve Jobs Commencement Speech to Standford University

May you always love what you do and never settle for anything less than life's best!

25 Festive Things To Do on Your Christmas Break

1. Sleep! We know you’ve had a long semester, so enjoy this season of R&R.

2. Christmas gift shopping – before Christmas Eve this year J

3. Hit up the gym to keep off any unwanted holiday pounds! Try a new Yoga or Spin class to spice things up.

4. Make a list of your favorite friends and family members and make a point to call them sometime over the Christmas break, even if only for 10 minutes!

5. Make exciting plans for NYE!

6. Send out Christmas cards to old friends

7. Finalize Registration for the Spring semester

8. Donate plasma to make some extra holiday shopping money! BioLife Plasma in Broken Arrow has a state-of-the-art, super nice facility, and they’re so friendly.

9. Buy textbooks for next semester

10. Dream & goal set for 2012

11. Get a haircut, manicure or massage – gotta look and feel your best for all those family photos and parties!

12. Read a few business books! If you need any suggestions, just ask Dr. Greene. Our current favorites? The Third Screen, Outside Innovation and Winning with People

13. Make homemade cookies and share them with your neighbors.

14. Go ice skating!

15. Visit a museum like the Philbrook – they currently have a beautiful Christmas tree exhibit that’s a must-see.

16. Volunteer at a local charity or your church. Give back this season and show Christ’s love in action!

17. Plan your summer vacation now and find the best deals! Cabo? Malibu? NYC?

18. Take a friend to see the Nutcracker Ballet. Tickets generally start @ $20 in the Mezzanine!

19. Treat yourself to Starbuck’s delicious Peppermint Brownie Cake Pop.

20. Make a snowman!


Merry Christmas everyone!

Merry Christmas from Santa Shark and the ORU College of Business!

Demonstrating an Entrepreneurial Mindset in the Workplace

Last night, a former ORU alum, Cassia Carr, spoke to the SIFE Entrepreneurial Club on how young professionals can demonstrate an entrepreneurial mindset, even in the corporate workplace.

Here are a few highlights!

Stuff doesn't just happen -- YOU make it happen.

Be PROACTIVE.

P = Positive Attitude. Next to results, this is the most important promotable metric! People are more interested in what you have to say when you are positive. A good attitude is the most effective witness in the workplace.

R = Responsibility. It IS your fault. But you CAN fix it! Taking responsibility is a sign of professional maturity.

O = Overachieve. Mediocrity MIGHT keep you in the job you have, but it will not promote you. Find the one thing you thrive while doing! Focus on your strengths, but don't ignore your weaknesses.

A = (Jump) All in! Get dirty - don't hesitate to jump all in. Understand what those under you deal with. Do something extra that may not be "your job" but betters the company. People will take notice and management will put you on their radar.

C = Cultivate relationships.

With customers: They need to see you as sincere and trustworthy. Find out what your customers’ goals are - and help them attain them. Ask and identify needs! Go to your clients with solutions to their problems.

With peers/ employer: It DOES matter what they think about you. Accept the positive AND negative feedback for them. Ask for advice from your boss. They hold the key to your promotion.

T = Time is Money! Think of every minute as a penny. You must prioritize your days.

I = Initiate change. Don't be afraid to try something different. Learn how things work first. New employees should have a slew of innovative ideas! Find out if your ideas have been done before. Evaluate the results...the good and bad. Share results with your peers. Be the go-to for ideas and creativity!

V = Vision. Catch your employer's vision. Know what the “Big Rocks” are for your company. This helps you to prioritize. Hab 2:2 - write the vision! Everything in the past is preparation for the future. Develop in every job you hold. Always remember your vision and purpose.

E = Everything in God's Will and Timing. Don't forget your ultimate purpose! Share the love of God every day. Romans 12 - stay in the Word daily. Don't define your identity by your success at work. Daily confessions are powerful! Speak success over your life and pray for the Lord’s wisdom.

A big thank you to Cassia for sharing with our students from her own experiences and successes. All the best to you as you continue to pursue greatness, Cassia!

10 Great Fall Date Ideas

Happy November!

Many students joke about the "Ring by Spring" romance that stirs during this season on the campus of ORU.

While the Grad Business students are incredibly busy with final class projects, presentations, exams and readings, we still make time for fun! And for some, even romance.

One of my favorite blog sites is "The Art of Manliness." As a female, I love to gain perspective and insight from a dude's point of view. This blog site is actually managed by a fantastic couple, and you'll enjoy their wit, relevant advice and humor as they tackle life issues such as relationships, health and wellness, careers, sports and family.

Today's highlight is on one of their recent articles entitled, "10 Great Fall Date Ideas." It was so fabulous I thought I'd share it in hopes of spurring a few ideas for yourself (for now or in the future). Enjoy!

Click here to read the blog article "10 Great Fall Date Ideas"