What We're Reading Now

20 March 2011

Rachel confirmed that The Art of Possibility: Transforming Professional and Personal Life by Rosamund Stone Zander and Benjamin Zander is still on her list of top books to fuel creativity. And she got a booster shot of inspiration in the process.

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It happens a lot. I'll be preparing to teach a class or facilitate a workshop, and as I'm putting together the materials, I find that the number of references that I want to share has grown (seemingly exponentially) since the last time I put together a resources list. Since I don't think anyone taking a class really needs or wants to add 50 books to the reading pile in one fell swoop, I usually find myself going through my list of classic standbys to see what books I can retire to make room for some new additions. And perhaps for no topic does this happen more frequently than creativity; the combination of growing attention in the business media, continued advances in our understanding of the brain, and my uncanny attraction to almost every new book on the subject means that I'm often working to refine my "best of the best" list.

Which brings me to today's book. With a Power of Ideas workshop coming up in a few days, I've been refreshing my materials and giving long-time resources a critical review to see whether they still belong. And I can say with confidence that the Zanders' Art of Possibility has earned its place for a long, long time to come. This modern classic is often referenced when people are discussing leadership. It often has a home on those tables in bookstores around college graduation time, right next to Dr. Suess' Oh, the Places You'll Go. And, truth be told, it's not really about creativity. Rather, it's a collection of ten little doses of inspiration.

Recognize that you color your reality with every breath, and choose to see a brighter alternative. Give yourself (and those around you) an 'A' even before you've earned it, and see how much better you perform when you're leaning into success. Participate fully and with abandon, and notice the impact it has on yourself and others. Don't take yourself very seriously, and find grace in unexpected places. Nowhere in these pages will you find a step-by-step guide to generating an idea or improving your musical skill (although Ben is an accomplished orchestral conductor, that's merely a backdrop for the lessons). But time and time again, I've watched people absorb these stories and walk away inspired and energized and, yes, better able to access their innate creativity.

More and more, researchers are finding that a positive outlook is one of the key drivers of generative output . . . there's a self-fulfilling prophecy that happens when we approach a problem with a cynical or defeated attitude. If we can get out of our own way, and with a little shot of inspiration from folks like the Zanders, we've all got more than enough creativity and problem-solving ability to get us through. And if you'd like some tips for the nuts and bolts of coming up with an idea, I'd be happy to help with that. Just give a holler.

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