Category: Brainstorm

Although negativity most often affects the brainstorming part of the creative process, it’s equally destructive in the last stage – the merchandising phase – when you’re packaging and selling the

To suggest that you can switch off someone’s negativity is a bit like telling someone to stop smoking cigarettes. It’s an easy comment for a non-smoker to make, but a

As someone who’s spent a lot of time in or conducting brainstorms, here are the most common reasons why we are negative. (Frankly, some of these people don’t even need

There’s an old phrase from Winston Churchill that perfectly sums up for me how negativity affects creativity. You will never reach your destination if you throw stones at every dog

This post is the third and final in a series on Finishing a Brainstorm, focusing on Verifying. The two other posts are Clarify (#1) and Amplify (#2). Also, this topic is

This post is the second in a series on Finishing a Brainstorm, focusing on Amplify. The two other posts are Clarify (#1) and Verify (#3). Also, this topic is parallel to

There’s more to finishing a brainstorm than simply calling the meeting to an end. The last 15-20 minutes should be devoted to wrapping up a brainstorm in three steps. Use

This post is the first in a series on Finishing a Brainstorm. Its original title was “Clarify” (as in clarify the creative criteria), followed by two subsequent steps: Amplify and Verify. Also,

Without agreement on specific creative criteria, the repetitive ailment of creative churn sets in. Once for a New York client, we presented our best strategic plan for a networking opportunity.