This exploration of innovative thinking in companies of all kinds "shows us how creativity in business can enrich us, and those who work with us." -- Spencer Johnson, co-author, The One Minute Manager
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Browse our Bookshelf Favorites store for big savings on popular fiction, nonfiction, children's books, and more. |
Book Description
Frequently Bought Together
Editorial Reviews
From the Publisher
This exploration of innovative thinking in companies of all kinds "shows us how creativity in business can enrich us, and those who work with us." -- Spencer Johnson, co-author, The One Minute Manager
From the Inside Flap
This exploration of innovative thinking in companies of all kinds "shows us how creativity in business can enrich us, and those who work with us." -- Spencer Johnson, co-author, The One Minute Manager
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images? |
More About the Author
Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
15 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Heuristics such as "Ask dumb questions", do what is only "easy, effortless, and enjoyable" might sound simplistic and trite, but this book has lots of substance and interesting annecdotes by a list of very credible individuals. It is many cuts above "Do What You Want and The Money Will Follow". Based on the Stanford University course on the art of success that started in the 80's," Creativity in Business" is much more than new age thinking. No rah, rah's here, just a personal glimpse at the reflections of some very successful and interesting people. I have read this book several times, and unfortunately, didn't have the courage or conviction at a younger age to realize how important it is to total well being to enjoy one's work. It is never too late.
Read this book. If you don't make great changes in your own life, at least you will enjoy reading about a group of successful innovative and creative thinkers. Much emphasis is put on intuition and instinct, the value of being naive, and forging onward without a definitive game plan. Passion and an instinctual trust in one's own abilitity to succeed, is a recurrent character trait of most of those interviewed.
Read this book. If you don't make great changes in your own life, at least you will enjoy reading about a group of successful innovative and creative thinkers. Much emphasis is put on intuition and instinct, the value of being naive, and forging onward without a definitive game plan. Passion and an instinctual trust in one's own abilitity to succeed, is a recurrent character trait of most of those interviewed.
22 of 24 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I was surprised at how much was captured in CREATIVITY IN BUSINESS. In my position I am constantly trying to be creative, both to share information and perspectives internally and to explain our strategy to the outside world. I have read other books on creativity and found new ideas here. I like the mix of stress reduction with common sense suggestions, such as "sense and see what is around you" and "ask dumb questions" which I still feel I can only do the first time I meet someone. The exercises are also helpful. The Stated-Goal Exercise reminds me of the "stalls" described in THE 2,000 PERCENT SOLUTION by Mitchell, Coles, and Metz. "Stalls" hinder creativity. Here's how. The Communications Stall means we are working with unclear messages and incorrect interpretations. The Disbelief Stall suggests that many do not believe they can be creative. The Tradition Stall says that we just keep doing things the same way. The Bureaucratic Stall tells us that we must still spend time doing unproductive activities like filling out forms. The Misconception Stall says that we are operating under poor assumptions, and The Unattractiveness Stall means that if something looks unpleasant, we do not want to look any further. As a meditator and someone who believes you do best what you are passionate about, giving yourself the space to create always leads to success. These stories and ideas helped me create the space. In addition to CREATIVITY IN BUSINESS and THE 2,000 PERCENT SOLUTION, which I highly recommend, Mr. Ray and Ms. Meyers also suggest other books to read in this area. Go ahead, read and create!
21 of 23 people found the following review helpful
By "mkuller"
Format:Paperback
When I picked up this book, I expected something more structured and similar to many of the other business books I've read. To my surprise, the authors have approached their subject by integrating Eastern philosophy into Western business. In my 25 years in business, I have experienced many of the concepts they mention, so it's reaffirming to understand some of the scientific explanations and similar experiences other successful business people have had. Business creativity requires this type of "out of the box" thinking. This is a terrific, mind-opening book - highly recommended.
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
By Daniel Crews
Format:Paperback
Calling this book Creativity in Business is about as accurate as calling the New York Times something like Sportsweek. This was a great book but it basically encompassed WAY more than its promised subject. Most of this book is about eastern philosophy and western physics as it relates to business. I didn't expect to get a chapter on the universe and my cosmic place in it and how to meditate to tap into it. If you have read anything by Thich Naht Hanh or the Dalai Lama you can skip this one. Otherwise, it's probably worth a read.
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
A collection of thoughts, insights, anecdotes, exercises and real life examples of applying creativity to business. If this is a structured approach, as the authors imply, the structure is hard to detect. However, the exercises are intriguing and the anecdotes are inspiring. Nice section on destroying the Voice of Judgment that shoots down creativity. I'm baffled by the other reviews that describe this as a "new age" or "occult" book. It is well-documented that creativity and intuition go hand-in-hand, but I guess this is just too esoteric an idea for most business people.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
This trailblazing book shows how to blend practical hard skills and creative intuition to achieve business accomplishment and personal fulfillment. A joy to read and incredibly inspiring, it is the best in a growing class of books on the art of success. The book, based on a Stamford University MBA course, shows how enlightened Stanford's business program is.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
There are lots of books about business. There are probably an equal number about creativity. This book is about creativity in business.
This book is the distillation of the course that Michael Ray and Rochelle Myers taught at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. It is theoretical. It is practical. It is wonderful.
The special delight of this book is the mixing of the theoretical and the research findings with the practical applications. The authors present us with points, then give us stories and examples from the world of business and underpinnings from the world of scientific and psychological research that help explain why the examples work.
If you are looking for a book to give you a quick, simple way to come up with creative ideas in business, though, this ain't it. This is a book that presents you with tools and some understanding of why they work, so that you can apply them in your life and in your business. The key to the book is the title of one of the very first chapters: "Business As Art."
To practice an art, you must be creative. You must go beyond the established norms and rules. But you must also master some craft. This book will give you an introduction to the craft of creativity, an introduction to the ways that you can make your creativity not only more effective, but more powerful as a transformer of your business.
This book is the distillation of the course that Michael Ray and Rochelle Myers taught at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. It is theoretical. It is practical. It is wonderful.
The special delight of this book is the mixing of the theoretical and the research findings with the practical applications. The authors present us with points, then give us stories and examples from the world of business and underpinnings from the world of scientific and psychological research that help explain why the examples work.
If you are looking for a book to give you a quick, simple way to come up with creative ideas in business, though, this ain't it. This is a book that presents you with tools and some understanding of why they work, so that you can apply them in your life and in your business. The key to the book is the title of one of the very first chapters: "Business As Art."
To practice an art, you must be creative. You must go beyond the established norms and rules. But you must also master some craft. This book will give you an introduction to the craft of creativity, an introduction to the ways that you can make your creativity not only more effective, but more powerful as a transformer of your business.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Why didn't I read this book 30 years ago?
All my life I've stumbled upon the wisdom contained in this book. How convenient it would have been if I'd read it in my youth! Read more
Published 22 months ago by Scrappy Kimberly Wiefling
5.0 out of 5 stars
A classic and well worth your attention
Customer Video Review
Length:
1:29
Mins
Published on April 26, 2010 by Jurgen Wolff
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great book!
This is a great book that will really open your mind to releasing the creative potential you were born with.
Published on February 20, 2010 by David N. Belousov
5.0 out of 5 stars
Don't let the boring title fool you
Jump in. If you are serious about changing your business (and personal) life for the better this book will help you do it. Read more
Published on February 2, 2009 by tomatoejane
5.0 out of 5 stars
A book about wisdom
Even though it was written over 20 years ago, this book still shines like a gem. The simple reason is that this book is about wisdom. Read more
Published on September 28, 2007 by Javad Khakbaz
5.0 out of 5 stars
stimulate your right brain
This was used in Stanford's MBA program, but even if you're not an entrepreneur, it's an invaluable tool to unlocking your creative powers. Read more
Published on February 6, 2006 by sparky_magic_rainbow
3.0 out of 5 stars
Not structured, but nice bits & pieces
A collection of thoughts, insights, anecdotes, exercises and real life examples of applying creativity to business. Read more
Published on July 2, 2001 by ratgirl ~( )8:>
2.0 out of 5 stars
Disappointing
Coming out of Stanford, I expected a solid book. Instead it's a new age, kind of occult book that I did not finish reading. Read more
Published on September 9, 1999
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
