• Introduction
• CEOs Are Asking for Creativity
• How Do I Find A Creative Expert?
• What Is Creativity?
• Why Is Creative Thinking Important?
• The Creative Thinking Process
• Is Creativity Logical?
• Key Myths About Creativity
• The Paralyzing Power of Previous 
   Perceptions
• How the Mind Works
• How Does Your Experience Affect
  Creativity?
• Why Are We So Critical?
• The Mind Has A Creative Immune System
• The 10 Mental Blocks To Creativity
• 1. One "Right Answer"
• 2. Logic Can Kill Creativity
• 3. Be Creative - Break Some Rules
• 4. Be Creative - Is That Practical?
• 5. Play is Creative
• 6. Make Time To Think Creatively
• 7. Being Creative Is "Not My Job"
• 8. Don't Be Afraid To Be Creative
• 9. Creativity...How Ambiguous
• 10. Is Creativity Wrong?
• Think Creative
• The Sly As A Fox Toolkit
• Brainstorming Rules
• Idea Rockets
• "Senseable" Creativity
• Random Creativity
• WBF
• All Factors Involved (AFI)
• All Possible Alternatives (APA)
• Other's View (OV)
• Challenge Accepted Concepts
• Best Problem Definition
• Provocation
• Combination Creativity
• Conclusion
• About The Author
• The Sly As A Fox Workshop -
   Bring Creative Thinking To Your Company

4. Be Creative – Is That Practical?

A close cousin to being too logical in the creative thinking process is being too practical. This doesn’t have a place during the creative process either. If you get bogged down in your next creative brainstorming session, pose the question “What if [ ]? Fill in the [ ] with anything you want – the purpose is to get you moving through the creative process again.

Let’s assume you have a problem keeping a cleaning solvent within specifications. Ask “What if [ ]?”

This technique will keep your group’s creative juices flowing and allow new innovative ideas to surface.

Another technique is to simply ask, “How would others solve this problem?”

To get another creative angle on it you can play the role as if you are the idea or product. How would you solve this database problem if you were the computer? Some very creative ideas can surface from role-playing.

Being both practical and logical during the creative process is a no-no. There is plenty of time for that later. Another of my favorite Van Oech quotes is, “Be an artist before you are a judge.” I read that quote years ago and remember it well and use it often. This kind of mindset can get you to think out of the box.

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