Think It! Cause It!

When you THINK of an idea, you need to CAUSE it.

Did the invention of the "Jesus Toaster" make the world a better place? Was it a good idea?

I do not know - and I am not putting it down. I have ideas daily, most of them pointless, some of them good. Learning how to sort through the junk and find the few gems is an important.

 Once you find the gems, how do you polish them? 

 The "Think Cause" tool can help you sort all this out.

Think Cause

"Think - Cause" is a mnemonic device.

• Truth
• Helpful
• Inspiring
• Needed
• Kind

• Centered
• Authentic
• Unite
• Simple
• Empower

Every idea is not a good one - I use this tool to help focus on the better ideas out of the field. Every good idea is not always expressed in the most effective manner - this tool can help you express the right ideas from the best perspective.

I use "Think - Cause” to determine which ideas might be useful and if the approach I am using is the best fit.

If you have an idea YOU need to cause it into existence.

Wishing it to be done does not work – and you can wait your entire life for someone to come and do what you think is “Not my job”.

• Make it your job!
• Get on it!
• Get it done!

What Does it Mean?

Truth - are the basic facts correct. Is the approach a fair representation?

Helpful - will this be helpful? Will this help me enjoy something else?

Inspiring - does this approach inspire one to action - or is it just a statement? Does the idea fill people with the urge to do something, does it motivate? Does it instill passion?

Needed - do we really need this? does it provide value to a level that is proportional to the difficulty? Did we really need the Jesus toaster? There is nothing wrong with levity - but at the same time I do want to make a meaningful difference.

Kind - is this using a loving approach and coming from a nurturing voice?

Centered - are you coming from your "Emotional Center"? Is this a response to stress that has you out of your normal thought space?

Take a moment to get back to your happy space and develop your thoughts. Do not allow yourself to fall victim to the "Amygdala Hijack".

 Authentic - are you speaking in your authentic voice? You can hide a bit within the written word - but if you need to speak or act upon your idea and you are not authentic it shows. You can establish this by referring to personal experience, using colorful examples, and making it personal rather than abstract. When you see something coming from some one's authentic voice you can tell instantly. Nothing turns me off to an idea like that comes from the "fake space" voice. 

Unity - does your idea bring the thinking of others together? or pull it apart? The best ideas and models combine and relate different camps rather than drive then further apart. Culture refers to the broad pattern of ideas, beliefs, and values held by a group - does your idea pull groups together and build Culture?

Simple - are you describing your idea in the most basic narrative? is this the simplest version of your concept. Keep it as simple as you can. Please look at my post on simplicity (this is a link to it).

 "I have just three things to teach: simplicity, patience, compassion. These three are your greatest treasures."

 Lao Tzu

Empower - does the idea empower others? Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day - teach him to fish and you feed him forever. Does it help people gain control over their own lives or their own work?. Empowerment is a process that fosters power and ability in people for use in their own lives by acting on issues they see  as important. Does the idea strive to teach people skills and knowledge that will motivate them to take steps to improve their own lives -- to be empowered?

Creativity as Skill (NOT GIFT!)

In the most basic sense "creativity" is the action of developing a new thing, a new idea, or a new way to complete a task. Here are a few thoughts.

1. Creativity is a skill you can develop - like learning to juggle.
2. You can become more creative through practice.
3. Having a coach can help you hone this skill.
4. There are methods that can help everyone improve this skill.
5. Working in teams can help - often using another person as a springboard is helpful.
6. There are hundreds of brainstorming methods - tons of book and articles available on line. It is worth learning about the body of knowledge.

Here is a great link to an article from Phycology Today.

Video On Creative Ability

Two Great Creativity Tests

Kellogg Creativity Quiz

Great Creative Energy Test

Surprised by your score?

Past Articles

Servant Leadership

Locus of Control

Creating A Happy Workplace

If you enjoyed this post, please share with everyone.

Thank you for the continuing positive feedback and letters.

I accept all invites so please join my network.

Tim

[email protected]

Tim Crocker currently is engaged with the SASOL LCCP Cracker Project in Westlake Louisiana as the Utilities and Infrastructure Manager LCF. During his 25-year career, he has worked on infrastructure development at BASF, Biofuels technology development with British Petroleum, and Utilities Management at Georgia Pacific and Domtar. His areas of expertise are Process Improvement (Kaizen), Steam and Power Generation, Water Treatment Systems, Chemical Recovery, Energy Management, Waste Treatment, and Performance Management. Tim received a BS in Chemistry from the University of Portland along with a second Major in Philosophy. Later he earned his MS in Paper Science Technology from the Institute of Paper Science in Atlanta, GA where he also served as student body president. Currently, Tim lives in the Moss Bluff community with his wife Cathy and daughter Yuri. They enjoy gardening, amateur astronomy, cooking, and model rocketry. He is enrolled in the Leadership Southwest Louisiana Program class of 2015.