The Houdini Solution Why Thinking Inside the Box is the Key to Creativity

by Schenck, Ernie

• ISBN13: 9780071462044
• ISBN10: 007146204X
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-10-05
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill Education

Summary

Transform the shackles of conformity into the tools for generating amazing, unconventional results Houdini performed his greatest tricks within the confines of a box. Now one of the advertising industry's brightest and most innovative stars shows you how to do likewise: to use the power of thinking inside the box to unleash the power of innate creativity.Who hasn't been extremely creative when boxed into an exceedingly tight deadline or budget? The Houdini Solution introduces a radical theory of how to generate more focused and powerful ideas by accepting, and even thriving on, constraints instead of being controlled by them. Filled with inspiring anecdotes and intriguing exercises that will yield surprising results, this book will spur you on to unleash the full power of your creativity, work magic in the workplace, and succeed beyond your wildest dreams. Key features Presents an innovative strategy for fostering creativity that anyone can apply to both work and personal life Schenck has done groundbreaking advertising work for Royal Caribbean Cruise Line, United Airlines, Dreamworks SKG, Volkswagen, Saturn, Sony, and many other brands Schenck's spot for John Hancock 'Sarajevo,' was an Emmy Award nominee for best commercial of the year

Author Biography

Ernie Schenck is cofounder of the advertising agency Pagano, Schenck & Kay and also a columnist and contributing editor for Communication Arts magazine.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	p. vii
Why Thinking Outside the Box Isn't the Answer for Most People	p. 1
You See a Wall; Houdini Saw an Opening	p. 9
Padlocks, Chains, and Straitjackets: What's Stopping You from Thinking Creatively?	p. 25
It's Easy to Drown When You're Afraid of Drowning	p. 53
He's Been in There for Three Minutes! The Power of Deadlines	p. 69
Creativity and the Straitjacket of Money	p. 87
The Lobsterman and the Lexus	p. 109
Thinking Inside the Toy Box	p. 127
Houdini Didn't Invent Magic; He Reinvented It	p. 147
What? You Thought There Wasn't Going to Be Homework?	p. 165
Afterword	p. 219
Index	p. 223
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