Imagination First : Unlocking the Power of Possibility

by Eric Liu; Scott Noppe-Brandon; Lincoln Center Institute

• ISBN13: 9780470600214
• ISBN10: 0470600217
• Format: eBook
• Copyright: 2009-10-01
• Publisher: Jossey-Bass

Summary

When imagination becomes habit, it can transform your work and your lifeThe best corporations know that innovative thinking is the only competitive advantage that cannot be outsourced. The best schools are those that create cultures of imagination. Now in paperback, Imagination First introduces a wide-variety of individuals who make a habit of imaginative thinking and creative action, offering a set of universal practices that anyone can use to transform their life at work, home, and play. These 28.5 practices will enable anyone to become more imaginative and to teach others to do so as well from corporate executive to educator to platoon sergeant. Bonus content includes Winning "practices" submitted by the public Guidelines for educators who want to cultivate creativity in their classrooms Expanded resource sectionThe book is filled with illustrative stories of creative leaders, teachers, artists, and scientists that clearly illustrate the original practices and new material that shows how to bring imagination to life.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments

Lincoln Center Institute

The Authors

The Premise

Introduction

What, Why, and How

The Practices

Make Mist

Ready, get still, go

Leave the Campfire

Know your enemy: it is you, scared

Flip What's Foolish

Make it wise to be foolish, and every fool will generate wisdom

Make Way for Awe

Nurture humility and the wonder that comes with it

Reinvent the Wheel

Be willing to give back the givens

Think Inside the Box

Make greedy, grateful use of limits

Hoard Bits

Collect obsessively; sift; trust that the right bits will emerge

Mix Your Metaphors

Change the metaphors that frame your reality

Renew Your Narrative

Ask whether your story still serves you

Untie Your Tongue

Talk about work with someone who doesn't understand it

Swap Bodies

Lose yourself in a role

Make a Gap

Obscure part of the picture

Finish the Story

Make the ending open-ended

hunk It

Show how small it all starts/

Don't Blink

Snap in slow motion; see how you get primed for decision

Cloud Appreciation

Search out ambiguity and sit with it

Spotlight Off, Lantern On

Trade sharp focus for full-field awareness

Play Telephone

Engage in meaning-laundering

Help Out a Boobonian

Make every task a quest

Teach Nonzero Math

Expand the pie before dividing it

Microexperiment

Test your hunches playfully

Rewrite History

Turn "what would've been" into "what could be"

Design for the Hallway

Let informal spaces thrive

Routinize Randomness

Regularly rinse out expectations

Ride the z-axis

Find elemental forms, then play with scale

Challenge Your Challenges

Find better problems

Break the Hand

Unschool yourself periodically

Yes and .

Never say no to an idea

Fail Well

Treat failure like a skill

The Purposes

Conclusion

Resources

Index

Table of Contents provided by Publisher. All Rights Reserved.