Improve Your Life with Curiosity (Natalie Nixon) #118

Today we are going to talk about how you can get better results in life and business by activating your creativity.

I first became aware of this concept when my book ON FIRE made a must read list by The Business Journals along side the book of today's guest, Natalie Nixon.

Natalie's book is called Strategic Strategic Design Thinking. Today, you'll learn how this concept will help you live more inspired.

SHOW NOTES:

• We don't understand creativity; that's why we don't use it.
• Be curious. Humble yourself to ask for help: "How would you approach this?"
• Using the phrase "How might we?" shifts the onus of expertise. It is inclusive, focusing on a process, not solution.
• Natalie referenced Warren Burger's book A More Beautiful Question.
• Asking questions does not = ignorance. Cultivate an environment where you can ask questions - at the dinner table, etc. - lead by asking questions. 
• See Natalie's Ted Talk on the 7 Ways to Improvise at work here.
• Embrace mistakes + errors. In jazz there is no such thing as a mistake, if you accidentally play the wrong key you figure out in the moment how to build on that - how to make it seamless.
• Convert an "error" into something new. Don't dwell on it or make it larger than it needs to be.
• Check out Natalie's essays on Inc.com here.
• Get better at accepting failure. Have a practice that is unrelated to your work, where you are constantly having to learn.
• What can you do to become more creative? Be curious. Creativity is grounded in curiosity.
• Creativity starts with asking better questions.
  • Why?
  • What if?
  • How could we do it / put it into action?
• Rigor cannot be sustained without wonder. 

NATALIE NIXON'S LIVE INSPIRED 7

1. What is the best book you’ve ever read? In Search of Satisfaction and A More Beautiful Question.

2. What is a characteristic or trait that you possessed as a child that you wish you still exhibited today? Audacity and day-dreamy-ness.

3. Your house is on fire, all living things and people are out. You have the opportunity to run in and grab one item. What would it be? An old black + white photograph of my parents in a photo booth. They're so beautiful and young and when I see that picture I just see the beginnings of me.

4. You are sitting on a bench overlooking a gorgeous beach. You have the opportunity to have a long conversation with anyone living or dead. Who would it be? Harriet Tubman, my grandmother who I was never able to meet, people who are long gone. 

5. What is the best advice you've ever received? Keep on keeping on, persevere... from my dad. And also, "please and thank you" will set you apart one day.

7. It’s been said that all great people can have their lives summed up in one sentence. How do you want yours to read? She was brave before she was masterful.

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