Mag:OH:Zine for Stuck People

Photo Credit: Richard Chicoine iCopyright 2009

As Always, An Alphabetical "A"
Welcome to IdeA-Z, your mag-guide to strategies and creative solutions, break throughs for mind-boggling crunches and -guaranteed - finding the funny when you're stuck.
Each TUESDAY - your highest LEVERAGE day of the week (when you're most productive and alert!), IdeA-Z will showcase ways to get unstuck and unbogged. Let's just say, if you stay with me through to Z, your creative genius will be living with your creative muse. Now THAT's a partnership!
A = Alert
Being Alert is so obvious, you might not even notice when you're not. We'll cover the flip side - the Alpha State - where being oblivious becomes the strategy.
You might think that you see everything around you, all the time. Truth be told, you don't. Perception plays a huge role in how your brain connects old information to new, and ping pongs unrelated info in your thought channels. Your brain runs on limited energy (a 40 kw lightbulb's worth), so it tries to save energy by discarding ideas and knowledge as quickly as possible. Conscious Alertness increases your ability to perceive the world around you. Your thinking energy is focussed.
"Limited perception" is the number one reason that your creativity falls flat. Dis-Alert, Un-Alert, Non-Alert, Alert-less...lights on, no-one home...
Here's an example: take a really close look at the photo in this blog. Stare at it for a while. Notice anything unusual?
Hundreds of students walk through this University's stupendous building regularly. Do they see the reflections created to enhance the structure by the architect? Most don't... because their minds are tuned into other channels of thought. They take advantage of the "Function" of the buidling and miss the beauty - the "Form" - as it was originally imagined in the designer's own mind's eye.
Here's your "Creativity" homework assignment for today:
Go for a 10 minute walk. Outside. Stop by a leafy tree or kneel down on the grass. Find a spot - a 2x2 square - to stare at. As you look deeper and deeper, tiny details will emerge - life in the veins and the blades. It doesn't appear immediately. Or, try this: sit on a sidewalk. When is the last time you stopped to stare at an ant carrying a gigantic load?
You can apply the same method to solving a problem.

• Go beyond the surface information;
• challenge your perceptions about what's going on, and stop defending your own point of view.
• Look for the solutions from other directions. (What if you were the ant - what load would you be carrying - where? why? for how long?).
• The Alert State of mind brings you into the "now", and as you know, that's all you have: right?

Kids are Alert naturally. They pay attention to everything, don't they? They question, instead of relying on what they perceive to be true.
Link your childhood curiosity to your adult Alertness, and you'll find that your perceptions will expand. Solutions become more obvious...
Become A-LERT - we need more lerts!
See you next week for "ALPHA States"!
- Maggie
PS: Last week's photo: Yes, a Diner! Congrats to our Hawaiian winner.

We Are Naturally Off the Wall

Photo Credit: Richard Chicoine iCopyright 2009

Welcome Home!

You might have noticed that the lights were on, but no-one was home all summer. Yes, we took a break from the Blog and Twitter and Linkedin... but that's not to say we weren't productive!

The "we" isn't the proverbial royal "we"... my sidekick Richard - or am I his? - and I team up on a number of projects. That wasn't the plan when we were married 2 years ago. Rick retired as a most loved English and Math teacher, and basketball coach and then discovered photography. Funny thing, since I grew up in a photographer's family and spent most of my childhood Saturdays posing for my dad or hand-colouring portraits of brides. That too was a family affair.

So Rick takes great pride in displaying his latest shots, while I use my specialty - creativity - to fit a story to the picture he sends me each week for this blog as well as the Leadership Blog at www.xowhat.blogspot.com.

For the next few months, our focus will be on "how to do and be innovation". My background is in strategic systems thinking, where innovation and leadership reign. We're calling it "IdeA-Z".

We hope that these tips and examples will inspire and amuse you but most of all, help you to get unstuck or un-bogged or feeling like you can solve the problem another way.

Our self-portrait in this issue is an example of just being "off the wall" and doing something which most people wouldn't notice. If you look closely at the photo, you might notice a variety of "systems" at play.

If you can tell us where we posed for this photo (not the exact location, but what kind of structure), I'll not only stand and applaud you, but send a fave surprise by snail mail. Use the comment link below.

See you Tuesdays, and thanks for being "home" with us!

- Maggie

How Canada Savvy Are You?

Photo Credit: Richard Chicoine iCopyright 2009

Would You Pass the Canadian Citizenship Test for Immigrants?

Now there's a question that many Canadians have never been asked! We take so many aspects of our lives in Canada for granted.

Let's Test Your Knowledge of Canada

If you were to apply for Canadian Citizenship...

• 
  You would be asked questions on subjects such as:

The rights and responsibilities of a citizen
Canadian social and cultural history (for example, which three Aboriginal groups are recognized in the Constitution)
Canadian politics (for example, the names of the leaders of the major political parties) and
Canadian physical and political geography (for example, how many provinces there are and the names of their capital cities).

The book, A Look at Canada, would help you study for the test. Ask for a copy at your local library, or read it here:
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/publications/look/index.asp

Ready? Take the Sample Quiz....

To take a sample quiz, courtesy of the CBC, click on http://www.cbc.ca/news/becomingcanadian/self_citizen_quiz.html

Another version:

APNA Toronto, go here: http://www.apnatoronto.com/canadian-citizenship-quiz.html

En francais:

http://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/mul_ser_citizenship_fr_test.jsp

CELEBRATE YOUR CITIZENSHIP!

After passing the test, repeat this oath:

THE OATH OF CITIZENSHIP

"From this day forward, I pledge my loyalty and allegiance to Canada and Her Majesty Elizabeth the Second, Queen of Canada. I promise to respect our country's rights and freedoms, to defend out democratic values, to faithfully observe our laws and fulfil my duties and obligations as a Canadian citizen."

What does Canadian citizenship mean?

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/publications/look/look-03.asp

Canadian values include freedom, respect for cultural differences and a commitment to social justice.

We are proud of the fact that we are a peaceful nation. In fact, Canadians act as peacekeepers in many countries around the world.
Canada is a large country with a small population.

We have developed a unique federal style of government that is based on compromise and co-existence.

We value our democracy, and every citizen is encouraged to do his or her share.

Our laws are based on our democratic values.

Canadian values include:

• 
  Equality—We respect everyone’s rights.

Everyone has the right to speak out and express ideas that others might disagree with.

Governments must treat everyone with equal dignity and respect—two other fundamental Canadian values.
Respect for cultural differences—

We try to understand and appreciate the cultures, customs and traditions of all Canadians, whether they were born in Canada or came here from another country.

• 
  Freedom—As Canadians, we enjoy basic freedoms, such as freedom of thought, freedom of speech, freedom of religion and freedom of peaceful assembly.
• 
  Peace—We are proud of our non-violent society and our international role as peacekeepers.
• 
  Law and order—We respect democratic decision making and the “rule of law.”

We promote due process so that the courts and the police treat everyone fairly and reasonably.

We ensure that our elected governments remain accountable to Canadians.

As you reflect on these values, ask yourself which responsibilities you will take on when you become - or have always been - a Canadian citizen.

Happy Canada Day!