Recently I had the privilege of delivering my third commencement speech. I love graduation ceremonies and what they symbolize: achievement, overcoming adversity, reaching the next level.

Addressing thousands of graduates is a daunting task. With only a few minutes to impart some lasting wisdom, what message would you deliver? I decided to share the 11 principles that have guided me since I wore that graduation robe many moons ago.

In preparing my remarks, I realized that these nuggets didn’t just apply to freshly minted grads; they apply to us all. These are the principles I live by and the philosophies that have enabled my own success. Here’s my advice for graduates, dropouts, young guns, and seniors alike:

1. Put Passion First – People will constantly tell you what you “should” do. Instead of doing what others expect, follow your dreams and your heart. You’ll be much happier, and you’ll make the world a better place too.

2. Build Your Creativity Muscle – This will be your most important skill, and it will allow you to thrive and win. Develop your creativity early and often – it will pay off big-time.

3. Don’t Stumble Over Something Behind You – Regret is the worst human emotion, since you can’t do a thing about the past. You’ll make lots of mistakes, which are nothing more than the portals of discovery. Fail fast, learn, and move on.

4. Leave it Better than You Found it – Every interaction, meeting, project, game, and relationship leaves you with a choice. You can add value or remove it. Do the right thing instead of the easy thing. You’ll be glad you did.

5. Reject Limits – Break free from limits that others try to impose on you. Your ideas, creativity and potential are nearly limitless. Reach for the edges.

6. “Do or Do Not, There is No Try” – This is a quote from Star Wars’ Yoda. Simply put, commit to your dreams and do whatever it takes to reach them.

7. Playing it Safe is Irresponsibly Dangerous - The history books never talk about people that lived small. Those that take risks, shatter complacency, and create their own future are the ones that make the biggest difference. Make your own mark, and never let fear hold you back from your true potential.

8. Embrace Change – The world will continue to change at breathtaking speeds. Those that get locked into one way of thinking get passed by. Standing still is the beginning of the end, so always stay ahead of the curve.

9. Be Appreciative and Humble – Einstein once wrote, “You can live each day as if everything is a miracle, or as if nothing is.” True ‘dat!

10. Be a Lifelong Learner – Continuously sharpen your mind and devour knowledge. Learning constantly will enable success in every area of your life.

11. Have fun! – Life is meant to be savored. Enjoy every sip, sound, and bite.
We all face many challenges, which is why a few guiding principles can serve as a helpful North Star. Play you biggest game and seize the enormous opportunity that’s waiting for you.

No tassel or funny hat required.

I recently spent some time laughing hysterically while playing board games with my kids. There’s nothing better than watching a kid unleash an enormous laugh, is there? It got me thinking about the many things we can learn from child’s play that apply directly to our lives today as hard-driving, world-conquering, eat-nails-for-breakfast adults:

1. You Need a Challenge. With nearly every game ending in a tie, the primitive and simple game of tic-tac-toe gets old in about three minutes. That’s because human growth and fulfillment come in the midst of challenge. “A smooth sea never made a skilled mariner”, the English proverb states. We are meant to take on complex challenges, gaining confidence through achievement. If you are feeling stretched, this is a good sign and indicates you are becoming stronger and more powerful. Conversely, if you find yourself punching the clock and mastering your surroundings, it’s time to push yourself to a more challenging game.

2. Listen to Your Instincts. Remember the game “You’re Getting Warmer” where one kid is blindfolded and has to find another. With each step, the other kids chant “you’re getting warmer” or “you’re getting colder.” Try playing this game by yourself. It turns out we have an incredible ability to tap into our own intuition if we simply listen. When you make various choices in life, your instincts tell you if you’re getting warmer or colder. Deep inside, you know if your moves are driving you closer to your life’s vision or if your choices are destructive and luring you away from reaching your potential. Kids listen to their intuition, but we adults often fail to hear.

3. Playing the Game is the Fun Part. Imagine you’re “it” in a game of hide-and-seek, but when you open your eyes everyone is in plain sight. Sure, you “won” the game but it certainly wasn’t enjoyable. As adults, we are often so focused on future outcomes that we fail to savor the moment. In the midst of the game with the rush of uncertainty, we find joy and delight. When the game is over, kids insightfully say, “let’s play again!” It’s time to start enjoying the journey instead of postponing our happiness.

4. It’s Best When It’s Your Turn. Every kid wants to go first because they get to be the active driver of their experience. Knowing this, why do so many of us relinquish our power and allow life to happen “to” us? Studies show that happiness at work is often linked to jobs where individuals have more autonomy. Of course, this same principle goes far beyond our careers. We’re wired to be the architects of our own existence, not the subjects of others. In an era with nearly limitless possibility, there’s no reason you shouldn’t be calling your own shots.

In today’s turbulent times, many of us are in a state of imbalance, stress, or even panic. Yet sometimes the most potent insights are right in front of us. As my 14-year-old son likes to tell me, “get your head in the game, Dad.”

Go ahead. It’s your turn to spin the wheel.

When the space shuttle takes off, it burns two-thirds of its fuel in the first 20 minutes. The remaining supply is ample for up to two weeks of continued flight. It takes tremendous force to bust through the gripping constraints of gravity.

When you embark on your own journey, gravity has the same impact. Launching a business, writing a book, completing medical school, or rebuilding broken communities can be daunting tasks. Unless your only dream is to get a tan and hit the mall, you’ll be faced with an intense gravitational pull designed to hold you back. It’s there to test your resolve and give you an opportunity to show how much you really want it.

So how can you slay this dragon? Having studied elite leaders in many disciplines, I’ve noticed some common threads. Here’s how the most successful people slingshot Newton’s law into the stratosphere, and what you can do to defy gravity:

1. Purpose – Start with “why.” Having a purpose that is consistent with your values and overall life-plan will become your North Star. It will help you persist in the darkest hours of your journey, and help you enlist the help of others when you share it freely.

2. Vision – Imagine trying to do a 1000 piece puzzle without looking at the box cover. Ouch. Having a clear picture in your mind of your desired outcome will enable you to manifest it efficiently.

3. Focus – An ancient Chinese proverb states, “Chase two rabbits and both will escape.” It’s easy to get distracted, but those who achieve the most are able to lock their sights with laser-beam accuracy on their vision and purpose.

4. Discipline – This isn’t the easy part and it’s what most often separates champions from also-rans. The bottom line: if you behave with relentless commitment, your odds of success increase geometrically. This means daily habits that crescendo into your big goal. Through grit and determination, your potential is nearly limitless.

5. Creativity – In today’s world of dizzying speed and exponential complexity, you’ll need to continuously adapt and refine your plan. Creativity will be your most powerful weapon in conquering adversity. You must constantly challenge conventional wisdom and remain obsessed with finding better ways to run your race.

The good news is that once you blast through life’s gravitation pull, your momentum will ease the struggle. After putting some early points on the board, you’ll build a reservoir of confidence that will boost your resolve when challenges emerge.

Human beings have figured out how to fly airplanes faster than the speed of sound, build 160-story skyscrapers, and land rovers on Mars. You have enormous opportunity to defy gravity and seize your own dreams, no matter how lofty they may be. It all begins with a single spark of gravity-defying effort.

Let the countdown begin.

After I graduated college, I launched my second business – Innovative Computer Solutions. We sold computer hardware and provided networking and other computer-related services. After 11 months of business, I was doing well. But as Jim Collins likes to say, “Good is the enemy of great.”

In 1994 the computer world was in the midst of massive upheaval. And an introspective look in the mirror revealed a company that was on the path to mediocrity. I was making money and winning clients, but our products and services were a commodity. A me-too player. And let’s face it… the world doesn’t need another me-too player. The world doesn’t need another me-too anything.

So with less than one year of operations, I decided to sell a business that appeared to be full of success and promise. This was a hard decision, since the business was making money and growing rapidly. But I knew that it wasn’t my destiny. I knew that I needed to let go of one opportunity in order to seize a bigger one.

Letting go is never easy, especially when things are “okay.” Many people find themselves in “okay” jobs, “okay” relationships, and living “okay” lives. It takes boldness and courage to let go of the known to pursue the wonder and magic of what’s possible.

As human beings, fear often immobilizes us and keeps us grounded to the “okay.” But then we eventually look back – filled with regret that we never went for it. Never took that big risk. Never chased down our true potential. We end up playing it “safe”, only to realize that playing it safe is the riskiest move of all. Because playing it safe gets in the way of your real trajectory and robs you from reaching new heights.

We all have “to do” lists. What would be on your “letting go” list? What are the things you need to release in order to make room for the new? What are you clinging to out of habit or perceived safety that has lost its enduring value?

Sometimes, you simply need to let go. You must let your own grit and determination become your new safety net. And in the process, you’ll make room for the possibilities while liberating your spirit.

Get this – Apple, Inc. now has more money than the US Government. According to a report in the Financial Post this week, the U.S. operating balance now stands at roughly $73.8 billion compared to the $75.9 billion of cash that Apple has on hand. How is it possible that the tech giant has more money that the world’s biggest economic superpower?

We can debate debt ceilings and policy all day long, but something still strikes me here. A company that started the same year our nation was celebrating her 200th birthday is now in a stronger financial position than its home country.

How is it that a single company can become so successful, and in turn change the lives of millions of people around the world? How can a company become not just a financial powerhouse, but also an icon of innovation, design, and culture?

Jobs and team have built something much more special than a cash-creation machine. As Steve likes to say, they have truly put a “ding in the universe.” Their success isn’t rooted in number crunching, cost cutting, or audit controls. No trick-the-customer, deal-of-the-day, or Wall Street gaming. Rather, they’ve built an enduring brand and culture that is now recognized as the most valuable tech company in the world.

Here are five lessons from Apple that we can all embrace to drive success in our companies, careers, and communities:

1. Shatter Conventional Wisdom. While some ‘fraidy-cat executives cower at thought of straying outside the lines, the folks at Apple live to disrupt. They don’t waste their valuable brainstorm sessions on driving .21% incremental margin or extracting costs by using cheap materials. Instead, they direct their energy toward changing the world.

2. No Limits. In our fear-based society, we often gravitate to all the reasons something can’t be done. So often, we let imaginary barriers restrict us for reaching our true potential. Not Apple. They refuse to be derailed and let those seemingly insurmountable challenges drive their cause instead of squash their dreams.

3. Innovation Wins. The culture at Apple celebrates the risk takers. The dreamers. The creators. They realize that creativity and innovation are the lifeblood of the organization, and have built a culture and philosophy that rewards it.

4. Design Matters. The folks at Apple know that design is as important as function. Their products are beautiful works of art rather than utilitarian machinery. They focus not just on what their gear does, but how it makes their customers feel. All five senses are delighted by design, and customers are willing to pay handsomely as a result.

5. Passion First. Apple doesn’t chase money, they pursue purpose. They build products and services that they love and want to use themselves. They connect deeply to the impact they will make on customers, and follow their hearts instead of earnings-per-share. As a result, the money follows. Big time.
Apple may have more cash than our government right now, but their real value goes much deeper than their balance sheet. More than their billions, they’ve managed to build a culture of innovation that will continue to drive success and change the world. Maybe the US Government can learn a thing or two here. Maybe we all can.

Hey brother Jobs, can you spare a dime?

Advertising legend Alex Osborn not only founded one of the most successful ad agencies in the world, BBDO, he also coined the phrase “brainstorming” and is credited for inventing the technique.  Later in his career, he invented another technique that is lesser-known, but one that is incredibly powerful: SCAMPER.  This name is an acronym and stands for:

Substitute
Combine
Adapt
Magnify/minimize
Put to other use
Eliminate
Rearrange / reverse

The SCAMPER technique can take you right back to the limitless creativity you had in Kindergarten.  This structured approach has you start with a concept and then try out different variations on the theme.

For example, let’s look at the world of breakfast cereal which pretty much began with the Corn Flake (the initial “creative spark”).  Here are some ways General Mills, Kellogg’s, Quaker Oats and Post put elements of the SCAMPER technique to work in their product development efforts:

Substitute – Corn Flakes led to Bran Flakes (substitute ingredient).  Puffed Rice helped launch Rice Krispies (substitute preparation).  Substitutions can also include people, physical locations, production processes, flavors, and distribution channels.

Combine – Raisin Bran was born from combining bran flakes with raisins.  Cereal manufacturers are experts at this (Honey Nut Cheerios, Apple & Cinnamon Oatmeal).  This step is about adding a new ingredient or combining two or more existing items into one.

Adapt -Cinnamon Toast Crunch came from making a toast recipe and turning it into a cereal.  Take the all-American favorite of chocolate chip cookies, turn them into a cereal, and you have a winner – Cookie Crisp.  Fruity Pebbles was a huge hit for Post, and was adapted from the popular show the Flintstones.  (side note: same idea worked for Flintstone vitamins)

Magnify/minimize – Frosted Wheat became Frosted Mini Wheats.  Granola evolved into Low Fat Granola.  A regular box of Wheeties now comes in a giant, family-sized box.

Put to other use – Rice Krispie Treats are now packaged in separate units and sold as a competitor to the candy bar.  Corn Flakes can be used in dozens of recipes including breading for chicken and as an ingredient in stuffing.  Of course, Kellogg’s makes these recipes readily available and recommends the alternative uses.

Eliminate – Without nuts, reduced fat, sugar-free, only whole-grains, and other banners are unavoidable as you walk down the cereal aisle at your local grocery store.  Eliminating one or more aspects of a concept is a clever way to uncover brand new ideas.

Rearrange / reverse – Post launched Honey Bunches of Oats in 1989.  Today, you can enjoy your Honey Bunches packaged with Almonds, with Bananas, Peaches, Strawberries, Chocolate Clusters, Cinnamon Clusters, or Vanilla Clusters.  What did they do next?  They launched “Just Bunches”, eliminating the other elements of the cereal altogether.  This playful approach helped the company build a cereal franchise around one original product idea.

You can SCAMPER with product development, efficiency gains, HR challenges, marketing concepts, or just about any other challenge you may be facing.  Try SCAMPER’ing your way through your next problem, and you’ll be amazed at how much creativity gets unleashed.

What if we encouraged those around us to take risks and try new ideas?

What if you set out to leave your mark on the world instead of following conventional wisdom?

What if we celebrated new ideas as much as near-term financial performance?

What if we taught our kids to follow their hearts instead of following the herd?

What if you gave yourself permission to have more fun and let your creativity shine?

What if you didn’t let fear and imaginary barriers hold you back from reaching your true potential?

What if you committed to becoming a lifelong learner?

What if you injected your co-workers with positive energy three times a day?

What if we removed regret and realized that setbacks are simply the pathway to progress?

What if you decided to make a difference?

What if we prioritized thinking over tasks?

What if you tapped your full creative potential?

What if you let go of the rules and followed your dreams with unapologetic vigor?

What if you refused to accept mediocrity?

What if our kids learned that creative problem solving is more important than rote memorization?

What if you tried something new every week?

What if we didn’t take ourselves so seriously?

What if you seized this moment and committed to change?

What if you had the courage to stand behind your best ideas?

What if you laughed twice as much?

What if you realized that you had the power to change the world?

What if?

I’ve had the privilege of performing jazz guitar on stage for nearly 30 of my 40 years. Live improvisation is an adrenaline rush like no other. Spontaneous creativity in real-time. At moments the drama, suspense, and intensity are hotter than an issue-charged political race or a summer blockbuster film.

With less than 1% of the notes on the written page, we jazz musicians have to make it up as we go. It’s art in real time–no going back to correct mistakes or rethink a passage. The pressure is huge, but so is the excitement. Sounds a lot like the current hyper-competitive business environment, no?

To win today, you and your team need to function more like a fluid jazz band than a tightly controlled orchestra. You must constantly reinvent your work and seek fresh, new approaches. Responsible risk taking and originality now trump compliance and rigidity.

Like jazz, business success is most often determined by creativity and original thought, not just technical mastery. Jazz and business legends are both remembered by what they create, by how they change the world.  Here are four ways to make your company more like a jazz combo:

Encourage risk taking. Jazz musicians who play it safe rarely find gigs. The same can be said about you and your company. If you’re not making mistakes at least 10% of the time, you’re not risking enough.

Be remarkable. Audiences don’t remember technical competence. They remember the musician who dares to be different. Our world is full of sameness, and no customer of yours needs another me-too solution.

Let each individual shine. At a jazz gig, every musician takes a turn in the spotlight. That allows the best ideas to flow and makes for a highly engaged team. Grant each person in your group autonomy and room for creative expression and you’ll build a stronger, more innovative team.

Mix it up and keep it fresh. Jazz musicians are known for exploring the never-been-done-before. They’re constantly trying new things and new combinations. In your world, move desks around. Try a job-swap program and give people new projects to develop. Arrange a field trip for inspiration. Shake things up, embrace change and avoid repetitive ruts.

As commoditization, cost-cutting, and a global workforce continue to erode competitive advantage, you have to create in order to win. The jazz musician’s ability to improvise, take risks, adapt to change and forge new ground are the exact skills we all need to develop in our current economy of bureaucratic sameness. To make a real difference in your company, think of your business as a blank sheet of music and unleash your inner jazz cat.

This is your opportunity for creative expression. This is your opportunity to jam.

In most free-market economies, there is a supply/demand equilibrium. In other words, if people want to buy potato chips or electricity or sporting goods, suppliers generally emerge to fill these needs.

It strikes me as odd, however, that there’s a mismatch going on in the business world. According to an IBM study last month of 1500 CEO’s across 60 nations, creativity is the single most important leadership attribute needed for business success. And in an Accenture study earlier this year, “89% of executives agree that innovation is as important as cost management for high performance.”

Based on this extreme demand, you would think there’d be hundreds of very sophisticated systems and processes to help business build and nurture their creative capacity. After all, there are systems processes for everything in the business world – from how to answer a customer complaint to how to set the alarm to how to take out the garbage. There’s ISO 9001, Six Sigma, and Lean Manufacturing. Yet there is no widely-accepted, systematic approach to creativity and innovation.

In most companies, the single most important ingredient for success is left to happen by chance. There’s no process or system; it just “happens” in the shadows. Business leaders are expected to just be creative with no training, system, or time allocation for this mission-critical activity.

To make matters worse, we live in a left-brain world (linear, analytical and computational thinking). We attended left-brain schools, went on to left-brain universities, and primarily work at left-brain jobs. Our over-developed skills in this area dwarf the often-ignored capacity of our right-brain thinking (abstract, creative, non-linear). Our left-brain systems, process, bosses, and instruction manuals are abundant while the support for our creative right-brain is in short supply.

So where can you turn to ignite creativity?

My website, www.CreativityGeneration.com, is packed with free resources and tools to help you build and nurture your creative capacity. My upcoming book, Disciplined Dreaming (coming in Feb, 2011 from Jossey-Bass) will offer the business world a detailed blueprint for developing these skills. In the meantime, I’d love to hear from you on this subject. What are your needs? What techniques and tools have been helpful for you over the years? Where are the soft-spots in your business or career, and what would be helpful for you as you pursue your own goals?

Speak up. Ask for help. Let’s start the dialog right here at CreativityGeneration.com to enable all of us to expand our creativity, imagination, and original thought. Ladies and Gentlemen, let the conversation begin…

Remember when you were a kid and you read Where’s Waldo books?

“Where’s Waldo? Where’s Waldo? Where’s Waldo ?!?” The fun of the books was not in the story line, but scanning the complex illustrations to find your friend in a red striped shirt hiding in the crowd.

During the process, your level of awareness skyrocketed. You noticed things that you would have never noticed at first glance. You noticed what color balloons the little girl was holding. And how many chickens the farmer was chasing after. And the funny pants worn by the flower delivery man. In fact, you noticed just about everything on the page. Your antenna was up, and you processed every nook and cranny of the page.

Think about what would happen if you brought that same Where’s Waldo level of awareness with you to work, and specifically to your own Creative Challenge. You would notice all sorts of things that you probably skimmed right over in the past. Nuances of your customers and your surroundings and your competitors. Insights on your industry and your production processes and your sales strategy.

Achieving a Where’s Waldo level of awareness is easy – you can simply turn this on and choose to become more aware. Try it! In doing so, you will uncover many fresh ideas and opportunities for improvement. Those opportunities are all around us. Some are large opportunities that could lead to groundbreaking change which will boost your company and your career. Others may be small improvements that, when many are added together, lead to meaningful results.

EXERCISE: To practice the Where’s Waldo Awareness technique, set a timer for three minutes, and then write down everything you can see in the room that could be improved. The small chip of paint in the lower left corner of the room. The sloppy cords around the projector. The painting that is slightly tilted to the right. The one out of eight fluorescent bulbs that is missing from the light fixture. The small coffee stain on your chair. This quick exercise will get you in the Where’s Waldo mindset and is a great warm up for brainstorming sessions. It works well both individually and for teams.