43 Folders

Back to Work

Merlin’s weekly podcast with Dan Benjamin. We talk about creativity, independence, and making things you love.

Join us via RSS, iTunes, or at 5by5.tv.

”What’s 43 Folders?”
43Folders.com is Merlin Mann’s website about finding the time and attention to do your best creative work.

Roger von Oech's 'Creative Think' home page

Creative Think

Whack Roger von Oech has authored several enjoyable business creativity books like A Kick in the Seat of the Pants and Expect the Unexpected or You Won’t Find It.

Visit the home page for his Menlo Park consultancy, “Creative Think.” Reload for a new “Oblique Strategies“-like tip for enhanced creativity, problem solving clues, or what Roger has called “a whack on the side of the head.”

Here’s one I liked:

Drop an Assumption

Columbus challenged the Spanish courtiers to stand an egg on its end. They tried but failed. He then hard-boiled one and stood it on its end. “That’s not fair,” they protested, “you broke the rules.” “Don’t be silly,” he replied, “you just assumed more than you needed to.” What can you let go of? What unnecessary assumptions can you eliminate? How would that change the way you view your issue?

Smart move also to put free, useful, fun content on your business’s home page (instead of the usual “mission statement,” “best of breed” spiel). Very cool.

About Merlin

Merlin's picture

Bio

Merlin Mann is an independent writer, speaker, and broadcaster. He’s best known for being the guy who created the website you’re reading right now. He lives in San Francisco, does lots of public speaking, and helps make cool things like You Look Nice Today, Back to Work, and Kung Fu Grippe. Also? He’s writing this book, he lives with this face, he suffers from this hair, he answers these questions, and he’s had this life. So far.

Merlin’s favorite thing he’s written in the past few years is an essay entitled, “Cranking.”

 
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An Oblique Strategy:
Honor thy error as a hidden intention


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Cranking

Merlin used to crank. He’s not cranking any more.

This is an essay about family, priorities, and Shakey’s Pizza, and it’s probably the best thing he’s written. »

Scared Shitless

Merlin’s scared. You’re scared. Everybody is scared.

This is the video of Merlin’s keynote at Webstock 2011. The one where he cried. You should watch it. »