43 Folders

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

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”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.

Merllin's picture

Thanks, Crystal. That's what I'd...

Thanks, Crystal. That's what I'd thought.

I received the "Whack Pack" as a gift a few years back but hadn't looked at it too much. For some reason, I sort of like the web site better, I think.

 
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An Oblique Strategy:
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