Voices - Episode 8: Artie Isaac

In this episode of Voices, I speak with Artie Isaac - marketing strategist, founder of Young Isaac, and professor at The Ohio State University and Columbus College of Art and Design.  Among other things, Mr. Isaac teaches MBA students at The Ohio State University how to be more creative.

According to Artie Isaac, creativity is about living a better life, having a more fulfilling job, connecting more deeply with friends and family, achieving flow, being more mindful, and embracing the present moment.  Isaac claims that all of us have the ability to be more creative by making an effort to enhance our creative potential - much like exercise can improve your physical health.  It is work, but there are clear, positive results.

Some of the thoughts Artie Isaac shares in the podcast are his reasons for blogging, how he named his site, what inspires him, how he utilizes technology to increase day to day productivity, the 3 types of days and how to approach them, why he lives in Ohio, and what people can do to be more creative.

Thanks to Artie for being kind enough to take the time to participate in the podcast, for being open enough to share his wisdom, and for being brilliant enough to inspire others to achieve greatness.  It was a pleasure to meet him.

Listen and enjoy!

Net Cotton Content / On Life and Marketing, Creativity and Ethics

Are You Curious? Seth is.

This video comes from Seth Godin’s blog. It is a 5 minute discussion on curiosity. I am an ever curious person, and this really resonates with me. I encourage you to watch this short video. Seth Godin writes about marketing, but speaks about life and a changing world view. One of the points made about curiosity is that it is a process - a continual progression of finding one’s voice. I love this. I have found myself in and out of trouble throughout life as a result of curiosity. I have no regrets about this part of my personality. As a young boy in school, teachers regularly had to “shut me up,” because I was curious. In my first “real job,” to the horror of my peers, I would dare to question policies I believed to be unfair. Sometimes I was right, sometimes wrong - always I learned something. In working towards my MBA, I would often ask question after question - trying to discern something deeper than the surface. I loved to debate with professors and peers alike, respectfully and primarily out of curiosity. While there were a few others like me, the feeling of countless eyes rolling as I raised my hand was palpable. I did not care. I was curious. I did not want to simply read the text, take notes and get home early, just to get a piece of paper. Rather, I wanted to challenge my own fundamental beliefs to better understand them. I am curious and wildly unapologetic for this character trait. I am steadily learning that it is wise not to suppress this urge, as I was forced to do in grade school, but rather to amplify it. Turn it up to 11. Now, day by day, I am finding my own voice. Thanks to Seth for inspiring me yet again. Watch the video. I am curious, what are your thoughts on curiosity?

Seths Blog: Curious

Bring Ideas to Life

Looking for that breakthrough idea? Trying to flush out the creative gems located deep within the recesses of your brain? Trying to invent the greatest thing since the greatest thing since sliced bread? Try using bubbl.us. This free, online mind-mapping tool is a great way to bring your ideas closer to life. The tool allows you to create a graphical depiction of your ideas, share and collaborate with others who have great ideas, and publish your creation to the web. There is nothing to download, as the program is web based, and best of all it is free.

http://www.bubbl.us/