Pinspiration for an Organized New Year!

Community Manager — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 17:49:00 GMT

Getting more organized tops many a resolution list. Move from resolution to success story with some organizing inspiration from Pinterest.

Second Act: Many common household items can do double-duty as storage. Clever organizers use everything from a cheese grater to vintage cups and saucers for jewelry storage. How about a DIY drying rack for your laundry room? See how this repurposed ladder does the trick. Or declutter a bathroom or kitchen counter with this shoe rack. Put your best (organizational) foot forward!

About Face: Tame makeup clutter with these ingenious storage solutions. A magnetic board teamed with beauty products bearing small magnets equals storage magic in this clever DIY. Or think vertical and hang your tools on a wall in attractive canisters. We also like this smart idea for sorting makeup brushes.

Found Space: Think you lack the space for effective organizing? Look up: your ceiling is the fifth wall in any room, task yours with storage duty with these handy organizers. Other resourceful ideas for finding space where you least expect it, include using peg board to turn empty walls into spaces chock full of storage options. Finally, use the space under window eaves for fun places like a book nook, dreamy shoe storage, or this adorable perch for a pooch.

Fun Space: We think organizing is fun and after you see these fabulous and funky organizing ideas, we think you'll love it as much as we do. Banish boring shelves with some of these spectacular shelving ideas. How fabulous is this bookshelf man? We also love organizing with color: the links here, here and here show how every family member can be assigned a color for effective organizing meets pretty palette. Even boring papers can be transformed when rainbow hued. See ideas here and here.

Wanted: Creative Thinkers

Community Manager — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 16:22:00 GMT

What does it take to be a CEO? Brains, business acumen, vision, drive? All good guesses but according to a new study by IBM, creativity is the most important leadership quality for CEOs.

Generating Creativity

At Beyond Folders, we frequently blog about how to enhance critical skills for workplace success. Reading about the IBM study's finding that creativity plays a crucial role in achievement has me wondering; is creativity an innate talent or is it possible to enhance or foster creativity?

According to creative triple-threat Tony Schwartz, an author, entrepreneur and productivity expert, creativity can be trained and strengthened just as you would any muscle. In a recent Huffington Post article 6 Invisible Secrets to Fostering Your Creativity, Schwartz posits that there are six fundamental moves that anyone can take to fuel creativity. The steps include:

Meeting Your Needs. Creativity requires energy. Assess what unmet needs (sleep, diet, job, family dysfunction, etc.) are sapping your energy and take steps to ameliorate those obstacles.

Training Creativity Systematically. Understand what Schwartz and others call the five stages of creative thinking and work to train them: first insight, saturation, incubation, illumination and verification. Schwartz steers readers to Betty Edward's book Drawing on the Artist Within for more insight on the stages of creativity.

Nurturing Your Passion. Place yourself in roles that excite your imagination. Every job has aspects that are enjoyable, challenging and meaningful. Identify steps for spending more time engaged in the aspects of your job that nurture you. Creativity will follow.

Making Your Work Matter. Human beings are inspired when they contribute to something larger than themselves. How can you expend energy at work on contributing to others?

Making the Time. Creative thinking requires open-ended, uninterrupted time, to reflect, meditate or daydream. Schedule this time as you would any other must-do task.

Valuing Renewal. Understand that you are not a machine that can hum along working indefinitely. Schedule breaks - time to rest or move your body - these shifts in consciousness can allow creative breakthroughs.

How do you foster creativity for yourself? Your colleagues or subordinates? Share your thoughts here and on the Beyond Folders Community's Facebook and Twitter pages.

by Bradley Eggers

Beyond Folders : creative thinking

Pinspiration for an Organized New Year!

Wanted: Creative Thinkers