Tag Archives: Creativity

A sober look at drinking and creativity

Posted on March 9, 2021 by Eugene Ivanov

In one of my prior lives, I was a researcher in a Russian academic lab. A colleague of mine was studying the effects of ethanol alcohol on yeast cells. Every time she presented project updates to the rest of the … Continue reading →

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Are you bored to death and procrastinating? Good for you!

Posted on January 23, 2021 by Eugene Ivanov

In my two previous posts (here and here), I argued that the wide-spread belief that we are swimming in an ocean of cheap innovative ideas–solidified in a popular slogan “ideas are a dime a dozen”–is a myth. Available evidence suggests … Continue reading →

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Want a Big Idea? Take a Shower and Sit Under the Apple Tree

Posted on September 7, 2020 by Eugene Ivanov

(This piece was originally posted to the HeroX blog) I’m really amused by how many people claim that their best creative ideas come to them in the shower. What is so special about the shower being a cradle of creative ideas? … Continue reading →

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Freedom to innovate

Posted on July 22, 2018 by Eugene Ivanov

In one of my recent posts, I listed specific socioeconomic factors that favor or obstruct corporate innovation. Some of them, such as termination or compensation policies and the way organizations treat their employees, are in full control of the organizations … Continue reading →

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A sober truth about drunk people

Posted on June 17, 2018 by Eugene Ivanov

Harvard Business Review is a serious periodical not known for publishing frivolous content. Yet the tone of one of its features, “Professor X, defend your research,” in the latest (May-June 2018) issue, was far from academic. Defending his research was … Continue reading →

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Fashion guru Tim Gunn on crowdsourcing

Posted on January 29, 2016 by Eugene Ivanov

Tim Gunn is a prominent fashion consultant, TV personality and author. He’s best known as the Emmy Award-winning co-host of the reality show Project Runway; he’s also the author of four bestselling books. Now, I have to admit that I … Continue reading →

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The Myth of “Unstructured” Innovation

Posted on May 14, 2015 by Eugene Ivanov

I’m grateful to everyone who commented on my post, Does Innovation Need “Structure”? Many agreed with my assertion that adopting a formalized process (“structure”) provides innovation with direction and helps create what is commonly known as culture of innovation. Yet, … Continue reading →

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In defense of brainstorming

Posted on October 9, 2014 by Eugene Ivanov

Am I the only one who’s getting tired of constant bashing of brainstorming? The latest attack that I saw, coming from Forbes, begins with the following rhetoric question: “Have you ever sat through a fruitless brainstorming session and wondered—who came up … Continue reading →

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Innovativeness=Competitiveness

Posted on September 3, 2014 by Eugene Ivanov

The Global Competitiveness Report 2014-15 is out. It’s described as an assessment of the “competitiveness of 144 economies based on 12 “pillars” which include institutions, infrastructure, health and education, labor market efficiency, technological readiness, innovation and business sophistication.” Here is … Continue reading →

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The Game of Definitions

Posted on June 19, 2014 by Eugene Ivanov

There are different opinions on the value of proper definition of terms. Some people consider definitions a prerequisite for any meaningful discussion, and I often agree with them; others view definitions as a barrier to creative thinking, and I often … Continue reading →

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