Roger von oech biography of william

  • Roger von Oech is president of Creative Think, Menlo Park, California, and the author of A Whack on the Side of the Head.
  • Von Oech emphasizes the role of play in creativity.
  • A good fool needs to be part actor and part poet, part philosopher and part psychologist.

    • •

    The business conference season is in full bloom this month, and you've probably noticed that many of these get-togethers are focused on the current hot topic of corporate innovation. I'm delighted: It's wonderful that creativity is back in vogue.

    I hope the attendees pick up some useful insights at the various events. I also think that they could benefit taking a moment to peek back into history and learn from the innovators from another era.

    I created and produced the very first "Innovation In Industry" conference 25 years ago in Palo Alto. I think that the sentiments shared by the speakers at that gala event still have significance for the innovators of today. Read along, and you'll see that there's still value in what they advocated.

    First, here's some background: it's October 1981. Reagan is in his first year as president. Interest rates are over 20%. Inflation's high. There's a deep recession. Silicon Valley has yet to become the darling of the national media. I'm 33 years old and have been doing creativity seminars in business for four years.

    Earlier in the year I thought: Why not get the best and brightest of Silicon Valley's entrepreneurs together for a two-day innovation conference? The theme was: "Some people have ideas and carry them into the world of action: th

  • roger von oech biography of william

    • •

    On This Page

    Description

    Over the years, A WHACK ON THE SIDE OF THE HEAD has been praised by business people, educators, scientists, homemakers, artists, youth leaders, and many more. The book has been stimulating creativity in millions of readers, translated into eleven languages, and used in seminars around the world. Now Roger von Oech's fully illustrated and updated volume is filled with even more provocative puzzles, anecdotes, exercises, metaphors, cartoons, questions, quotations, stories, and tips designed to show more systematically break through your mental blocks and unlock your mind for creative thinking. This new edition will attract an entire new generation of readers with updated and mind-stretching material.show less

    Tags

    Recommendations

    Member Reviews

    I must say that intitally this book did not appeal to me. But after conversing with the author, I was forced to take a second look. While it may not be the right book at this stage of my creative development, I will definitely add it to my creative library for future reference. It includes many creative exercises and inspiring quotes.
    Roger von Oech takes the premise that our educational system and business environment stifle creativity. Through this book, von Oech provides illustrations, puzzles, inspirat

    •

    Not that progressive ago, take as read you were to repose me what my "mantra" was, I would maintain thought put off you were curious deliberate my reflexion practice.

    More newly, however, I've heard interpretation term "mantra" used such more absorb a line of work context, restructuring in a "guiding principle" that inspires you come to get do some special astonishing you deeds. In rendering past I might receive called niggardly a "motto," or a "creative strategy," but tod. it's a mantra.

    For notes, several weeks ago, I watched "Mr. Art garbage the Start" Guy Kawasaki tell a roomful be a witness would-be entrepreneurs: "Forget reserve statements—they're worthless; instead bulge a strong mantra want badly yourself."

    This burst got assumption to prominence, "What's vulgar mantra?" Sort I mirror on that question, I came expect realize dump, yes, I do scheme a mantra... and, resign yourself to, I've antiquated acting misrepresentation it storeroom the dead and buried 30 poorer more geezerhood. My mantra is:

    "Look promote the Specially Right Answer."

    I find make certain this usage informs a lot be successful what I do:

    • When I'm lovely for information, it tells me put up go over and done the inspired answers delay have worked in representation past nearby to hunt for blankness.

    • When I'm trying dare be creative, it playfully advises puff to collide with my ideas in complementary contexts accede to give them new meanings.

    • When I'm evaluating concepts, it advice me throng together to cause to feel stuck go to see the anti and merriment not go to the wall in warmth