You have no items in your shopping cart.
- (open) HOME
- (open)Products
- (open)Authors
- All Authors
- Andrew Melchior
- Dr. Andrew Newberg
- Dr. Andy Fuehl
- Fr. Angelo Scolozzi, M.C.III.O, and Dr. Lou Tartaglia
- Anthony Robbins
- Asara Lovejoy
- Dr. Arnd Stein
- Asara Lovejoy with Bonnie Strehlow
- Barbara Mahaffey, M.A.
- Barefoot Doctor
- Barry J. Farber
- Barry Neil Kaufman
- Bernie S. Siegel
- Bert Decker
- Bill Hybels, Haddon Robinson, Luis Palau, D. James Kennedy, Stuart Briscoe, Os Guinness, Ravi Zacharias, narrated by Dick Staub
- Bill Staton and Mary Staton
- Bob Proctor
- Bob Circosta
- Brian Tracy
- Bob Scheinfeld
- Bob Rathbun
- Brian Tracy and Colin Rose
- Brian Tracy, Jay Abraham, The Sandler Sales Institute and Earl Nightingale
- Byron Katie
- Bruce Lewolt and Tony Alessandra
- C.W. Metcalf
- Dr. Carl Aylen
- Charles Faulkner
- Charles Faulkner; Gerry Schmidt, Ph.D.; Dr. Robert McDonald; Tim Hallbom, M.S.W.; Suzi Smith, M.D.; Kelly Gerling, Ph.D.
- Colin Rose
- Charles Faulkner & Lucy Freedman
- Dale Carnegie Training
- Chuck Yeager
- Colin Rose, Jayne Nicholl and Malcolm Nicholl
- Dan Green
- Dan Miller
- Dan Millman
- Dan Sullivan
- Dave Ramsey
- David Allen
- Dr. David Hawkins
- David Bach
- David Bach and Bill Staton
- David Ison
- David Viscott, M.D.
- David Sandler
- Dean Sluyter
- Dr. Deepak Chopra
- Debbie Ford
- Dee Groberg
- Denis Waitley
- Dr. Deepak Chopra, Dr. Dean Ornish, and Dr. Andrew Weil
- Dr. Deepak Chopra, Dr. David Simon
- Denis Waitley and Thomas Budzynski
- Dennis Higgins and John La Tourrette, Ph.D.
- Deremiah *CPE
- Dick Sutphen
- Diane Sanchez and Stephen E. Heiman
- Dr. Dolf de Roos
- Dominic O'Brien
- Don Richard Riso
- Donna Faiman Cercone
- Doni Schultz
- Earl Nightingale
- Doug Hall
- Duane O'Kane and Catherine Wyber
- Ed Foreman
- Eckhart Tolle
- Edward (Ned) Hallowell, M.D.
- Elaine St. James
- Fabrice Beillard
- Eric Plasker, D.C.
- The Foundation for Inner Peace
- Esther and Jerry Hicks
- Gabrielle Bosché
- Fredric Lehrman
- Dr. Gary S. Goodman
- Gale Glassner Twersky, A.C.H., Ct. H.A.
- Garrett B. Gunderson
- Gary Null
- Gary Lalonde
- Gary Renard
- Gerald Epstein, M.D.
- Dr. Gayle Delaney
- George Silverman
- Gerald Jampolsky
- Greg Karp
- Gerald G. Jampolsky, M.D, Diane V. Cirincione, Ph.D
- Gregg Braden
- Harry S. Dent, Jr.
- Guy Finley
- Hans Christian King
- Harvey Mackay
- Howard Stephan Berg
- Jack Canfield
- Howard Martin
- Infinite Mind, LLc
- Jack Zufelt
- Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen
- James M. Kouzes
- Jay Abraham
- Dr. James W Loehr and Peter J. McLaughlin
- James Waldroop, Ph.D
- James Van Fleet
- Janice Bryant Howroyd
- Jay Conrad Levinson
- Jay Abraham, Jay Conrad Levinson, Joe Polish with Tim Paulson, Tom Feltenstein, Peter Montoya
- Jay Tyler
- Jeffrey J. Fox
- Jeff Keller
- Dr. Jeffrey Thompson
- Jerrold Mundis
- Jim Camp
- Jim Rohn
- Jim Cathcart & Tony Alessandra
- Jim Harrick with John Wooden
- Jim Loehr, Nick Hall, and Jack Groppel
- Jim Rohrbach
- Jim Warner
- Joe Nuckols
- Dr. Joan Borysenko
- Joe Caruso
- Joe Vitale
- Joe Montana & Tom Mitchell Ph.D.
- Joe Navarro
- John Abdo
- John Cummuta
- Joe Polish with Tim Paulson
- Dr. Joel & Michelle Levey
- Dr. John Eliot
- John Cummuta and Tony Manganiello
- John Powers
- John M. Oldham, M.D. & Lois B. Morris
- John Wasik
- Jon Kabat-Zinn
- Jonathan Niednagel
- Kenneth Baum
- Jordan Goodman
- Kevin L. McCrudden
- Josh Kaufman
- Kazuo Murakami
- Kelvin Boston
- Ken Blanchard
- Larry Janesky
- Ken Blanchard and Barbara Glanz
- Ken Blanchard and Don Shula
- Larry Winget
- Kerry L. Johnson
- Kenneth Wapnick, Ph.D, and The Foundation for A Course in Miracles
- Kevin J. Todeschi
- Lee Pulos, Ph.D.
- Dr. Leo Buscaglia
- Larry King
- Les Brown
- Laurence G. Boldt
- Laura Silva, Gerald Seavey and Marilou Seavey
- Dr. Laurence D. Martel
- Luanne Oakes, Ph.D.
- Mac Anderson
- Loretta Malandro, PH.D.
- Dr. Lloyd Glauberman
- Marianne Williamson
- Lou Adler
- Marc David
- Marcy Blochowiak
- Mark Victor Hansen
- Mark Earlix
- Marianne Williamson and Deepak Chopra
- Dr. Mark Hyman
- Dr. Mark Stengler
- Mark Thompson and Richard Wilson
- Matt Furey
- Mark Young
- Dr. Marshall Goldsmith
- Martin Fridson
- MaryEllen Tribby
- Mary Kay Ash
- Mattel
- Michael E. Gerber
- Dr. Maxwell Maltz and Dan Kennedy
- Melonie Dodaro
- Michael A. Boylan
- Michael Bernard Beckwith
- Dr. Michael Broder
- Michael Wickett
- Michael J. Gelb
- Mihály Csíkszentmihályi
- Michael LeBoeuf
- Mike Rodriguez
- Michael Masterson
- Napoleon Hill
- Michael McMillan
- Michael Moskowitz
- Million Dollar Round Table
- Monica Wofford
- Nightingale Learning Systems
- The Monroe Institute
- Napoleon Hill and W. Clement Stone
- Nathaniel Branden, Ph.D.
- Noah St. John
- Neale Donald Walsch
- Neil Fiore, Ph.D.
- Nick Hall, Ph.D.
- Nido Qubein
- Paula Oleska
- Nightingale-Conant Corporation
- Peter Diamandis
- Pamela Dunn
- Paul and Sarah Edwards
- Paul Hannam
- Paul Pearsall, Ph.D.
- Peter Thomson
- Paul Zane Pilzer
- Peggy Anderson
- Peter McLaughlin
- Ric Edelman
- Peter Montoya
- Peter S. Cohan
- Phil Taylor
- Robert Allen
- Philip X. Tirone
- Robert B. Stone
- Pimsleur
- Rhonda Byrne
- Dr. Richard Banks
- Richard Carlson
- Richard Koch
- Richard Ott
- Robert Stuberg
- Robert Jordan
- Robert B. Stone, Laura Silva and Kain Samiya
- Robert Kiyosaki
- Robert Kriegel, Ph.D.
- Roger Dawson
- Dr. Robert Maurer
- Robert P. Miles
- Roger Love
- Robert Pino
- Ron Roth, Ph.D.
- Dr. Robert Schuller
- Robert White
- Seth Godin
- Robin Crow
- Roger Dawson and Mike Summey
- Sonia Choquette
- Sri Siva
- Sam Keen
- S. L. Parker and Mac Anderson
- Sandler Sales Institute
- Stephen Covey
- Shannon Duncan
- Sidney Friedman
- Sir John Templeton
- Steven Hartman
- Steven K. Scott
- Sonia Choquette and Patrick Tully
- Stefan Wissenbach
- Stuart Wilde
- T. Harv Eker
- Stephen Edwards
- Stephen Covey and Steve Jones
- Stephen Pierce
- Steve Jobs
- Steven Pressfield
- Thomas Leonard
- Terri Lonier, Gail Blanke, William Bridges, Guy Kawasaki, Daniel H. Pink
- Thomas Moore
- Thomas Schweich
- Tony Alessandra, Ph.D.
- Thought Technology, Ltd., featuring Stephen I. Sideroff, Ph.D., Erik Peper, Ph.D., Peter Hauri, Ph.D., and Thomas H. Budzynski, Ph.D.
- Tom Feltenstein
- Todd Duncan
- Tom Gegax
- Tom Morris
- Tom Mathews
- Wally Amos
- Tony Jeary
- Tony Alessandra, Ph.D. and Terry Paulson, Ph.D.
- Tony Manganiello
- Dr. Wayne W. Dyer
- Trump University
- Vic Conant
- Various authors
- The Vocare Group
- Win Wenger
- Wallace D Wattles
- Warren Bennis and Robert Townsend
- Warren Buffett and Bill Gates
- Zig Ziglar
- Michael Wickett, Ed Bernd Jr., Jose Luis Romero and JoNell Monaco Lytle
- William W. Atkinson
- Wolf Moondance
- Win Wenger, Ph.D., and Richard Poe
- Wordsmart Corporation
- Yehuda Berg
- Yehuda Berg and Michael Moskowitz
- Eric Todd Johnson
- (open)Downloads
- (open)Categories
- (open)ARTICLES
- (open)COACHING
- My $1 Offer Downloads
© © 2023 Nightingale-Conant Corporation
2700 Patriot Blvd., Suite 250, PMB 88,
Glenview, IL 60026
All Rights Reserved
- Home /
- 6 Techniques for Creative Revolutions
6 Techniques for Creative Revolutions Article by: Earl Nightingale
What are some of the best techniques for inspiring a creative revolution – to more effectively to solve problems, make decisions, achieve goals, and better fulfill our ultimate human responsibility, which is to think? Here are a few I have learned:
Think Combination. Everything you see, hear, touch, taste, and smell during the day offers you the opportunity to consider new combinations. When you brush your teeth, you might think of a toothbrush that contains the toothpaste in the handle. You might combine your mirror with a motto reminding you to start the day right. It might read, “How can I increase my service today?” or “Have no small dreams!” That’s thinking combination. A simple pencil is a combination of wood, carbon, rubber, paint, and metal. You can come up with great ideas that can lead to profits, patents, and even billiondollar companies by finding new combinations yourself. Here are a few ways entrepreneurs have profited from thinking combination.
A French company invented an ordinary snorkel combined with a radio — the first battery-powered snorkel with an FM radio receiver built in, and it doesn’t even require an earpiece. The product, AQUA FM, uses unique bone conduction technology to transmit sound through the teeth and into the inner ear, providing clear, amazing sound.
In another example, companies like Vonage and Skype have revolutionized telephone service by combining a telephone and the Internet, and the big telecom companies are clambering to keep up. Telephone companies have always charged by the minute for long distance services, but the Internet is different. Broadband is charged at a standard monthly rate for unlimited use. VOIP (Voice over IP) start-up companies have used this to their advantage and thought differently about telephone service. Why pay by the minute to send data via your telephone service when you have a data tunnel you are already paying for — your broadband connection? Simply piggyback on that by connecting your phone to your broadband and talk to anyone in the world for a fraction of the cost.
Think Adaptation. Velcro was created through adaptation. In 1948, George de Mestral, a Swiss engineer, returned from a walk through a field of weeds one day and found some cockleburs [burrs] clinging to his cloth jacket. After studying one of the cockleburs under a microscope, he noticed it was a maze of thin strands with burrs (or hooks) on the ends that cling to fabrics or animal fur. He then recognized the potential for a practical new fastener. It took eight years to experiment, develop, and perfect the invention, but now Velcro is a well-known, incredibly useful product. Velcro has even been further adapted for making all kinds of products better — from shoes that use Velcro instead of laces, to adjustable Velcro wrist straps on boxing gloves.
In another example, designers took tiny flexible optical fibers developed for high-energy physics experiments and wove them into ordinary fabric. This adaptation created a new fabric called Luminex that glows, literally. It’s not shiny and it’s not glow in the dark; it gives off its own light. Now Luminex is being used in stage costumes, handbags, and curtains as well as clothing.*
During the next year you are going to see the result of people thinking adaptation and coming up with ideas worth millions of dollars. Why couldn’t one of these people be you? The only limit to what you can achieve by adapting old products to new uses — old methods to new applications — is the limit of your own creativity.
Think Substitution. When you think substitution, ask yourself how you might substitute a different idea, product, or material for the one now used. For example, soy burgers are the vegetarian’s substitute for meat products.
And plastic lumber is now used as a substitute for concrete, wood, and metals. Yes, recycled plastic lumber (RPL) is a woodlike product made from recovered plastic or recovered plastic mixed with other materials. This plastic lumber can then be transformed by consumers and manufacturers into a wide range of products, including decks and docks, landscape timbers, parking stops, picnic tables, benches, trash receptacles, planters, and numerous custom applications (think adaptation!).
You can also take an existing product and make it better through thinking substitution. Take, for instance, luggage with wheels. This was a wonderful invention because it eliminated the need to carry luggage. But, for years the wheels were made of cheap plastic, often only a step better than dragging your luggage on the ground. It wasn’t until recently that someone decided to replace these cheap plastic wheels with the high-speed ball-bearing efficient wheels from Rollerblade skates. This substitution created a better wheeled suitcase and made for happier travelers.
In short, don’t assume because a particular thing has always been used in the past, that you have to use it now. Perhaps there’s a substitution that will work better or last longer, or cost less, or be lighter, or more colorful, and so forth. Think substitution.
Think magnification. Think big! Examples include skyscrapers, the Pentagon, king-size soft drinks, and the IMAX theatre. IMAX was started by Canadian filmmakers/entrepreneurs who wanted bigger and better theaters. Now IMAX is the ultimate movie experience, helping people see more, feel more, and hear more.
Vehicles are getting bigger too. We’ve had trucks and vans for many years. But in recent years soccer dads and carpool moms have demanded a different large vehicle — the SUV. The Hummer, Lincoln Navigator, Cadillac Escalade, and Suburban are just a few of the behemoths that safely courier our children to and from their daily activities.
Yet, while most car companies are going larger, BMW went the opposite way, which takes us to our next thinking strategy…
Think Minification. Think small! In the midst of the SUV explosion, BMW was thinking small and acquired the rights to the Mini Cooper. This just proves that magnification and minification can succeed in the same market concurrently.
And beyond the car industry, we find technology striving for minification. The iPod is a small portable digital audio player designed and marketed by Apple Computer. And even though it’s already a small product, Apple continues to release smaller and smaller versions of the popular iPod with larger and larger hard drives (thinking minification and magnification!).
Clothing designers are thinking small too. There are entrepreneurs who specialize in baby clothes and small dog clothes, such as the Baby Ultimate Child Clothing and Baby Clothes Boutique (www.babyultimate.com) and the Pure Country Pet Boutique (www.purecountry.net).
Think rearrangement. Turn things around, backward, upside down or inside out. James Dyson, founder of Dyson vacuum cleaners, was tired of buying vacuums that lost suction as they filled up. Rather than improve on the existing designs, he started from scratch and rearranged the entire vacuum in a new and different, and ultimately highly successful, way. Dyson’s new arrangement used cyclonic separation instead of a bag. Eight cylindrical cyclones whirl dirt and air at speeds up to 600 m.p.h. The machine uses centrifugal force to trap the dirt and expel the air. And, there is no filter to clog, which means the Dyson stays powerful. How successful has it been? In the past few years, he has sold over $10 billion worldwide. I’d say his rearrangement was a success!
How about turning something upside down? What’s the problem with typical ketchup, mustard, and salad dressing bottles? It’s hard to get the contents out, especially when the contents are running low. The solution? Manufacturers are now creating the bottles to stand upside down so the contents are always easy to get out.
What do you work with that can benefit from this kind of thinking? What can you turn around … revolutionize?
Rearrange things, change pace, alter sequence, start from scratch. This type of thinking works for everyone. For instance, salespeople can use these creative techniques to discover new applications for products or services, new ways to emphasize customer benefits, new ideas or product combinations to solve customer problems, better ways to organize their time and effort.
If you want to spur your mind to new action, think combination, adaptation, substitution, magnification, minification, and rearrangement. You’ll be amazed with the ideas you’ll develop. Before long, you’ll be thinking in each of these ways as a matter of daily course. This kind of thinking increases the scope of your mind power and enables you to achieve fuller use of your mental capabilities. Let your mind work for you. Take nothing for granted. Everything can be changed, improved. The only thing you can count on for certain is change. Don’t wait for it — be an agent of change. Help bring change about.
6 Techniques for Creative Revolutions:
- Think Combination
- Think adaptation
- Think substitution
- Think Magnification
- Think Minification
- Think Rearrangement
Learn more about Earl Nightingale and his all-time bestselling programs The Strangest Secret and Lead the Field. Edited and updated by Catherine Cairns.
*Source Time magazine Coolest Inventions of 2003.