Adults are obsolete children. ~ Dr. Seuss
Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up. ~ Pablo Picasso
Why does this happen? Why do we loose our ability to play and create? I think adults need to un-grow-up and go back to the “sandbox” to find leadership qualities and solutions for the world’s biggest challenges. Now, I don’t mean become childish again, but rather recapture the fresh perspective, curiosity and ability to imagine that is most prevalent in childhood. In this section I explore adult learning in the spirit of childhood play: hands-on discovery, sharing, using your imagination, and trying new things in an atmosphere of fun!
To do great work, we need to have fun. And what exactly does “fun” mean? Just click play. . . Continue reading
Glass Half Full or Half Empty?
The practice of Appreciative Inquiry basically takes a glass-half-full approach to thinking, visioning and acting for purposeful change. In an individual’s life, it can be healing or motivating. In an organization’s life it can catalyze engagement and innovation. Continue reading
Minds at Play in the Laboratory
Minds at play may initially come up with some pretty wacky ideas that look impractical to us – at least until they lead to a game changing innovation. Continue reading
Taking Risks
This is me last summer on the sand dune island of Texel, on Holland’s western edge in the North Sea. I love this picture because it emphasizes the element of risk that’s involved in play. “I don’t know if I … Continue reading
At the Stanford d.school, they understand that play leads to innovation. Here’s a great slide show from Fast Company of how they balance the openness of play with the structure of production. Play Class Continue reading
