Speed Thinking

I heard Ken Hudson on radio last week speaking about his creative planning idea called 'speed thinking' as outlined in the book "The Idea Accelerator."
The idea is built on stripping away all the things that stiffle creativity when lots of time is spent in planning. Ken gave a number of listeners 30 secs to write a list of things that would solve a scenario he gave them.... It's not brainstorming because that carries 'the power of the pen' and a few other limitations!!
On ocassion in planning teams I have used a similar approach of 'putting the clock on the group' to bring out the task focus and to remind them that often given 90 mins they still only do the work in the last 5, so just take 5!!

Lifelike Babies

Under the guise of a promotion for the Sydney Craft and Quilt Fair there was a fascinating feature on local ABC Radio this morning...

"So cute - but is this a real 'baby'? And what shall we name him/her?
Take a close look..a very close look.

Are your eyes fooling you, or can you spot a telling sign that this is actually a doll?
The 'baby' is the handy work of Beverley Graham, who is exhibiting at the Sydney Craft and Quilt Fair...

Apparently 'Neighbours' commissioned a doll for the TEN TV soap opera, families who are unable to have children or who've lost a child and are seeking therapy, school training programs etc are regular customers.

In one case an elderly mother in a nursing home was not communicating with anyone and after trying just about everything else a nurse brought one of the dolls in and the lady talks to people through talking to the doll!!

They are also sold as children's toys for a range of $300-700!!