Why are creativity and problem solving so important? How does the mind, creativity and problem solving work? What do near-death experiences tell us about the afterlife? Turbo-charge your creative mind. Know the four pathways to happiness.

Indisputable evidence reveals that the greatest threat to America’s economy isn’t off-shoring labor, the need for downsizing, or unethical corporate practices--it’s employee disengagement. This widespread malady is the cause of billions of dollars lost, hours of dissatisfaction, and work lives lacking true value. In this game-changing guide, author Michael Stallard shares the three essential leadership actions necessary to transform even a lethargic, disconnected organization or office into an impassioned, innovative, and thriving workplace. By teaching readers what motivates their teams, providing essential tools for effective leadership, and analyzing the methods of twenty of the world’s greatest leaders, Fired Up or Burned Out offers everything you need to influence, motivate, and inspire your team to achieve greatness. Complete with a twenty-day learning plan and an assessment that will help you determine the health of your organization’s culture, this must-read book provides the key to establishing a happier, healthier workplace that’s not only good for business--it’s invigorating to the people who make it happen.

Even the best of us have our off days, those days where nothing seems to be working - including the part of our brain that pumps out creative ideas. Finding the motivation to help keep our best and most creative ideas flowing is important - and sometimes we need to consciously kickstart to igniting that passion within. Whether simply feeling burned out, or maybe you've been with the company for years, and you're experiencing creative fatigue - there are ways we can help ignite the creative spark. We walk through some of the top tips, to get the creativity flowing again. Why are creativity and problem solving so important? How do the mind, creativity, and problem-solving work? What do near-death experiences tell us about the afterlife? Turbo-charge your creative mind. Know the four pathways to happiness.

The author of Expressive Writing for Healing shows readers how to explore their potential, embrace your creative spark, and live a more fulfilled life. “I’m not creative. I could never do something like that. I don’t have time to be creative.” Does any of this sound familiar? Do you find yourself wishing that you had pursued your creative talents before it was too late? In a world full of creativity, there is no such thing as “too late.” Called to Be Creative is for anyone looking to reignite that tiny spark inside of them and invite creativity into their lives through simple, everyday practices. A certified grief counselor and a Program Coordinator for Shalom Spirituality Center, Mary Potter Kenyon walks you step by step through the process of exploring your true potential in this inspirational guide to embracing your innate creativity. With in-depth research from the most notable creative authorities, insight from creative pioneers, her personal experiences, and small activities to kick-start your own creative revolution, Kenyon offers you everything you need to live a more creative life. “I devoured this book. Each chapter is filled with encouragement and inspiration. If you’re looking for something to feed your creative soul, this is it.” —Debbie Macomber, #1 New York Times bestselling author “Mary Potter Kenyon skillfully braids together stories about her personal life, stories about the lives of people she knows, philosophical ideas, practical advice, current research, and interesting and motivating activities for the reader, creating something that makes you want to put the book down and start creating something wonderful.” —Doug Shaw, author of Social Nonsense: Creative Diversions for Two or More Players

Team building and creativity for business and companies.

We’ve been conditioned to think about creative genius as a dichotomy: dreamers versus doers, creativity versus discipline, the spark versus the grind. But what if we’re wrong? What if it’s the spark and the grind? We love people whose creative genius arrives in sudden sparks of inspiration. Think of Archimedes in his bathtub or Newton under his apple tree. But we also admire people who work incredibly hard and long for their creative breakthroughs. Think of Edison in his lab, grinding through hundreds of failed variations on the lightbulb. We remember his words in tough times: “Genius is 1 percent inspiration, 99 percent perspiration.” Now Erik Wahl, a visual artist, speaker, and entre­preneur, helps us unite the yin and yang of creativity— the dynamic new ideas with the dogged effort. He shows why we won’t get far if we rely on the spark without the grind, or the grind without the spark. What the world really needs are the creators who can hold the two in balance. Fortunately, it’s possible to get good at both, as Wahl knows from experience. After his corporate career sud­denly ended, he pursued a spark—to paint photorealistic portraits—and ground it out until he got good enough to make very good art very quickly. That’s the basis of his riveting live shows, which have captivated skeptical audiences who never expected to be inspired by art—and taught them to embrace creativity in a whole new way. This book offers surprising insights and practical advice about how to fan the sparks and make the grind more productive. Wahl deftly synthesizes the wisdom of other artists, philosophers, scientists, and business visionaries throughout history, along with his own views. Here’s how he sums up his approach: The world needs people who enjoy swimming in ideas until they discover a great one. The world also needs doers who have a gift for activation, a.k.a. “getting s*** done.” But the most potent individual creators in any industry or environment have learned how to be both. They’ve learned how to spark their grind and they’ve learned how to grind their sparks. As a result, they not only make things happen, they make great things. If you want to ensure constant creativity in your life and produce your most innovative work—this is your guide.

Ignite that inner fire with the 30 engaging exercises, fun activities, inspirational images, and motivating ideas in this book. Learn what your Little Spark of creative passion looks like, how to capture it, and how to make room for it in your life. Use this guide as a month-long creative roadmap, or just dip into the exercises as your time and inclination allow. Either way, you will change your life.