The Fertile Unknown

Where's the "Co"?

I was clearing out old files and I stumbled across notes from a class I took in high school. On one of the pages was written:

The Most Common Prefixes

Prefix              Meaning
pre-                 before
de-                  away, down
inter-               between, among
ob-                  against
in-                   into
mono-              alone,one
epi-                  upon
ad-                   to, towards
un-                   not
non-                 not
re-                   back, again
pro-                 forward, for
in-                   not
dis-                 apart, not
over-               above
sub-                 under
mis-                 wrong
trans-               across, beyond

At the time, I never thought anything about it, but coming to it today, what immediately struck me was the lack of the prefix co- which means together, jointly, mutually. I wonder if that reflected the culture of the times, or if it still would not show up today as one of the most important prefixes...?

Understand Innovation in 5 minutes

Innovation has become a big buzz word these days, and is often thrown around as a business value or mission without an understanding of what it means. It is also often used interchangeably with the word creativity, a universal process that may or may not lead to innovation. I found this slideshow at www.brokenbulbs.com and thought it was a great, short intro to innovation: Understand-innovation-in-5-minutes.

Improv for Leaders at the Capitol Creativity Network

I will be leading this month's program at the Capitol Creativity Network. If you will be around the Washington, DC area on August 13th, feel free to join us. Here is the write-up:

Improv for Leaders
Applying the Principles & Practices of Improvisational Theater in Work

Presented by Michelle James, CEO of The Center for Creative Emergence & Performer with Precipice Improv

Today's world requires leaders and entrepreneurs to work within ambiguity and uncertainty and still confidently move forward - just like improvisers. Effective leaders and improvisers both have to make spur of the moment decisions, synthesize information, incorporate new information, make others look good, innovate, make relevant connections and serve the good of the whole...often on the spot!

Improv-based learning helps people break patterns in order to respond in new ways. Improv takes us into the present moment where new possibilities open up. In this light-hearted, fun and energizing workshop, you will experience the principles and practices of improvisational theater to enhance your leadership performance by getting past the inner critic, risking in a safe space, and going from either/or to yes and thinking. No improv experience is necessary.  Improvisational skills help enhance core leadership competencies such as:

> Thinking on Your feet while under pressure
> Adapting as new information and situations emerge
> Resourcefulness - using the unexpected as opportunity
> Resilience - bouncing back quickly after "failures" or dead ends
> Ours thinking - team thinking in terms of WE

When: Wednesday, August 13 ~ 7:00-9:30pm
Where: Cleveland Park Club House ~ Washington, DC
Registration: $20 at the door

For directions and more details, go to www.capitolcreativitynetwork.com