PRAISE FOR
CREATIVE CONFIDENCE
“A five-star WOW! This wonderful, heartwarming book may literally change the world. Indeed, it must change the world. Don’t just read it. Use it. Now.”
—TOM PETERS, BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF IN SEARCH OF EXCELLENCE
“An indispensable field guide for creative explorers of all kinds. This compelling book will help build creative muscles for when you need them most.”
—TODD SPALETTO, PRESIDENT, THE NORTH FACE
“Creativity is not magic, it’s a skill. Get this book and learn the skill from the brothers who have taught it to more people—from nurses to bankers to teachers to computer scientists—than anyone else.”
—CHIP HEATH, AUTHOR OF MADE TO STICK, SWITCH, AND DECISIVE
“A cross between Steve Jobs’ commencement speech on creativity and a modern-day What Color Is Your Parachute?, the Kelley brothers offer simple but effective tools for the ‘I’m not creative’ set—business leaders and professionals seeking the confidence to innovate.”
—JOHN MAEDA, PRESIDENT AND CEO, RHODE ISLAND SCHOOL OF DESIGN
“This is the only book about creativity that you’ll ever need.”
—GUY KAWASAKI, AUTHOR OF APE: AUTHOR, PUBLISHER, ENTREPRENEUR
“In hospitality—like in all industries—creativity is the life blood of engaging employees and guests (customers) and it is the capacity that allows you to strengthen your brand with every interaction. This book can help you engage powerfully with employees and customers and keep your brand relevant through changing times.”
—MARK HOPLAMAZIAN, PRESIDENT AND CEO, HYATT HOTELS CORPORATION
“Tom and David have put together a practical, useful and generous book that’s essential reading for anyone in the business of being creative.”
—SETH GODIN, AUTHOR OF THE ICARUS DECEPTION
“I have long marveled at the Kelley brothers’ ability to innovate in seemingly impenetrable fields (like health care). Now they’ve unfettered that power in all of us, sharing the tools and inspiring the confidence we need to find the very best solutions to complex problems we face at work—and in our personal lives.”
—GARY L. GOTTLIEB, M.D., PRESIDENT AND CEO, PARTNERS HEALTHCARE SYSTEM
“David and Tom have written an incredibly insightful book that challenges us all to have the courage to break out of our ruts, innovate, and create.”
—TIM KOOGLE, FORMER PRESIDENT AND CEO, YAHOO
“Developing both the courage and confidence to create and the ability to cultivate original insight is of enormous practical importance, and this new book is the first place I send people to learn how it is done.”
—RICHARD MILLER, PRESIDENT, OLIN COLLEGE
“David and Tom Kelley show us how to effortlessly dance between the creativity of elementary school and the pragmatism of the business world.”
—JOE GEBBIA, COFOUNDER, AIRBNB
William Collins
An imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers 1 London Bridge Street London SE1 9GF www.WilliamCollinsBooks.com
First published in Great Britain by William Collins in 2013
First published in the United States by Crown Business in 2013
Copyright © David Kelley and Tom Kelley 2013
David Kelley and Tom Kelley assert the moral right to be identified as the authors of this work.
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins.
Illustrations by Beau Bergeron, Alyana Cazalet, and Dan Roam Jacket design by Martin Kay
Ebook Edition © October 2013 ISBN: 9780007518005
Version: 2015-12-16
To Mom & Dad …
who gave us the freedom to express creative ideas, and the confidence to act on them
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION THE HEART OF INNOVATION
CHAPTER 1 FLIP FROM DESIGN THINKING TO CREATIVE CONFIDENCE
CHAPTER 2 DARE FROM FEAR TO COURAGE
CHAPTER 3 SPARK FROM BLANK PAGE TO INSIGHT
CHAPTER 4 LEAP FROM PLANNING TO ACTION
CHAPTER 5 SEEK FROM DUTY TO PASSION
CHAPTER 6 TEAM CREATIVELY CONFIDENT GROUPS