Shedding Light on The Art of The Idea

Often the strongest ideas are the simplest ones. John Hunt, author of an insightful new book called The Art of The Idea, describes two categories of people: sunrisers and sunsetters. "A sunriser gives out energy, a sunsetter sucks it away," he writes. "A sunriser goes through life open to the idea that the best may still be coming. A sunset person is heavy in the knowledge that the best is past."

Guess which kind of person suffocates creativity and which is best in a brainstorm session determined to spur fresh ideas and creative breakthroughs.

Hunt, a South African and worldwide creative director of the advertising agency TBWA, says that age has nothing to do with which category anyone falls into. In fact, Hunt, who was intimately involved in Nelson Mandela's election campaign in 1993, describes South Africa's extraordinary leader as "the most sunrise person I've ever met...Often in meetings, he'd listen to people angry about the past. When they were finished, he's agree with them. They were right, he'd say. Then he'd ask that their anger at the past not contaminate the future...Mandela knew that if he based his ideas on the evils of the past, he'd soon have a sunset country."

Hunt's short book -- filled with pithy, well-written observations and charming artwork from South African artist Sam Nhlengethwa -- aims to give room  for ideas to breathe, be it in a jam-packed meeting or alone on an airplane. It's based on his experience that original thinking really can happen in a group and that the power of an idea is not based on who owns it but how it's shared.

That's a view worth exploring. You can see an interview with Hunt on an interesting blog -- mad-blog.com-- created by TBWA to "celebrate media arts and disruption."

Comments

[Nike outlet]

Lots of site feature these advertising system and many have signed on to reap the benefits.

[Mario]

Top Shelf!!! Like the post above said, you definitely need balls for this shit. If you've got what it takes, you are in for the time of your life. I still laugh about crap that penhepad 3 years ago, let alone last summer lol. Can't wait for the next one. GET ON YOUR GAME FACE!!!!

[Enosie]

It seems like it's easier to spend money than it is to be thuhgotful when trying to communicate your feelings for someone. It's especially easier to spend money when you've waited until the last minute. So listening, knowing the other person and planning ahead are all things that can help you save money. Also, don't get sucked into the trap created by retail marketeers around a holiday. I'm sure your honey bunny would love candy, flowers, a card and a diamond necklace (retail value $350), but maybe that scarf (MSRP $35) she pointed out to you last week that you noticed matched her eyes (priceless) would convey the sentiment even better for a tenth of the cost.