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E-News 004 AUG 07

Dear yvonne,

Yvonne Adele (Ms Megabyte) is truly a multi-media personality, with a career spanning print, television, radio and of course, the internet. Yvonne now speaks on how to get the most from your people through creative thinking. Her technique is called 'popcorn thinking'.

Brennon Dowrick has represented Australia at two Olympic Games, three Commonwealth Games and 7 World Championships. He is no doubt one of Australia's finest Gymnasts. Brennon is now focusing his considerable energy on motivating corporate Australia.

Dr Caroline West specialises in wellbeing and health and is one of Australia's best-known doctors. Dr Caroline not only provides one on one advice and coaching, but is also a dynamic, entertaining speaker, an expert on health, stress management, relationships and wellbeing. Dr Caroline is a reporter/presenter on Beyond Tomorrow (Network 7 Australia and Discovery Channel).

Cheers

Marg Booth
Managing Director

Yvonne Adele, creator of the Ms Megabyte brand is commonly asked how she comes up with her creative ideas. She's now captured the process and coined it Popcorn Thinking - because using the process will make your brain pop with ideas. We asked Yvonne a few questions:

So why so much buzz about ideas lately?

Y: The Industrial and Information Age are behind us. This is the age of ideas. Harvard Business Review has identified the greatest issue in business today to be 'The Creativity Crisis'. Any organisation that requires its staff to create, innovate and solve problems must celebrate, reward, nurture and foster a culture of ideas. It is the way to future-proof your business.

And what's the difference between ideas, innovation and creative thinking?

Y: Creative Thinking is a way of coming up with Ideas. Ideas lead to Invention and Innovation.

Innovation is all about making existing things better. Innovation gives us products like Post-it Notes, and processes like Internet Banking.

Why be a creative thinker?

Y: When you're saying 'that's the way its always been done' and you're not getting it done anymore.. it's time for some creative thinking for new ideas. Once you see that creative thinking leads to more productive meetings, increased sales and lower costs - you're quickly going to embrace it as a culture.

What stops people being creative and how can we get around this?

Y: Ah.. the creativity crushers! Heard any of these before? "But that's not logical!" or "Mistakes are bad." This sort of thinking is common in people who are accustomed to leaving creative thinking to consultants... For example, it's got to be logic? - Actually, there's no place for logic. You've got to empty your mind and allow the ridiculous in. Then you'll be in an imaginative frame of mind - the best kind for popping with ideas. It makes you ready to explore and capture anything that comes in - however unrelated it may seem.

All ideas pop up when two seemingly unrelated bits of information collide.

Your creative thinking technique: Popcorn Thinking. What's it about?

Y: I have been described as an overflowing popcorn machine of ideas and people have always asked me how I 'DO. IT.'. So I set about documenting it all while researching the best creative thinking styles around the globe, and now I've put it all together into a 6 step technique that you can switch on and off whenever you need new ideas.

First, put your apron on and turn on the heat -prepare yourself and gather all the facts.

Second, toss the raw ingredients together and shake 'em up -throw out your conventional thinking and do a couple of brain stretching games to get yourself into an imaginative, playful, non-logical frame of mind.

Then, you drop the project for half a day, come back, cook the popcorn to perfection, flavour it and serve it up - presenting your ideas to the client, your boss or your peers.

So it's possible to teach anyone to be an ideas person?

Y: Yes! I asked a group of adults at a conference recently, who's an ideas person? Less than half of the room put up their hands. I asked the same question to a group of 7 year olds the week before and they all put up their hands. So what's the difference? They haven't yet been taught to ignore the constant flow of ideas. I show people how to tap into the flow again.

Force yourself to think differently by breaking your routines.. wear your watch on the other hand for a day!

And do you have any tips on how managers can foster this new Ideas Culture into the office?

Y: Ideas have to be ENCOURAGED and CELEBRATED. There should be an Ideas Box in the staff room and someone should empty it every week and put the ideas on the Intranet for everyone to see and comment on. Integrate creative thinking and ideas times into agendas and official business schedules. Have an Imagine Day where ANYTHING GOES. Put up a sign that states 'all rules here can be challenged except this one".

For more information on Yvonne's Popcorn Thinking keynote and workshop contact us at Great Expectation!

Click here for more information about Ms Megabyte

Success in life and business is something that is desirable to most people. How often do we dream of what a successful life would be like, but then not do anything about it?

From a young age successful Australian Gymnast Brennon Dowrick was told that he was not the most talented athlete in his field. Early on he realized that in order to achieve the success he dreamed about he needed a plan. Brennon decided the best way to achieve success was to Build on Strong Foundations. Throughout his career Brennon set high goals, and then worked out the steps he needed to take to achieve them. Only when he had perfected one step would he allow himself to move on.

Now as one of Australia's most in demand motivational speakers Brennon inspires his audiences to build their own careers on strong foundations. Set your goals high and then work out how each step will help you reach that peak. By working on each step to the best of your ability you will build a quality career that stands out from the crowd.

Brennon's high-energy presentation will be the highlight of your conference or event. To reinforce his words on the importance of taking steps to Build on Strong Foundations Brennon gives a live display on the pommel horse, demonstrating the skills he took many years to learn in order to construct his 9.9 Gold Medal winning routine. Your audience will come away inspired to give 100% to everyday tasks. Not only does this benefit the foundations of your team or company but there is the additional result that they will achieve success beyond even their own dreams.

Click here for more information about Brennon Dowrick

Would you like more energy, better health, more happiness and of course less stress? Well Dr Caroline West, respected TV doctor and healthy lifestyle expert can help you get there. Little steps in the right direction are all it takes to get started.

Dr Caroline has spent years travelling the globe looking at the latest developments in health and medicine for programs including Beyond Tomorrow, Beyond 2000, Good Medicine and 60 Minutes. Her stories are viewed by a global audience of 50 million in 90 countries. Combined with her extensive medical clinical experience, Dr Caroline has developed valuable and practical healthy lifestyle strategies that have helped thousands of people transform their lives. She has been described as "a medico that brings solutions to the real health issues of real people".

Dr Caroline aims to not only inform but inspire, always encouraging her clients and audience to put their knowledge into action. The focus is firmly on wellness, prevention and healthy changes that can be maintained for a lifetime.

So many of the conditions we struggle with from stress and burnout to serious medical problems have origins in our lifestyle choices. Our peak performance at work, our ability to enjoy relationships, our happiness, our physical and mental health, all mirror our lifestyle choices. Creating healthy lifestyle anchors help you remain at the top of your game both personally and professionally.

Through her keynote and seminar programs, Dr Caroline West gets people thinking and most importantly gets people moving into action. Her style and approach is informative, practical, interactive and entertaining. Little steps, little changes are all that's needed to move towards better work/life balance and a longer happier life.

Dr Caroline West runs a series of informative, interactive and entertaining keynotes and seminars including the following:

Little changes, Big results.
Little healthy changes in lifestyle are all it takes to get big long-term results.

Power sleep.
Increase your potential and performance by getting the sleep you really need.

Healthy Balance
Achieve more energy, health and wellness. Putting your work/life in balance using healthy lifestyle anchors.

Sex, stress, sport and sleep.
A fun look at all you need to know about making the most of a healthy life.

Get Happy
Live longer, feel better, lift performance and improve your relationships using the new science of happiness.

Expect the unexpected. The future of health.
Where are we now and where are we heading? A thought provoking and entertaining journey into the future of health.

Click here for more information about Dr Caroline West

IN THIS ISSUE

·         Ms Megabyte

·         Brennon Dowrick

·         Dr Caroline West

GREAT EXEPCTATION COMPETITION!

Ms Megabyte has two copies of her book "Conquer your computer" to give away. '... the perfect antidote to computer fears and frustrations. If she can teach me, she can teach anyone!' BERT NEWTON

For your chance to win a copy simply answer our question at the bottom of the newsletter or enter here!

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Speaker's Videos!

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Popcorn Thinking Workshops

Yvonne Adele developed the fresh new creative thinking technique called Popcorn Thinking.

It truly does have you popping with ideas whenever you need them - ideas which you can use to innovate your business processes, client services or create new products.

Yvonne Adele will be in Brisbane during October 31th and November 1st and we're calling for an expression of interest for her Popcorn Thinking workshop. For more information Click Here!

So get your team together at your location or let us know if you'd like to join a larger audience at an inner-city venue to be confirmed.
To express your interest email us today!
team@greatexpectation.com.au

This workshop is Brain Food for Creative Ideas!

Christmas Ideas!

Looking for some Comedy to give your staff a Christmas Party to remember?

Availability is filling fast for quality acts, forward an enquiry today to avoid disappointment.

Here are some video suggestions.

These professionals are currently available for end of year celebrations...

Graeme Bowman
Phil Cass
David Cummings
Syd Heylen
Andrew Horabin
James Lamont
Bruno Lucia
Scott Williams

Great Expectation Competition

If you have difficulty filling out these questions from your email, please try to complete them online by clicking here.

1. Popcorn Thinking is a process that will make your brain pop with ...?

( ) Frustration
( ) Ideas
( ) Facts and Figures

[Submitt Answer]