Transcending Traditional Thinking to Create & Innovate

“It’s not that easy to ‘think differently,’ because unconsciously, we are filtering the world through what we expect to see and what we have seen in the past. So, much of my work is trying to get people to change that mindset.”

– Nigel Barlow, Business Innovation Speaker & Trustee of the David Lynch Foundation UK

Welcome to OnBrand! In this episode, host Sarah Grace McCandless sits down with Nigel Barlow, a business innovation speaker, transcendental meditation (TM) teacher, and trustee of the David Lynch Foundation UK, to discuss how wellness practices like TM can help people unlock creativity, why it’s important to think differently, and how this can lead to true innovation to better meet the needs of the world around us. Don’t miss it!

Have you ever wondered why you have your best ideas in the shower?

Often, when we let our minds be free to imagine and wander, creativity strikes much harder than it did staring at a blank page. That’s why practices like TM are so valuable both in business and in our day-to-day lives.

“I think the interesting thing with meditation is, you’re using a technology of consciousness, but it’s an inner technology — not the same technology that makes your computer work — and connection,” Nigel says. “They key to really being creative is to turn your perceptions inside-out. See the world from the market, from the consumer, from the potential consumer, from someone else’s perspective. Usually we see black on white, here’s white on black. The other way around. The point is, it changes our perception. But it’s not easy.”

Despite the difficulty, taking the time to transcend well-worn thought processes and start rewiring yourself toward creative thinking can make it much easier to start unlocking fresh ideas. Thinking through problems from all angles can help reveal new strategies to augment everything from the products you create to the experiences you design for customers. All it takes is time, patience, and a willingness to try.

“We all have the capacity to think in terms of possibility — to think more creatively — and to bring it to our personal and professional lives,” Nigel says.

Originally an Oxford-educated barrister, Nigel’s unique ability to inspire others and explain the science of thinking differently have led to his involvement with major brands like Hewlett-Packard, Louis Vuitton, Microsoft, Nestlé, and Apple Education. He is also the author of three books, including Rethink: How to Think Differently, Rock Your Presentation: A New Guide to Speaking With Passion, and Batteries Included!.

Join us to learn how centering ourselves through wellness practices can help us create, innovate, lead, and inspire in this episode of OnBrand!

Episode Resources

Nigel Barlow (Twitter)

Nigel Barlow (Website)