Santa Clara University

The Riddle: Where Ideas Come From and How To Have Better Ones featuring Andrew Razeghi

Wednesday, August 13, 2008
8:30 - 10:45 am (continental breakfast begins at 8:00 am)
Price: $99, includes continental breakfast and a copy of his book, The Riddle: Where Ideas Come From and How To Have Better Ones)
Location: Benson Center - Mission Room (lower level)
Santa Clara University campus

Have you ever had a problem you couldn't figure out no matter how hard you tried? Someone likely advised you to "Take a break. Don't think so hard." And so you did. And then, on waking up, while in the shower, or while stuck in traffic, it happened. "Aha!" you said. "I've got it! I've figured it out!" Just when you least expected it, you became suddenly creative and an instant innovator was born.

In this fascinating program, best-selling author and Kellogg School of Management professor Andrew Razeghi will take you on a journey into the precise moment of creative insight known famously as the Eureka moment. Professor Razeghi will explain why it happens, when it happens, and most importantly - what you can do to make it happen more often.

As it turns out, "thinking differently" may be oversold. If you want to learn to be more innovative, Razeghi will help you understand:

• why you have your best ideas when you are least likely trying to have them
• how emotion, knowledge, and memory may help/hinder your creativity
• how to improve your creativity by practicing common pre-cursors to Eureka!

Andrew Razeghi is adjunct associate professor at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. As a writer, educator, and advisor to organizations on creativity, innovation and leadership, his work spans industries, from consumer packaged goods to healthcare, tourism to media, and non-profit organizations to professional sports teams. FAST COMPANY magazine has selected Razeghi's newest book, The Riddle as one of its "Smart Books" for 2008.

What they're saying about the book:

"The Riddle is a remarkable gift cleverly wrapped in a "must read" book. Razeghi thoughtfully awakens and immerses us in that "eyes wide open, believing is seeing, blissfully ignorant" state of childhood so desperately needed in our world today...The Riddle is not just a right of passage surprise party for your brain but a compelling travel guide for your eager neurons and creative juices." - Thomas Stat, Relationship Designer, Innovation Alchemist, IDEO

"Every innovator in the world looks constantly for the Eureka moment. The Riddle is a must read book for every problem solver to understand the creative process and to learn how to provoke Eureka moments continuously." - Salvador Alva, President, PepsiCo Foods & Beverages Latin America