Curiosity is straight fire for creativity. By exploring, you bring insights and inspiration to imagination.

If we always look in the same old places for the same old things with the same old people, we'll always have the same old ideas. Rendezvous with the unfamiliar.

In childhood when I would whine to my mother that I was bored, she would say, 'Wonderful! That means you get to invent something fun and interesting to do.' I find the same refrain applies in adulthood.

With all there is to experience and create in this world, if I'm bored, then I'm a boring person.

If you're bored with something, act as if you're seeing it for the first time. Look at it with new eyes. Pretend you're seeing it as a film director, theme park designer or your Aunt Josie—anything that provides a change in perspective. To beat boredom, make the familiar unfamiliar.

Ideas seldom sell themselves. In fact, the bolder the idea, the more it needs selling. Fresh ideas challenge people to let go of old ideas in order to embrace the new ideas. Selling helps that happen.

To connect with decision makers, we need to present ideas in their language, not ours. Know their business. Talk with them, not at them. Otherwise, they can't hear us when we speak.

Associate with people who support and boost your creativity, not those who discourage fresh ideas and forward motion. Friends who aren't friends with our creativity probably aren't truly friends.

Creativity isn't for sissies. It takes guts to hold up ideas for people to criticize, reject or ignore. But the possible pain is worth the potential payoff.