Rory's Story Cubes - the counterbalance to Soduku!
Here is a web variation of a game called
Rory's Story Cubes. I invented these using creative problem solving. Designed for all ages, Rory's Story Cubes and this web variant will help develop your imagination, creative thinking and pattern matching skills.
Here is today's grid...
Instructions for Rory's Story Cubes...
- Starting with "Once upon a time..." create a story that somehow links together all the symbols in the Grid.
- You can start with any symbol, and end with any symbol.
- Use each symbol at least once.
Simply, but fun.
I'd really appreciate it if you posted your stories as comments.
And be sure to check back for more stories. I'll aim to add one a day.
Here is a web variation of a game called
Rory's Story Cubes. I invented these using creative problem solving. Designed for all ages, Rory's Story Cubes and this web variant will help develop your imagination, creative thinking and pattern matching skills.
Here is today's grid...
Instructions for Rory's Story Cubes...
- Starting with "Once upon a time..." create a story that somehow links together all the symbols in the Grid.
- You can start with any symbol, and end with any symbol.
- Use each symbol at least once.
Simply, but fun.
I'd really appreciate it if you posted your stories as comments.
And be sure to check back for more stories. I'll aim to add one a day.
How do you explain birth to a 2 year old using the back of an envelope?
My wife and I are due our second baby in March. Some of the literature we have been reading recommended drawing pictures to show how the baby is inside the womb. This is supposed to communicate that it is this baby in the womb that will be coming back from the hospital. The goal is to reduce the level of shock the eldest child will experience during what is known as 'dethronement' - when they are no longer the Number 1 in the house.
Well, I drew the diagram (above), and we explained it all. I even used arrows, as you can see. It was these arrows that cracked me up, at the absurdity of the diagram.
I especially like the baby up in the left-hand corner. When drawing the diagram I asked my daughter, where the baby was. She pointed here, so I drew the baby in. I figured that she might know something tha I didn't - having been born not so long ago herself!
So it got me thinking...what is the strangest thing you have written/drawn/seen/read on the back on an envelope? If you have a picture, email it, and I will post it here.
Until next time...
My wife and I are due our second baby in March. Some of the literature we have been reading recommended drawing pictures to show how the baby is inside the womb. This is supposed to communicate that it is this baby in the womb that will be coming back from the hospital. The goal is to reduce the level of shock the eldest child will experience during what is known as 'dethronement' - when they are no longer the Number 1 in the house.
Well, I drew the diagram (above), and we explained it all. I even used arrows, as you can see. It was these arrows that cracked me up, at the absurdity of the diagram.
I especially like the baby up in the left-hand corner. When drawing the diagram I asked my daughter, where the baby was. She pointed here, so I drew the baby in. I figured that she might know something tha I didn't - having been born not so long ago herself!
So it got me thinking...what is the strangest thing you have written/drawn/seen/read on the back on an envelope? If you have a picture, email it, and I will post it here.
Until next time...
Is Work/Life Balance important to you?
One of the ways that I introduce the benefits of creative problem solving is through the idea of 'work life balance'. This term seems to be understood by most people. And many tend to agree that there is room for improvement here.
Okay, so here's how I do it...
On a scale of 0-10 rate how you perceive your work/life balance. 0 (zero) means it is totally out of whack, and 10 (ten) means you are totally happy with it.
Please, do this now...it only takes a moment. When scoring, go for the first number that jumps into your head before you can 'edit' it.
So, did you score a 10? If you did, great! If not, why not? What are the issues, challenges and/or beliefs that are preventing it from being a 10?
Try listing a few. Is it an issue in work? Is it a relationship? Is it a believe that you should be doing more or less of 'x'? I invite you to list at least 3 issues that result in your score not being a 10.
In doing this exercise, I currently score myself a 6. The reason I do not score a 10, would be my levels of energy, fitness and focus. So, some issues for me are:
1. lack of sleep (going to bed late)
2. energy levels
3. overall focus in work
4. the amount of coffee I drink
5. Housekeeping and maintenance
In the next post, I will share how you can start to address some of the issues you listed. And I'll be using the issues listed above as an example.
Until then.
Rory
One of the ways that I introduce the benefits of creative problem solving is through the idea of 'work life balance'. This term seems to be understood by most people. And many tend to agree that there is room for improvement here.
Okay, so here's how I do it...
On a scale of 0-10 rate how you perceive your work/life balance. 0 (zero) means it is totally out of whack, and 10 (ten) means you are totally happy with it.
Please, do this now...it only takes a moment. When scoring, go for the first number that jumps into your head before you can 'edit' it.
So, did you score a 10? If you did, great! If not, why not? What are the issues, challenges and/or beliefs that are preventing it from being a 10?
Try listing a few. Is it an issue in work? Is it a relationship? Is it a believe that you should be doing more or less of 'x'? I invite you to list at least 3 issues that result in your score not being a 10.
In doing this exercise, I currently score myself a 6. The reason I do not score a 10, would be my levels of energy, fitness and focus. So, some issues for me are:
1. lack of sleep (going to bed late)
2. energy levels
3. overall focus in work
4. the amount of coffee I drink
5. Housekeeping and maintenance
In the next post, I will share how you can start to address some of the issues you listed. And I'll be using the issues listed above as an example.
Until then.
Rory
This posting has been a long time coming. I have threatened over the past year to start keeping a blog. And now is the time. My plan is to post on a daily(ish) basis any thoughts and insights relating to my work and discoveries in the areas of creative problem solving, learning and personal development. I'll also be sharing the highs and lows of the cross-community conflict resolution work here in Northern Ireland.
On top of that I also plan to log my experiences in bringing
The Inner Vision Deck,
Rory's Story Cubes and iSolve to market. These are just three of the products that I have invented using Creative Problem Solving. Each is in varying degrees of development.
As for the title of the blog, Little Red Brain is the nickname that my wife has given to the red-cover spiralbound notebooks that I carry everywhere with me. I use them to capture ideas, to do's and general thoughts and awarenesses. This blog is essentially and extension of that little red notebook.
To kick things I would like to point you towards the site of
Win Wenger and Project Renaissance, in which I am involved. This site kicked of my real love of Creative Problem Solving as a powerful tool for transformation. I trained with Win in the use of Creative Problem Solving back in 2003. Much of his material is the equivalent of Open Source, in that it is freely available. I can personally testify that the techniques described on the site work, as I have used them to invent the products mentioned above.
Until next time. Rory.
This posting has been a long time coming. I have threatened over the past year to start keeping a blog. And now is the time. My plan is to post on a daily(ish) basis any thoughts and insights relating to my work and discoveries in the areas of creative problem solving, learning and personal development. I'll also be sharing the highs and lows of the cross-community conflict resolution work here in Northern Ireland.
On top of that I also plan to log my experiences in bringing
The Inner Vision Deck,
Rory's Story Cubes and iSolve to market. These are just three of the products that I have invented using Creative Problem Solving. Each is in varying degrees of development.
As for the title of the blog, Little Red Brain is the nickname that my wife has given to the red-cover spiralbound notebooks that I carry everywhere with me. I use them to capture ideas, to do's and general thoughts and awarenesses. This blog is essentially and extension of that little red notebook.
To kick things I would like to point you towards the site of
Win Wenger and Project Renaissance, in which I am involved. This site kicked of my real love of Creative Problem Solving as a powerful tool for transformation. I trained with Win in the use of Creative Problem Solving back in 2003. Much of his material is the equivalent of Open Source, in that it is freely available. I can personally testify that the techniques described on the site work, as I have used them to invent the products mentioned above.
Until next time. Rory.
