#open to think

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Win 1 Of 5 Signed Copies Of OPEN TO THINK

Win 1 Of 5 Signed Copies Of OPEN TO THINK

If you’d like to win one of five signed copies of Dan’s latest book, OPEN TO THINK: Slow Down, Think Creatively and Make Better Decisions, simply subscribe to his “irregular newsletter.”

Published 3-5 times per year, Dan’s newsletter is usually chock full of free goodies including articles and columns he’s written, podcasts he has recorded, links to talks he has delivered, and the occasional…

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A Reader's OPEN TO THINK Question About Critical Thinking & Students

A Reader’s OPEN TO THINK Question About Critical Thinking & Students

A reader reached out to me with a question. They are in the middle of the book, immersed in the section devoted to Critical Thinking. Their profession is as a higher education professor.

I found it to be a compelling question, one that I’d like to share with you replete with my response.

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Dear Dan,

I’m currently reading OPEN TO THINK and enjoying it.  May buy a hat! Just started…

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The Critical Importance Of Being Focused With High Energy

The Critical Importance Of Being Focused With High Energy

Have you ever wondered why some employees always accomplish their goals?

How about those who do so way ahead of schedule?

And then there are team members who not only beat the clock on those deadlines; they take on additional tasks making you look like a mere mortal.

It turns out those types of incredibly focused and high-energy people are the minority. But they are they ever loathed by us mere…

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Effective Leaders Operate Like This

I was five minutes early for the meeting. I could see through the glass wall the individual I was set to meet was on a conference call. There were two other people in the office. The leader motioned to me to enter. And so I did, although in hindsight I wish I hadn’t.

“Dan, it’s so good to see you,” chimed the leader. I wondered to myself if I should be listening in on the conference call, which…

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Technology Was Supposed To Save Us. It Hasn't.

Technology Was Supposed To Save Us. It Hasn’t.

I’m GenX, born in 1971. I grew up with a black-and-white television. When our first color TV came into the home as I was approaching ten years old, my dad put on the 6:00 p.m. news. After ten minutes of boredom I proceeded to pour my glass of chocolate milk down the back of the set, into the cathode ray tube, and poof, there went the color TV.

We were without television for quite some time.

Of…

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The Link Between Creative Thinking And Your Time

New Thoughts: The Link Between Creative Thinking And Your Time #OPENTOTHINK

One of the reasons you might suffer from a lack of creativity boils down to time.

You have become so busy, there is no time to be creative. At least that’s what you say to yourself.

And because you have become so busy, you ignore the warning signs of remaining in the murky depths of the status quo.

“Creative Thinking is important in any organization, but it’s often overlooked in one of the most…

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Everything Is Urgent! Everything Is Urgent! Everything Is Urgent!

Everything Is Urgent! Everything Is Urgent! Everything Is Urgent! #OPENTOTHINK

It’s the middle of a client meeting. There are six of us. We are discussing the rather dismal results of a team’s level of engagement. The conversation includes long-term measures and changes needed to fix things. It started late because the leader was not exactly punctual. Suddenly her phone rings.

“Just a second,” she quickly states, “this call is important.”

The leader disappears for 20…

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