“What the heck is a Sip-see?” It’s a question many of us who are long-time attendees at CPSI (pronounced Sip-see) asked once. And it was a question that made a huge difference.
I attended my first Creative Problem Solving Institute when I was wrapping up my graduate degree in creativity and innovation. And like most near graduates, I was confident that I knew all there was to know about creativity. Ah, if only I could say that I wasn’t arrogant AND ignorant. Unfortunately, I was (fortunately, now I’m perfect. As if!)!
Since there’s always way more to learn, year after year I keep returning to CPSI in order to teach, but mainly to learn more about creative thinking tools and techniques, problem-solving methodologies, and how it affects innovation. Many of the New & Improved-ers attend regularly for the same reason. Again, and again.
This year, Janeen Whalen will be leading a multi-day course on coaching through unpredictable change. Bob Eckert, Newell Eaton and I will be leading a multi-day course on Leading Innovation in a difficult economy. Gerard Puccio will be leading a certification course on the FourSight Breakthrough Thinker profile. And others from our crew as well as many other great thinkers and leaders like Dean Kamen (inventor of the Segway and other very cool things), Sarah Miller Caldicott (Thomas Edison’s great grandniece), Keith Sawyer (author of “Group Genius: The Creative Power of Collaboration.”), and so many more.
The range of offerings on creativity is vast, as it should be. It’s a mix of people from business, academia, not-for-profit, government, researchers, free-thinkers and “whackos.” This combination is invigorating, thought-stimulating, and creates a culture of creative thinking that is inimitable – and more fun than a lake full of Jell-O. That’s why I return every year. As my friend Gregg Fraley (another creative genius and leader) put it so well, “I’m not getting paid to say so, in fact, I’m paying them…I can only tell you that there’s a reason why 200 professional practitioners, volunteers, people at the top of the consulting heap, pay their own way, and work for free at CPSI…[They teach] the 500 odd participants Creative Problem Solving…because most of them owe their careers to what they learned at CPSI (and they go to keep learning). I know I do.” Me too! Read his full blog entry at: www.greggfraley.com/blog
But don’t take Gregg’s word for it, or mine. Here are some other people talking it up:
Amy Basic http://segami2.blogspot.com
Renee Callahan Hopkins http://www.innosight.com/blog/
Missy Carvin http://filedundermissylaneous.blogspot.com
Whitney Ferre’ http://www.creativelyfit.wordpress.com
Pablo Munoz http://blog.latercera.cl/blog/pmunoz/entry/entrenando_la_creatividad
Maggie Dugan http://maternal-dementia.com
My first CPSI, when I walked in thinking I knew it all was a bit disconcerting. At first, I walked around listening and talking to people, and as I did I was thinking, “they don’t know anything about creativity!” Finally, after a couple days of it, I realized that it was I who didn’t know anything about creativity. I’ve learned a lot in my practice, research and 20-plus CPSI events, and there’s still so much more to learn. And more fun to be had!
So I hope you’ll join me at CPSI from June 21-24, 2009, in the Boston, MA, area. Find out more at: http://www.cpsiconference.com/
I rank the Sippee cup with the automobile and telephone as great inventions of the last 200 years. Even though our oldest is now 18, we still have his memorial sippee cup kicking around in the kitchen. It saved many a rug, and lots of apple juice from running between the car seats. . .
Posted by: Eric | 05/21/2009 at 09:08 PM
Finally! Someplace I can take my evil twin and not have to worry about him drooling on me. Do they give me a Sipsey Cup as soon as I arrive? Or do I have to keep wearing the New & Improved bib until I earn the cup?
Posted by: Bob & his Evil Twin | 05/21/2009 at 07:42 PM