We’ve been conditioned to think about creative genius as a dichotomy: dreamers versus doers, creativity versus discipline, the spark versus the grind. But what if we’re wrong? What if it’s the spark and the grind? We love people whose creative genius arrives in sudden sparks of inspiration. Think of Archimedes in his bathtub or Newton under his apple tree. But we also admire people who work incredibly hard and long for their creative breakthroughs. Think of Edison in his lab, grinding through hundreds of failed variations on the lightbulb. We remember his words in tough times: “Genius is 1 percent inspiration, 99 percent perspiration.” Now Erik Wahl, a visual artist, speaker, and entre­preneur, helps us unite the yin and yang of creativity— the dynamic new ideas with the dogged effort. He shows why we won’t get far if we rely on the spark without the grind, or the grind without the spark. What the world really needs are the creators who can hold the two in balance. Fortunately, it’s possible to get good at both, as Wahl knows from experience. After his corporate career sud­denly ended, he pursued a spark—to paint photorealistic portraits—and ground it out until he got good enough to make very good art very quickly. That’s the basis of his riveting live shows, which have captivated skeptical audiences who never expected to be inspired by art—and taught them to embrace creativity in a whole new way. This book offers surprising insights and practical advice about how to fan the sparks and make the grind more productive. Wahl deftly synthesizes the wisdom of other artists, philosophers, scientists, and business visionaries throughout history, along with his own views. Here’s how he sums up his approach: The world needs people who enjoy swimming in ideas until they discover a great one. The world also needs doers who have a gift for activation, a.k.a. “getting s*** done.” But the most potent individual creators in any industry or environment have learned how to be both. They’ve learned how to spark their grind and they’ve learned how to grind their sparks. As a result, they not only make things happen, they make great things. If you want to ensure constant creativity in your life and produce your most innovative work—this is your guide.

An interactive guide for teens shares quizzes and activity suggestions for navigating the tumultuous, confusing and sometimes depressing challenges of adolescence, sharing positive advice on topics ranging from relationships and self-image to willpower and learning from failure.

You were born with a creative spark inside. Do you look at yourself now and wonder if the spark has gone out? Ignite that inner fire with the 30 engaging exercises, fun activities, inspirational images, and motivating ideas in this book. Learn what your Little Spark of creative passion looks like, how to capture it, and how to make room for it in your life. Read the book cover-to-cover and use it as a month-long creative roadmap, or just dip into the exercises as your time and inclination allow. Either way, you will change your life.

Ignite is the ultimate how-to book for church leaders who want to reach more people for Jesus Christ. Pastor and founder of Church Leader Insights, Nelson Searcy, will provide practical, inventive guidelines for bringing first-time guests through the doors. This book sets forth a step-by-step, biblically grounded, proven plan for creating immediate church growth by utilizing a "Big Day" to mobilize the church for evangelism. This user-friendly guide will show church leaders what they need to do to reach the unchurched in their communities and break through the debilitating growth barriers that are holding them back. Through the inspiration of testimonies and stories, combined with the down-to-earth, applicable teaching that Searcy readers have come to expect and appreciate, Ignite will give church leaders the tools they desperately need to reach and keep modern-minded, unchurched people to create and sustain growth momentum.

A NEW emphasis IN THIS edition of Spark the Brain, Ignite the Pen is writing to learn in the content areas. This edition of the work first published in 2006 includes a collection of classroom-tested quick writes designed to assist students in thinking and writing about significant content in the disciplines. Contributors to the book teach a wide array of grade levels (K through college) and subject areas e.g., English, social studies, math, science and health), and the quick writes included in the book are ideal for use in a variety of classroom subjects and settings. Given the current research validating the impact of using writing tasks to learn content, this volume should be useful to a wide range of teachers, teacher educators, and professional development trainers K-12.

Maddi has a special secret to share . . . everyone has a superpower! Your superpower is your “spark,” that feeling inside you that helps you do amazing things and change the world around you. Everyone’s spark is different. Are you ready to find yours? With a powerful message that there is no person too young or idea too small, Your Secret Superpower inspires and challenges children to discover their passions and make the world a better place. All proceeds from this book will be donated to local children’s hospitals.

5 Steps that Will Ignite Your Business Culture and Inspire Employees to Drive and Sustain Growth Great companies set themselves apart from competitors by recognizing the key to continual success is energizing and empowering their most important asset ...their people. In Culture Spark: 5 Steps to Ignite and Sustain Organizational Growth, business development expert, Jason Richmond, delivers proven insights that help you define, diagnose, plan, measure, and sustain an enterprising culture that breeds employee achievement and peak success. Through tips, templates, case studies, and action plans, he shows you step-by-step how to: Understand what culture really is and why a great one is essential today Recognize why fulfilled employees are your key to growth and customer satisfaction Develop a culture where purpose and profit are of equal value and importance Define and shape the culture you want and unleash the full power of your people And much more! In addition, Culture Spark shows you how to recapture the startup spirit that evolved your business from a raw idea into a living, breathing success story. Jason Richmond also reveals the secrets to building an organizational culture that exudes the same characteristics as people you trust, respect, and admire the most. Shatter 6 Lingering Myths About Business Culture As you read Culture Spark, you'll gain an in-depth understanding of what defines culture and its importance in organizations today. Along the way, Jason Richmond shatters limiting beliefs and myths to reveal hard truths, such as ... Developing culture ISN'T HR's job Perks and benefits DO NOT create great culture Hiring for culture IS incredibly important Great culture DOESN'T have to cost a fortune Culture is NOT a passing fad Culture is NOT created on its own By debunking myths and defining precisely what culture is, Jason Richmond helps you develop an extensive understanding of the vital impact organizational culture has on ... Recruiting Sales Growth development Succession planning ... ...and other aspects of your business!