Page 129 - Keys To Community College Success

is the company 2Kool and the clothing and workshops it produces, founded by graffiti
artists Bimmer Torres and Ratha Sok who challenged the assumption that graffiti is
simply defacement of property.
Try on another point of view. Ask others for their perspectives, read about new
ways to approach situations, or risk going with the opposite of your first instinct.
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Then use what you learn to inspire creativity. For a political science course, for
example, you might craft a position paper for a senatorial candidate that goes
against your position on that particular issue. For a fun example of how looking at
something in a new way can unearth a totally different idea, look at the perception Critical, Creative, and Practical Thinking
puzzles in Key 4.6.

Ask “what if” questions. Set up imaginary environments in which new ideas can
grow, such as “What if I had unlimited money or time?” For example, the founders of
Seeds of Peace, faced with long-term conflict in the Middle East, took the risk to ask:
What if Israeli and Palestinian teens met at a summer camp in Maine to build mutual
understanding and respect? Based on the ideas that came up, they created an organiza-
tion that provides enormous reward to teenagers from the Middle East, helping them
to develop leadership and communication skills.

Take Risks

Creative breakthroughs can come from targeted risk-taking.
Go against established ideas. The founders of Etsy.com went against the idea that
the American consumer prefers cheap, conventional, mass-produced items. In 2005,
they took the risk of creating an online company that allows artisans to offer one-of-
a-kind, handmade products to the consumer, and were rewarded with a thriving site
that has also created a community of artists and personally connects each artist to his
or her customers.
Risk leaving your comfort zone. Rewards can come when you seek out new experi-
ences and environments. Go somewhere you’ve never been. Play music you’ve never
heard of. Seek out people who interest you but with whom you would not normally
connect. Check out an international or independent film or documentary that is com-
pletely outside of your experience. Even small risks like these can create ideas that
generate big changes.

KEY 4.6 Use perception puzzles to experience a shift
in perspective.

There are two possibilities for each image. What do you see?
(See page 105 for answers.)

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