The de Bono Weekly Message – EU Thinking: Idea Creativity

I was in Prague on January 7th for the launch of the European Year of Creativity, 2009.  The Czech Republic has the presidency of the EU for the first half of 2009.   As usual, one of the big problems … Continue reading

The de Bono Weekly Message – EU Ambassador for Thinking

The European Union has declared 2009 to be the year of Creativity. On December 5th. I was officially appointed ‘Ambassador for Thinking’ for the European Union. Among other things I shall be issuing a monthly ‘World Thinking Report’. There may be … Continue reading

The de Bono Weekly Message – Creativity and the Risk Factor

Too often people think of creativity as being concerned with new products, new services and new markets. All of these imply a risk factor. So in difficult times people tend to reduce their creative efforts.    It could be argued … Continue reading

The de Bono Weekly Message – Two Functions of an Organisation

  There are at least two key functions in any organisation. The first function is continuity. This means keeping things going as they are going. That includes solving the problems that arise and interfere with the continuity. Most executives see … Continue reading

The de Bono Weekly Message – Creativity

As I have mentioned so often the word ‘creativity’ in English is too broad and ranges from creating a mess to painting a masterpiece. The emphasis is on ‘bringing something about’.   At the same time repetition does not qualify. … Continue reading

The de Bono Weekly Message – Property Market

When the property market is falling buyers tend to wait until it falls further. Why buy now when you can get a lower price in a few months’ time? So the market falls further because some people need to sell … Continue reading

The de Bono Weekly Message – Credit Crunch

You may trust a person’s honesty – but can you trust that person’s intelligence? This may have some relevance to the current credit crunch or banking crisis. We can pick out at least five factors contributing to the problem and … Continue reading

The de Bono Weekly Message – Six Frames For Looking At Information

My most recent book is “Six Frames for looking at information” (Ebury Press, part of Random House). We are surrounded by ever more information. How do we look at information? It is like being thrown into a swimming pool of … Continue reading

The de Bono Weekly Message – EU Year of Creativity

“I understand the year 2009 has been announced as the EU Year of Creativity. I hope this is going to include creative thinking and not just the arts. I have offered to give a free seminar in Brussels to EU personnel … Continue reading

De Bono Weekly Message – Thinking through a problem

Because we often consider ‘thinking’ to be problem solving we do not think much about matters which are not problems. If there is a wide open road ahead of us we do not stop to consider the side roads. This … Continue reading

De Bono Weekly Message – Youth Gangs

I have recently had serious meetings both in London and Johannesburg with people concerned with youth crime. There are two things which everyone needs. They are ‘significance’ and ‘achievement’. In today’s world the only way a youngster can get these … Continue reading

De Bono Weekly Message – Creative Task

If you spend a lot of time thinking about things in a creative way then the time is not wasted even if specific ideas are not used. You build up in your mind a reservoir of concepts and possibilities that … Continue reading