Join a Collective Art Project

(Image CNN.com)

One of the biggest myths surrounding creativity is that of the solitary genius. In Group Genius: the Creative Power of Collaboration by Keith Sawyer, small sparks in the creative process, usually from outside sources and soometimes happening over time, are explained as the true nature of creativity.

Similarly, the Internet is now making this type of creativity the norm. A recent online article declared: "Strangers gather on Web to make collective art." People are connecting virtually to create everything from an Opera for London's Royal Opera House to an animated film. These types of collective art projects aren't for artists only but encourage everyone to participate in the creative process, which is why I think they are such great ideas.

• Sign up for CNN's collaborative art project.

Get Stimulated!

While many of us are creative in our personal lives, it seems much more difficult to be creative at work. In today's economy more than ever, a creative brain is a requirement on the job. In Stimulated: Habits to Spark Your Creative Genius at Work by Andrew Pek and Jeannine McGlade the goal is to get you thinking more creatively.

Weaving together a combination of business case studies and personal stories, Pek and McGlade cover the following key habits necessary to increase your creative genius:

Scouting includes observing the world and your environment.

Cultivating is about creating the environment for ideas to take shape.

Playing allows for experimentation and curiosity.

Venturing is simply permitting ourselves to make the leap into the creative unknown.

Harvesting involves innovation and turning creative sparks and ideas into reality.

• Try one at work today!