Creative Catapult Coaching

Creativity Building Exercise: Change your perspective.

               How many mornings do you look at your kitchen and not see anything?  Can you really tell what color your coffee pot was?  What about the color of your dishes?  The painting or print on the wall?  Creativity requires an open, flexible mind and the ability to see things from a new or different point of view.

Try this Exercise when you get Home Tonight. 
We visually and mentally group information into categories, we have to in order to survive and communicate.  Unfortunately, this can cause rigid thinking.  You may be able to process more data as the concept of an object gets more abstract, but you loose a lot of the richness.

            Look around the room you’re in right now.  What do you see, furniture, pictures and a window? 

What happens if you change the way you group the information.  What if you spent the rest of the day grouping things by the color of black? (Look around the room and see everything that’s black…for me that’s my computer, phone, mouse monitor, window lining, text on a page, speckles in the top of my desk…) How does that change your perspective?  What if you look at everything in terms of flat shapes?  Where do you see a flat plane? (IE maybe windows, your monitor, the filing cabinet, the side of my mouse, a stop sign, my mail, the floor…

            Shifting your focus lets you see and process information in a new way.  It may not solve all the problems when you’re stuck at a desk, but it might be a way to amuse yourself for a while and give your brain a break.  Human brains thrive on novelty.  Introduce some into your own world without driving your boss crazy.

Accountability Group Begins: Tuesday Feb 1 2012 from 4-5 p.m. PST
Wednesday Feb 8 7-8 AM or 5-6 PM
Topic: Values Clarification & Values Based Decision Making
Cost: $75.00 for six weeks

This will be a six week group-directed accountability group meeting once a week  by phone.  Small groups of 3-6 work to keep each other engaged and focused. Email amy@creativecatapultcoach.com for more information and registration.

Here is what an accountability group participant said recently

“The work we’ve done in Amy Voros groups has given me a whole new perspective on my professional relationships.   I’m able to take on better projects and bigger clients  with greater confidence and less friction.   Amy is doing important and valuable work for our community. ”   –Jason, Web Developer

AGENDA
Session 1:

Introductions & Projects
Discussion: Values-That emotional side of your brain.
Project Exploration & Development
Highlights & Steps for the week

Homework: Values Clarification Activity 1

Session 2:

Grounding/Atunement
Project Updates
Discussion:  Values Clarification-Living in alignment with Values-why logic isn’t enough-What happens when you try to live out of alignment?
Project Exploration : What worked? What didn’t?
Highlights & Steps for the week

Homework: Values Clarification Activity 2

Session 3:

Grounding/Atunement
Project Updates  & Mid-point check in
Discussion: Awareness-Clarity-Alignment-Action-Results: Using Values to align & make decisions
Project Exploration & Development
Highlights & Steps for the week

Values Clarification Activity 3

Session 4:

Grounding/Atunement
Project Updates
Discussion: Defining Values-yours and yours only.  What do your values mean to you?
Project Exploration & Development
Highlights & Steps for the week

Homework: Video & Time orientation Quiz

Session 5:

Grounding/Atunement
Project Updates
Discussion: Time Orientation-Why does it matter & what does it have to do with values
Project Exploration & Development
Highlights & Steps for the week

Homework: None

Session 6:

Grounding/Atunement
Project Updates & Evaluation
Discussion:  Bring it all together
What’s Next?
Discussion: Success & Celebration

Do you know grade school age students who need help in Math? Amy provides one on one math tutoring for grade school students in the Seattle area. Rates are $25 an hour. E-mail for more information: amy@creativecatapultcoaching.com

Creative Catapult Coaching offers free 30 minute sample sessions to anyone. Call us at 206-462-5006 for further information.  Creative Catapult Coaching specializes in working  with those who have ADHD. However, anyone is welcome. Try something for the new year.

Accountability Group Begins: Tuesday Jan 3 2012 from 7 to 8 p.m. PST
Topic: Values Clarification & Values Based Decision Making
Cost: $75.00 for six weeks

This will be a six week group-directed accountability group meeting once a week  by phone.  Small groups of 3-8 work to keep each other engaged and focused. Email amy@creativecatapultcoach.com for more information and registration.

Here is what an accountability group participant said recently

“The work we’ve done in Amy Voros groups has given me a whole new perspective on my professional relationships.   I’m able to take on better projects and bigger clients  with greater confidence and less friction.   Amy is doing important and valuable work for our community. ”   –Jason, Web Developer

AGENDA
Session 1:

Introductions & Projects
Discussion: Values-That emotional side of your brain.
Project Exploration & Development
Highlights & Steps for the week

Homework: Values Clarification Activity 1

Session 2:

Grounding/Atunement
Project Updates
Discussion:  Values Clarification-Living in alignment with Values-why logic isn’t enough-What happens when you try to live out of alignment?
Project Exploration : What worked? What didn’t?
Highlights & Steps for the week

Homework: Values Clarification Activity 2

Session 3:

Grounding/Atunement
Project Updates  & Mid-point check in
Discussion: Awareness-Clarity-Alignment-Action-Results: Using Values to align & make decisions
Project Exploration & Development
Highlights & Steps for the week

Values Clarification Activity 3

Session 4:

Grounding/Atunement
Project Updates
Discussion: Defining Values-yours and yours only.  What do your values mean to you?
Project Exploration & Development
Highlights & Steps for the week

Homework: Video & Time orientation Quiz

Session 5:

Grounding/Atunement
Project Updates
Discussion: Time Orientation-Why does it matter & what does it have to do with values
Project Exploration & Development
Highlights & Steps for the week

Homework: None

Session 6:

Grounding/Atunement
Project Updates & Evaluation
Discussion:  Bring it all together
What’s Next?
Discussion: Success & Celebration

Explorations in Math Summer Math Camps

When: Weeklong camps start Monday, July 11. See below for specific dates.

Details: Want to help kids get excited about math and have a great time doing it? Come out and play math with Explorations in Math at our Summer Math Camps! You will receive on-site training from a teacher working for Explorations in Math on the activities you will assist with and the games you will play. We need your positive attitude to help kids develop confidence in their ability to learn and love math. Applicants must provide full name and date of birth and sign a consent form for a mandatory background check.

Time commitment: Ideally volunteers will commit to the full week of summer math camp. If your availability is limited to less than the full week, we may be able to arrange sharing the position with another volunteer. You will arrive 30 minutes prior to start to set up and meet with the instructor on the day’s activities.

Responsibilities: You and other volunteers will work under the direction of a teacher working for Explorations in Math. Your assignments will be at the teacher’s discretion and will include leading games, running activity stations, and assisting kids with activities. Some materials preparation may also be needed. Clean-up is short and sweet.

Benefits/skills you will develop:

             You will gain experience working with elementary-age children, some from diverse ethnic and economic backgrounds.

             You will learn fantastic, math-focused games and activities in which to engage elementary-age children.

             You will help kids develop confidence in their ability to learn and love math.

Locations/Dates/Times:

Where: Math N Stuff, 8926 Roosevelt Way NE, Seattle, WA 98155

When: 7/11-15, 7/25-29, Daily 9 a.m.-noon. Volunteer commitment is for the full week. (1-2 vols/week)

To register a camper: http://mathnstuffmathcamp.eventbrite.com/

Where: Graham Hill @ Muir, 3301 S Horton, Seattle, WA 98144

When: 7/18-22, 7/25-29, daily 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Volunteer commitment is for the full week. (2-3 vols/wk)

Camper registration is full.

Where: The Toy Place/Bellevue Art & Frame, 13131 NE 20th, Bellevue, WA 98005

When: 8/1-5, 8/22-26, Daily 9 a.m.-noon. Volunteer commitment is for the full week. (1-2 vol/wk)

To register a camper: http://thetoyplacemathcamp.eventbrite.com/

Where: Microsoft Store, Bellevue Square, 116 Bellevue Square, Bellevue, WA 98004

When: 8/8-12, 8/15-19, Daily 10 a.m-1 p.m. (Aug. 11 time is 2-5 p.m.) Volunteer commitment is for the full week. (1-2 vol/wk)

To register a camper: http://microsoftstoremathcamp.eventbrite.com/

Where: John Muir/Orca @ Muir, 3301 S Horton, Seattle, WA 98144

When: 8/8-12, daily 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Volunteer commitment is for the full week. (2-3 vols/wk)

Camper registration is full.

Volunteers will report to teachers leading specific camps. To sign up, e-mail volunteer@eimath.org or call 206-325-0774.

To learn more about Explorations in Math, visit us at http://explorationsinmath.org

Sometimes it’s hard to get going on a new project.  One writing prompt I am using with a couple clients encoursages  them to think big and put aside all of the “shoulds” and “how tos” fora few minutes and to get a good feeling for the dream.  If you don’t have a feeling for the dream, the steps to get tehre may look daunting, especially if you can’t imagine how the rewards will make you feel.

Prompt:

Write a vision for yourself or your project as if you’ve reached your ultimate goal. Go to town—make it as big and beautiful as possible. Interview yourself, talk about awards, magazines you’ve been featured in, what an average day in your life is like, etc. This is not a writing exercise, but more a vision exercise, so don’t worry about how great a writer you may or may not be! Talk about how you got there, what you did and where fate steppedin and provided what you needed. Describe the people and processes that assisted your success. If you can’t envision it you can’t have it, so please do it. We promise, once you get writing it’s fun and exciting!

I know a lot of people   who fall into this and find themselves stressing out over “why can’t I stick with a job”.  I’m currently intrigued with the concept of scanners and multi-talented/multi-potentiality.  It’s a different way re-framing many interests in a much more positive light.  If you’ve got a job that’s “Good Enough”  you can support your passions.

 

In order to qualify as the good enough job, Barbara says it must meet two criteria:

1) It can’t be toxic.

2) It can’t consume more than 40 hours a week.

http://talentdevelop.com/590/are-you-a-scanner-maybe-all-you-need-is-a-good-enough-job/

I spent the afternoon with Joseph, the Mathematician in residence at Explorations in Math learning some of their games to help with a workshop for the Washington Reading Corps on Friday, here in Seattle.

I think my favorite was called Salute and bascially involves 2 players and a “general”.  I’ll give the directions in terms of multiplication, but the same concept can be used with addition.

It focuses on developing Number sense for addition or multiplication.

Materials:
Deck of cards, remove: 10s, Jacks Queens Kings
The Aces=1

This game can be played in groups of 3 or 4.  One player is the General for the duration of the deck of cards.  Players can rotate after going through the full deck.  The general gives each of the players a card, face down, on the table.  The general says “Salute!” and the two players pick up the cards AND WITHOUT LOOKING AT THEIR OWN hold it against their forhead.  The General then looks at the two cards, silently multiplies them in her head and gives the product  out loud.  The two players must then figure out their own card and say the answer out loud.  The first player to do so correctly wins both cards and puts them in a pile off to the side.The winner of the game has the most cards at the end.  For example, if player A sees that Player B has a 7 an the General announces that the product is 42, Player A knows that her card is a 6 (6 x 7 =42) and says this out loud.

Starting a business is hard.  Really, starting any big project is hard…I admire all the people out there who are brave enough to undertake some of these projects.  Reading one of Molly Hoyne of Stratejoy’s great bloggers on the support needed to create a business and follow dreams made me realize how much the unspoken dependence on my own network scares me and makes me wonder if “I’m enough” while pursuing my own dreams.

Most of my clients are very driven and self reliant.  I fall very strongly into this category myself.  I often feel “guilty” that I’m not contributing enough and that I’m not carrying my own weight.  I feel selfish and indulgent for not being able to “support myself” with the equivalent of a full-time income, not paying market-rate rent, not being able to go out with friends  without wondering how I can put gas in my car to get to the random jobs I have so I can make this dream work.  I’m smart and driven, I should be able to start a business, maintain my standard of living and make it look easy! (The word “SHOULD” tips me off that perhaps I need to reevaluate my expectations of myself for sanity’s sake)

Looks like I’m not alone:

I worry about spending money that I didn’t earn on things we need. I worry that I am taking advantage of a wonderful man(or in my case, roommates & friends). I think about friends whose spouses have supported them through grad school, and then they switch off and support them in kind once they have a great job with their new degree.

…If I think of myself as being in a sort of “Artist Graduate Program” it all feels pretty normal and acceptable instead of indulgent and selfish.  I won’t end up with a degree, but I will probably end up creating my dream job and doing work that fulfills me every day.

(My First Lesson in Marriage http://networkedblogs.com/f63t )

But the challenge comes in knowing that the sacrifice is paying off.  Do my friends think I’m a slacker that can’t keep up?  Does my family think I’m foolhardy?  Do I feel like I’m being a freeloader?

The upside to all of this is learning that I am still ok, still liked, and can survive with my head high.  People see I’m working hard, people are willing to hang out with me, and maybe even buy me a glass of wine on occasion.  They’re still showing me support, and giving me the emotional fuel to support my dreams (the friendship–not the glass of wine, not that it hurts!).

The best thing I can promise right now is to somehow pay forward all the karma & good will I worry I’m “burning”.  The world doesn’t operate in a vacuum and neither do I.  The article reminds me that we can all have time to work on our dreams, to be supported, and when the  time is right, we’ll be able to do the same for others.  The momentum is picking up, thank goodness.  That still doesn’t’ make it easy.