Monday, April 25, 2016
Good morning,
Recently, I was privileged to hear Dr. Sandra Chapman, founder of The Brain Institute at the University of Texas in Dallas, speak to a group of professionals. I was so impressed with what she had to say and her research, that I immediately went out and picked up her book, Make Your Brain Smarter. Her study on the brain is so fascinating that I wanted to share her quick reference to the nine brainpower’s discussed in her book. For a deeper look, her book is worth the read.
Brainpower of None
Take advantage of silence to think deeply and solve tough problems.
When you hit a wall mentally, quiet your mind to regain brain energy and find fresh solutions.
Brainpower of One
Perform one task at a time even if for short intervals.
Sequential task instead of multitask.
Brainpower of Two
Isolate and escalate your top two daily imperatives.
Every day, identify and dedicate the majority of prime brain time to your two most important tasks. When taking a break or needing a mental shift, fill in with your necessary, but less important tasks. Do not let these less important priorities take over.
Zoom In
Be in the know.
Get the facts; know the logistics of what knowledge is needed.
Zoom Out
Be a strategic thinker.
Identify bigger ideas, diverse perspectives, and global themes.
Zoom Deep and Wide
Be a tactical thinker, knowing when to apply knowledge and when not to apply.
Formulate broader novel applications with bold, deeper, more strategic thinking.
Brainpower of Infinite
Know that there are endless possibilities.
Combine disparate ideas into a multitude of concepts, discussions, and directions.
Brainpower of Paradox
The tenacity to not get stopped or stuck by failure is the fuel that leads to the greatest advances in creativity and innovation.
Reflect, reframe, and learn from mistakes. Mistakes are more informative than successes.
Brainpower of Unknown
Ask what and what if.
Seek change, not a brain on automatic pilot. Keep your brain actively curious and leading from known to unknown.
Make it a great day!