Creativity Information

Creativity and Broken Eggs


In 1420, the dignitaries of Florence held a competition.

They offered the enormous prize of 200 gold florins to the architect whose genius could span the unfinished dome of the Florence Cathedral.

This was a great challenge. Even the original builders of the cathedral in 1296 left writings hoping that God would offer a solution because they did not have one.

Filippo Brunelleschi was the answer to their prayers.

He proposed the radical idea of a dome supported by a brick vaulting system that balanced the opposing forces, but without the customary central supports.

The experts called him mad.

Brunelleschi sought to demonstrate his design with a challenge.

He could stand an egg upright on a flat surface. Could they?

All were unsuccessful.

Finally, Brunelleschi cracked the bottom of the egg and set it down.

It must have been a mess, but it stood upright and demonstrated his idea.

The experts protested, but Brunelleschi remarked that they could have done the same if they had understood his design.

Of course, they did not. They didn't understand creativity either.

They were too mentally confined by their concept of the possible. Figuratively and literally, the thought of solving the problem by breaking the egg never occurred to them.

One imagines their frustration trying to balance the round egg on the marble tabletop and their groans when Brunelleschi demonstrated the sloppy, but clever solution.

We all have eggs we never think of breaking.

These are the fixed states of mind that we accept without question as "the way things are." These states represent the boundaries of our thinking and, therefore, our life experience.

Refuse to be confined by the eggs others never think of breaking.

Geniuses break eggs.

Break your share.

That's why they make paper towels.

About The Author

Copyright 2004 by Tony Papajohn.

Tony writes and speaks on success. Subscribe to his free SuccessMotivator e-zine at http://www.successmotivator.com.

tony@successmotivator.com


MORE RESOURCES:

Art Guild offers beauty and creativity
Glenwood Springs Post Independent, CO - 3 hours ago
In knowing them and their work, I have found a wonderful new source of inspiration and creative energy," said art guild member Annie Bell. ...


Art therapists use creativity to help people express suppressed ...
Irish Times, Ireland - 21 hours ago
Chairwoman of the Irish Association of Creative Art Therapists (IACAT), Suzie Cahn explains that art therapy is used to help people express their feelings ...


Creativity name of game in baby choices
Ipswich Queensland Times, Australia - 10 hours ago
By Felicity Caldwell IPSWICH parents have proved themselves to be just as creative with baby names as Hollywood parents Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban, ...


Pakenham Cardinia Leader

Thriving on creativity in Bunyip
Pakenham Cardinia Leader, Australia - 7 hours ago
A BUNYIP artist has been selected to exhibit in the Cancer Council Victoria Arts Awards 2008. Simon Robbins' moving Defragmentation in Progress, ...


DDB Remedy Wins Best of Show at IPA Best of Health Awards
FOXBusiness - 16 hours ago
The IPA Best of Health Awards celebrates the best creativity in healthcare advertising, a sector which encompasses the promotion of brands to both ...


Blast has the Power for three days of creativity
Liverpool Daily Post, UK - Jul 7, 2008
Co-ordinator Eddie Fitzpatrick added: “Blast’s aim is simple: to encourage young people to express themselves through creativity. ...


Local youth nourish creativity during computer camp
The Northern Light, Canada - Jul 7, 2008
She said the camp is a chance for youth to show their creativity. "Children are naturally creative and they're naturally curious, which makes them very good ...


Helen McCrory: Harry Potter has Amazing Creativity
Harry Potter's Page, FL - Jul 7, 2008
So it's amazing creativity both on the acting and production fronts. There's this freedom to create which is quite unusual for Britain," she admits. ...


When British Advertising Led The World
OUPblog, New York - 1 hour ago
It did so creatively – but it did so in other ways too, which underpinned the creativity, making it more effective and successful. The emergence of Britain ...


Daily Star - Lebanon

Lebanese showcase their creativity at Beirut handicraft exhibition
Daily Star - Lebanon, Lebanon - Jul 6, 2008
"The idea really started around 20 years ago in [the mountainous town of] Faqra, to promote the creative handicrafts of the village of Beit Chabeb," said ...

Creativity - Google News

home | site map
© 2006