Tag: Creative

  • What is the main Goal of Generative AI?

    What is the main Goal of Generative AI?

    Explore the main goals of generative AI: automated content creation and enhanced creativity in fields like art, literature, and music.

    What is the Main Goal of Generative AI in Content Creation?

    Generative AI aims to create new content by learning from existing data. This can include generating text, images, music, or other forms of media. The main goals of generative AI include:

    Content Creation:

    Automating the creation of high-quality content across various domains, from art and literature to scientific reports and marketing materials. By leveraging large datasets, generative AI can produce detailed and contextually relevant content that can rival human creativity.

    Creativity Enhancement:

    Assisting humans in the creative process by providing novel ideas, designs, or solutions that might not be immediately apparent. Generative AI can spark inspiration by offering unique perspectives and compositions that humans might not consider, thus pushing the boundaries of innovation in fields like music, art, and writing.

    Personalization:

    Generating personalized content tailored to individual preferences or needs, enhancing user experience in applications like advertising, customer service, and education. For instance, generative AI can analyze user behavior and preferences to create customized recommendations for products, content, or learning paths, making interactions more engaging and relevant.

    Efficiency Improvement:

    Reducing the time and effort required for content creation, enabling quicker turnaround times and freeing up human creators to focus on more complex tasks. By taking over repetitive and time-consuming aspects of content production, generative AI allows professionals to dedicate more time to strategic planning and creative exploration.

    Innovation:

    Driving innovation in various fields by exploring new combinations and variations of existing data to uncover unique and potentially groundbreaking insights or solutions. In scientific research, for example, generative AI can generate hypotheses and models that accelerate discovery and innovation. In the entertainment industry, it can create entirely new genres or styles, enriching the cultural landscape.

    Summary

    Generative AI is not just about mimicking human creativity but augmenting and expanding it. As these systems continue to evolve, they have the potential to significantly transform how we create, personalize, and consume content, making it more efficient and innovative while opening up new possibilities for human collaboration and creativity.

  • 11 Best Photo Book Making Software

    11 Best Photo Book Making Software

    Most Powerful design best photo book making software for Photo Designers. Photo designers usually spark their creativity to make beautiful photobooks. They attempt their first-rate to graph a special photobook graph so that your snapshots will be flawlessly displayed and your tales resonantly shared.

    Here list of the 11 most effective best photo book making software for photograph designers to wow the world.

    Do extra with less, and begin a remarkable growing experience proper now!

    FlipHTML5

    Visualize the happiness. FlipHTML5 is one of the pinnacle photobook sketch software that brings one-of-a-kind moments to life. From pdfs and images, this first-rate photobook diagram software program converts them into HTML5-based responsive web page flipping photobooks. Enjoy masses of terrific photobooks on its reliable website.

    Pixellu

    Aiming to make photobooks intuitive, quick, and also simple. Pixellu presents a must-have album builder (Smart Album) for busy image designers. It hence makes designing layouts enjoyable and in much less than 10 minutes. Free for 30 days when designers can spend their time bringing pics to life.

    My Publisher

    “We make it easy to design so that each online photo book you make is special and stunning”. My Publisher is so effective that designers can without difficulty drag and drop photos onto the website page and personalize layouts. Also, Great financial savings on customized picture books and albums.

    HP Photo Creations

    It is one of the first-class photobook software programs for Windows. Furthermore, This software program is the easiest to use to create a picture book. Apart from photobooks, it lets you create a lot of extra images such as restaurant menus, collages, postcards, newsletters, anniversary cards, calendars, invitations, folded cards, tackle labels, etc.

    Pixpedia Publisher

    It is some other free photograph book software program for Windows on this list. Not simply photobooks, they can be used to create calendars, puzzles, etc.

    PhotoInPress BookDesigner

    It is but every other free image e-book software program for Windows. Operating it, you can make a photobook and calendar. You can sketch the cowl of the photobook and also the man or woman pages of the photobook.

    Photobook Philippines

    Make it effortless to be an innovative genius. Photobook Philippines provides an effective Photobook Designer for anyone to create thoroughly customized picture books online. It is striving to supply clean designs, satisfactory products, and pleasant service. Amazingly, this software program ensures a speedy and also effortless way to make a magnificent photo book with online templates. Again, Page layouts organized are handy for you to rearrange or captioned.

    Blurb

    A blurb is a device for every ability level. Designers can without problems flip thoughts into professional-quality books. Not relying on creating, printing, or promoting purpose. Also, this free easy-to-use software program will provide you with a cozy photobook journey.

    Adoramapix

    Create a photobook you won’t be in a position to put down. Even, Adoramapix is remarkable that you designers can get began on the best-selling story of these gorgeous memories. With the cowl in gorgeous, colorful stories, and also delight-filled photobooks. Adoramapix is imperative to fantastically maintaining exceptional moments.

    My Canvas

    Create and maintain your most treasured memories. Furthermore, My Canvas presents picture designers with an easy-to-use interface to diagram wonderful picture books. Choose from a determination of backgrounds, layouts, and font styles, and experience innovative freedom with this free online picture e-book tool.

    Snapfish

    Choice, quality, value. Snapfish is an easy-to-use device to customize your story. Also, This superior software program gives dozens of photo layouts to exhibit off photos. What is more, distinctive patterns of e-book covers and also e-book kinds will make a wonderful first impression.

    Conclusion

    Capturing your sweetest moments is less complicated and makes the best photograph e-book layout. Above eleven effective photobook sketches, software programs gain every image clothier to plan excellent photobooks. FlipHTML5 will provoke you a lot for an extremely good developing journey and effective publishing and also sharing platform. Secure and high-performing photobook overall performance genuinely offers designers fantastic self-assurance in life.

    11 Best Photo Book Making Software Image
    11 Best Photo Book Making Software; Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash.
  • Cursed Font Generator and this Tool how used to Create

    Cursed Font Generator and this Tool how used to Create

    How to cursed font generator and tool how used to create? If you’re tired of seeing the same old boring, ugly cursed text all over your website, you can use a tool called Cursed Text Generator to create a cursed text. It’s a simple online tool that creates a font with weird symbols. Just type the text you want to curse into the first window, and it’ll create the cursed font. Once you’ve created your custom cursive font, you can paste it anywhere on your website.

    Here is the article to explain, What are a cursed font and text generator and the tool how use to create it?

    Using a cursed font generator is one way to use the “cursed” font to add a little flair to your posts. You can even copy and paste the text into your Facebook comments. This method is perfect for grabbing attention on the internet and different social networking sites. It’s been around for years, and it’s used in horror movies, online games, and countless other scenarios. It can help you gain popularity online by attracting attention on the internet.

    What is a cursed font or text?

    Cursed Text is an online program that generates a different kind of cursed font than normal text. It generates a special font, which appears on the right window of the computer. The cursing text looks different than the normal text and is much easier to understand. Besides, you can copy the original text to a lower window, which is more convenient for many people. It also generates a unique style that makes it stand out.

    In addition to making your text a little creepy, you can also use this cursed text generator to create a catchy design. These fonts will make your text look scary and spooky. Some of them will even produce hilarious jokes. You can even impress your followers by sharing these cursed texts. Once you’ve made a design that everyone can appreciate, you’ll be sure to get a lot of comments.

    Creating a cursive font is not difficult. Simply copy the regular text into the cursive font generator and paste it anywhere you want it to be. Once you’ve finished, paste the finished cursive font into a chat or other platform to create a cursed font. It will generate a random font for you. You can even use a free tool to create your scripts. After all, there’s no need to know how to write code to curse someone’s favorite thing.

    To make a cursed font generator, all you need is to type in the text you want. You can choose to use any font generator you like to create a text with a particular font. For example, you can choose to use a free tool like Ghost Text to create a cursed font. You can use a script or a simple script to generate a cursing text on any page. In either case, you can enter the text you want, and it will appear as a normal piece of writing.

    Script Stationers Blog Banner
    Script Stationers Blog Banner;

    What cursing font or text generator generates?

    A cursing text generator will create a text with unique styles and characters. It will generate random, peculiarly-looking cursed text that’s easy to read. For example, if you want to spell something, you can use Unicode. By using a Unicode generator, you can make any kind of cursed text. It also has a crazy level button. The script will generate a variety of fonts and spells.

    A cursed text generator is a useful tool for discordant and other text on discordant networks. These free tools make it easy to create a unique font for a network and attract attention. You can use a cursive font generator to generate text that is both fun and interesting. It’s also easy to customize the content to fit your brand image. You can generate a custom cursed font for your website.

    Conclusion;

    A cursed text generator can be very helpful for making your social media profile unique. By adding a font with unique character combinations, you can create a cursed text and make it stand out from the crowd. There are several ways to create a unique cursing text on your website or a web page. The first option is to use online software that adds characters to your content. It is a great way to make your profile stand out from the crowd.

    Cursed Font Text Generator and this Tool how used to Create Image
    Cursed Font Text Generator and this Tool how used to Create; Image by Florian Pircher from Pixabay.
  • Creative Home Business Ideas for Men and Women in 2021

    Creative Home Business Ideas for Men and Women in 2021

    In case you’re looking for creative home business ideas for men and women, you’ve gone to the correct spot, 30+ best small work in 2021. Making cash working from home is simpler than it’s consistently been. Also, It wasn’t such a long time ago that working from home implied providing menial helper administrations or working in client assistance.

    30+ best Small work from Creative Home Business Ideas for Men and Women in 2021, here is the article to explain.

    Times have definitely changed, however, and working from home doing what you love is within your scope. How amazing is it that you can begin a home business making cash from your leisure activities? You would now be able to bring in cash from your paintings, realistic plans, handmade gems, candles, and quite a lot more. In this article, we share 30+ work creative small business ideas from home for men and women;

    Start a Website and Blog

    Do you have a diversion that you might want to impart to the world? You can annal your diversion through a blog. Also, This is an extraordinary path for housewives to bring in cash as well. For instance, on the off chance that you appreciate cooking; you can begin a blog where you share your plans or tips and deceives in the kitchen.

    You can adapt your blog through advertisements, subsidiary marketing, supported posts, or by offering your own items, (for example, digital books) or administrations. In case you’re prepared to begin your blog, Bluehost has an extraordinary arrangement! If you buy your hosting through Bluehost for just $3.95 every month, they’ll give you a free domain name. Also, Starting an own blog and website is the best own business for Men and Women, who want to Creative Home Small Business Ideas.

    Start a YouTube Channel Online

    If writing isn’t for you, and you’re comfortable with video, consider starting a YouTube channel online. Besides earning advertisement income through Google AdSense, you can likewise bring in cash using supported recordings, partner links, or by selling your own merchandise. Also, this is another best option to start your own business for Men and Women, who want to Small Business Ideas for youtube videos.

    YouTube is a video share platform where you can share any sort of video seems like instruction, innovation, information, wellbeing and wellness, information and wellbeing, individuals, voyagers, news and media, and entertainment, music, film, and movement, and so on Huh. It is likewise the second-biggest web crawler on the planet. It comes after the Google web search tool on the planet.

    Art Painting

    You can sell your original work of art, or make custom pictures of individuals and their pets. Furthermore, you can transform your craft into great prints and sell them as physical or advanced merchandise.

    Independent and freelance Writing

    You can bring in cash as an independent and freelance essayist by submitting your work to lingering writing destinations, visitor posting on web journals that pay, selling prewritten article bundles, or writing your own digital books.

    Also, Freelance writers or essayists will frequently ask me for the best independent writing locales to find paid work online. And while there is a huge load of destinations that can help you find independent work, for the most part, you’re better off looking to freelance writing locales explicitly.

    Instead of playing the networking game, waiting for references, or playing the substance creation game and hoping something comes through in the long run, these freelance writing locales put thousands of online writing occupations at your fingertips today. Also, this is the best idea for start-ups for Men and Women, who want to Creative Home Small Business Ideas for writing skills.

    Visual depiction or Graphic design

    Utilize your visual depiction abilities and market to likely customers. Make and sell logos, delineations, and more in online commercial centers like FontBundles, DesignBundles, Creative Market, and more. You can likewise promote your administrations on sites like Upwork or Fiverr.

    Also, the graphic design utilizes visual organizations to take care of issues and convey thoughts through typography, symbolism, shading, and structure. There’s nobody approach to do that, and that is the reason there are a few kinds of graphic design, each with its own space of specialization.

    Even though they regularly cover, each kind of graphic design requires a particular arrangement of abilities and design strategies. Numerous designers work in a solitary kind; others center around a bunch of related, comparable sorts. But since the business is continually changing, designers should be versatile and long-lasting students so they can change or add specializations all through their vocations.

    Photo, Pictures and Photography

    What is Photography? Photography is the craft of catching the light with a camera, for the most part using a computerized sensor or film, to make a picture. With the correct camera hardware; also, you can even photo frequencies of light imperceptible to the natural eye, including UV, infrared, and radio.

    You can sell your photos on stock photography sites. Some well-known choices are SmugMug, iStockphoto, and Shutterstock. Furthermore, you can set up a photo studio in your home and offer pictures to customers. You can likewise photo on the spot. Also, It is the best own start-up for Men and Women, who want to Creative Home Small Business Ideas for love photography.

    Instruct and Teaching Courses

    If you need to sell your abilities at a higher worth, creating an online course could be a decent alternative. Courses are commonly more top to bottom than digital books, and therefore can command a more prominent worth. The incredible thing about courses is that there’s no restriction to what you can educate. If you visit the Skillshare online course platform, you’ll see a wide scope of courses, for example, book of scriptures journaling, photography, activities, business, and more.

    WEB Developer

    Enormous organizations, private companies, and bloggers need useful sites and are looking for individuals to make them. If you have web development experience, go into business to create sites for customers. Also, You can likewise make premade site formats and sell them on your own site, or in a topic commercial center as I do here at Beautiful Dawn Designs. Also, It is the best own business for Men and Women, who want to Creative Home Small Business Ideas in 2021.

    Since its beginnings toward the finish of the twentieth century, the web has developed dramatically. In the advanced world, an immense level of individuals utilizes the Internet and a wide range of websites consistently. Normally, a few groups choose to figure out how to make them, consequently “What is a web developer?” is an ordinarily posed inquiry. Also, Web advancement is rapidly getting perhaps the most appealing and best-paid vocation decisions in the cutting-edge world. Yet, what is a web developer and what precisely does one do?

    Also, You may have considered learning a programming language or two and turning into a web developer. Fortunately for you, we comprehend that hopeful web developers will have inquiries concerning the calling, which is the reason we have assembled this complete guide, which intends to address the above questions and that’s only the tip of the iceberg.

    Fiverr Gigs

    Fiverr is a colossal commercial center for independent administrations. Administrations on Fiverr are evaluated starting a $5, thus the name. Also, You can offer Fiverr administrations, including music and sound, visual communication, advanced marketing, programming, and substantially more.

    ONLINE Coaching

    On the off chance that you love helping individuals arrive at their objectives, a home-based coaching business could be for you. Being a holistic mentor doesn’t need a permit, be that as it may, being ensured helps increase your odds of gaining customers and permits you to raise your rates. Also, It is the best own start-up of coaching for Men and Women, who want to Creative Home Business Ideas for teaching lovers.

    Stitch, Crochet or Knitting

    If you have an enthusiasm for stitch or knitting, you can sell your manifestations online. Regardless of whether it is an actual item or an advanced PDF design, there is a demand out there for sewed and stitched things.

    Adornments or Jewelry

    Handmade adornments things as accessories, wristbands, earrings, and rings are famous things to sell. Also, Etsy is an extraordinary commercial center for selling handmade adornments. Figure out how to begin your adornments business with the Fast Start Your Jewelry Business course.

    Sell Thrifted Items and product

    For any individual who appreciates thrifting, you can sell your finds on sites like Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, ThredUp, Etsy, and eBay.

    Sale Merchandise

    This goes in hand with visual depiction. Also, You can make novel plans and make them ready to move on items like mugs, shirts, handbags, and more. Besides, on the off chance that you don’t have visual computerization experience; you can employ somebody to make plans for you. Famous sites for selling your craftsmanship on items are Zazzle, Society 6, and TeeSpring.

    Invitations

    Make and sell invitations for birthday celebrations, weddings, and more. Also, You can sell invitations discount, or make custom invitations for customers. Also, this is the best own business for Men and Women, who want to Creative Home Business Ideas for events.

    Earthenware or Pottery

    Making a living as a potter can be a rewarding encounter. Also, You can make handmade earthenware and sell it in your online store with Shopify, or an online commercial center like Etsy.

    WOOD Working

    Open an online store with Shopify or Etsy and bring in cash selling your wood projects. Well-known wood activities to sell online include signs, kids’ toys, growers, checkerboards, and liners.

    Wreaths

    Selling wreaths can be a great method to bring in cash. You can sell your wreaths at creating shows, on your own site, or in an online commercial center. Also, You may likewise have the option to sell them at a discount.

    WEDDING Decorator

    Run a home-based wedding decorating business. While you will do some traveling as a wedding decorator, this is a business that can be run from your home office.

    Selling Prints

    Transform your work of art into postcards, greeting cards, or outlined workmanship. Also, You can sell them in your own Shopify Store, or the Etsy commercial center.

    Specialty and Craft Supplies

    There is an appeal for making supplies. Purchase make supplies discount and exchange them. In case you’re looking for a spot to sell your art supplies, Etsy and Shopify are a decent decision. Look at Worldwide Brands for discount providers in each significant classification.

    Catering

    Do you appreciate cooking for other people? You can acquire a benefit for your energy by starting a home-based catering business. There are a ton of steps involved in running your own catering business, so ensure you do your exploration beforehand.

    Travel Planner and Agent

    As an at-home travel planner, you can help individuals plan their excursions. At the point when you telecommute, you can decide to work for an organization or go into business. Also, The Work from Home Wife has an incredible article featuring 30 Work-From-Home Travel Jobs to Consider.

    Occasion or Event Planning

    Do you get enjoyment from planning parties? Becoming an occasion organizer might be the ideal work-from-home business for you. Pursue the Event Planning Toolkit for apparatuses on learning how to design a fruitful occasion.

    Sewing

    Sewing is an excelling ability to present and is something numerous individuals don’t have insight into. In case you’re gifted at sewing, you can acquire a full-time income through an at-home sewing business. You can offer modification and repair, custom sewing projects, handmade artworks, (for example, extravagant toys, and sacks), and more.

    Cosmetology

    Is it true that you are an authorized beautician? However long you have the legitimate licenses, you can work a salon out of your home.

    Start a Podcast

    Digital recordings are large at present. If you have a point or specialty, you appreciate discussing, starting a digital recording might be a decent alternative for you. Digital broadcasts are by and large inexpensive to begin and as a podcaster, you can bring in cash through sponsorships, items, coaching, books, crowdfunding, offshoot marketing, and more.

    Vinyl Sign CREATOR

    I’m certain you’ve seen those beautiful vinyl signs around your town promoting deals, political candidates, businesses, and more. As your client base develops, you may even choose to expand by hiring workers. Make a vinyl sign shop can be an exceptionally rewarding business.

    Sale Beats

    Music makers throughout the planet are making cash by selling their beats online. As a music maker, you can procure thousands of dollars each month selling your own beats. Also, You can sell your beats on your own site, Airbit, and Bandcamp.

    Start a Candle Making

    Starting a candle-making business is a fun and creative approach to bring in cash. While costs change, the startup cost for a candle-making business is around $150-$250, making candle-making an affordable business to begin. Look at my post How to Make Money Selling Candles from Home to figure out how to begin your own candle business, creative business ideas to do from home.

    Heated and Baked Goods

    The heated merchandising industry has filled in fame throughout the long term. As a home-based baking business, you can sell an assortment of delectable treats like cupcakes, cakes, treats, pies, muffins, and more. Foodservice businesses are controlled by your Occupational Health and Safety Department. Also, Make certain to investigate the guidelines for your state if you need to begin your own pastry shop business.

    Audiobook and Book recording Narrator

    Do individuals at any point disclose to you that you have a pleasant voice? With a little practice, you can have a vocation as an independently employed book recording storyteller. Also, You can find independent work on destinations like Fiverr, Upwork, and Voices.com. As a book recording storyteller, you can procure around $20-$30 60 minutes.

    Editorial and Publication Services

    Get paid to peruse and alter stories and articles by working as an independent copyeditor or editor. There are a few independent destinations that you can offer your administrations on, similar to Guru or Get a Freelancer.

    Bookmarks

    Indeed, even with the prevalence of digital books, there are a lot of perusers out there that like to peruse actual books. That implies there’s definitely a market out there of individuals looking for novel bookmarks. For more information on starting your own bookmark business, look at my post How to Make Money Online Selling Bookmarks.

    Tarot Card Readings

    If you have a present for reading Tarot cards, you’ve most likely thought to be starting your own Tarot reading business. On the off chance that this sounds spot on, I have some uplifting news for you. You can definitely make low maintenance or even a full-time income by reading Tarot cards for your customers. If you need to additional upgrade your insight and intuition, I recommend checking out The Psychic School. Also, They have an incredible assortment of courses that will help bring clearness and attention to intuitive and energy healers.

    Sale Pintable’s

    Creating printables is a helpful ability for bloggers to have because you can utilize printables as an incentive for individuals to pursue your email list. You can likewise bring in cash online by selling your printables in your online store. Look at my post How to Make Money Online Selling Printables kick off your printable business.

    30+ best work from Creative Home Business Ideas for Men and Women in 2021 Image
    30+ best small work from Creative Home Business Ideas for Men and Women in 2021; Image by Mudassar Iqbal from Pixabay.
  • Creative Accounting: Methods, Techniques, and Prevention

    Creative Accounting: Methods, Techniques, and Prevention

    Definitions of Creative Accounting: The term ‘creative accounting’ can define in several ways. Initially, we will offer this definition; “A process whereby accountants use their knowledge of accounting rules to manipulate the figures reported in the accounts of a business”. The concept of Creative Accounting study: Methods of Creative Accounting, Techniques of Creative Accounting, and Prevention of Creative Accounting! Also learned, Definition, Motivation, and Ethical Considerations.

    Learn, Explain Creative Accounting: Methods, Techniques, and Prevention!

    They characterize by excessive complications and the use of novel ways of characterizing income, assets, or liabilities. This results in financial reports that are not at all dull; but have all the complications of a novel by James Joyce, hence the appellation “creative”. Sometimes the words “innovative” or “aggressive” use.

    Creative accounting, which generally involves the preparation of financial statements with the intention of misleading readers of those statements, is prima facie a form of lying. Creative accounting is a euphemism referring to accounting practices that may follow the letter of the rules of standard accounting practices but deviate from the spirit of those rules.

    It examines and rejects the arguments for considering creative accounting, despite its deceptive intent, as not being a form of lying. It then examines the ethical issues raised by creative accounting, in the light of the literature on the ethics of lying.

    This literature includes the evaluation of various excuses and justifications for lying and this examines here about creative accounting. It concludes that even in circumstances in which creative accounting would arguably serve a worthy purpose; that purpose would be at least as well served by honest communication.

    Concept:

    Creative accounting also called aggressive accounting, is the manipulation of financial numbers; usually within the letter of the law and accounting standards; but very much against their spirit and certainly not providing the “true and fair” view of a company that accounts suppose to:

    • A typical aim of creative accounting will be to inflate profit figures. Some companies may also reduce reported profits in good years to smooth results. Assets and liabilities may also manipulate, either to remain within limits such as debt covenant or to hide problems.
    • Typical creative accounting tricks include off-balance-sheet financing, over-optimistic revenue recognition, and the use of exaggerated non-recurring items.
    • Window Dressing has a similar meaning when applied to accounts; but is a broader term that can apply to other areas. In the US it is often used to describe the manipulation of investment portfolio performance numbers. In the context of accounts, “window dressing” is more likely than “creative accounting” to imply illegal or fraudulent practices, but it needs to do so.
    • The techniques of creative accounting change over time. As accounting standards change, the techniques that will work change. Many changes in accounting standards are meant to block particular ways of manipulating accounts; which means that intent on creative accounting needs to find new ways of doing things. At the same time, other, well-intentioned, changes in accounting standards open up new opportunities for creative accounting, and in the use of fair value is a good example of this.
    • Many creative accounting techniques change the main numbers shown in the financial statements but make themselves evident elsewhere, most often in the notes to the accounts. The market has been surprised before by bad news hidden in the notes, so a diligent approach can give you an edge.

    Methods of Creative Accounting:

    The following methods below are;

    1] First Methods:

    Although not technically wrong, many annual and quarterly reports and presentations dive heavily into theoretical scenarios where one-time “charges” to earnings are excluded. What this means is, for example, a lawsuit settlement amount would take out of the reported profit in one big chunk, even if its payout little by little over time.

    This practice call reserves. Often, when explaining the quarterly results, a CEO might say; “Well if we didn’t take this charge for the lawsuit, we would have made this much money”. Very often, the hypothetical situations proposed to get even more complicated. The main “creative” aspect to this is when a “one time” “exceptional” charge is very common to the business.

    2] Second Methods:

    Banks can lend out most of the money they receive in the deposit. The banks can also lend money they borrow from other banks. However, to protect against bad loans, banks must keep aside a stash of money called a “reserve”. The bank, within general guidelines, gets to set the size of this reserve to what it feels prudent compare to how risky its outstanding loans are. However, when the bank wants to make it look like it made more money this quarter than last; one way to do that is to make money from the reserve and call it is profit with the excuse that the loans are safer now than before and that amount was no longer needed.

    3] Third Methods:

    One of the main genres of “creative accounting” know as slush fund accounting; whereby some earnings from this quarter hideaway just in case the profit from next quarter is not enough for the management to make their bonuses. This happened most famously at Freddie Mac. As of 2004, there is a large investigation underway to see if retroactive insurance policies from insurers such as General Re of Berkshire Hathaway were used for slush fund accounting. The question is if these insurance policies truly transferred some risk or were merely a slush fund.

    Techniques of Creative Accounting:

    Creative accounting actively applies in six areas. The first area is regulatory flexibility, whereby changes in accounting policy permit by accounting regulation. For example, IAS permit carrying non-current assets can recover at either revalued amount or depreciated historical cost in asset valuation. Secondly, the dearth of regulation by which some accounting treatment might not be fully regulated as there are few mandatory requirements. The third area is management has a large extent of estimation in discretionary areas, such as assumption in bad debts provision. Fourthly, some transactions can time to show the desired appearance in accounts.

    For example, the manager is free to choose the timing to sell the investment just to increase earning in the accounts. Fifthly, to manipulate balance sheet amounts by using artificial transactions. Last but not least, by reclassification and presentation of financial amounts through balance sheet manipulation to smooth financial ratios; and, also based on the cognitive reference point in financial numbers’ presentation.

    Creative Accounting Methods Techniques and Prevention
    Creative Accounting: Methods, Techniques, and Prevention! #Pixabay.

    Prevention of Creative Accounting:

    Those companies most at risk for fraudulent financial reporting tend to be those that have one or more of the following attributes: weak internal control; no audit committee; a family relationship among directors and/or officers; assets and revenue less than $ 100 million; and/or a board of directors dominated by individuals with significant equity ownership; and, little experience serving as directors of other companies.

    To prevent creative accounting, the experts opine that accountants and managers should divide the duties of an internal control checklist. Furthermore, an independent audit committee should always have someone with a strong accounting background; and, audit experience who deals directly with outside auditors. The investors should diversify their investment portfolio to circumvent the problems related to creative accounting by a few unscrupulous companies.

    The company has to adhere strictly to the ethical values it has set itself in the long-run and the short-run of the life of the company. The accounting and accounting practices have to be consistent; and, show to the investors that it is following the ethical practices in all its financial dealing as well as reporting.

    How Enron Played the Game of Creative Accounting:

    According to Mulford, the expert in the field, the most common creative accounting practices include improper revenue recognition and misreporting expenses. However, Enron’s game, explains Mulford, involved special-purpose entities.

    “Enron conducted much of its business in these entities that they controlled. They transacted with themselves. That kind of self-dealing allowed them to report profits when they weren’t traditionally making a profit.”

    Though Mulford wrote the book before and published shortly after Enron’s dealings became public, the authors included a special note in the preface regarding the company’s accounting practices, noting that Enron’s “investors and creditors had not fully discounted the risk associated with the firm’s trading activities, its off-balance sheet liabilities, and its related-party transactions.” The authors add they believe careful attention to steps outlined in The Financial Numbers Game “would have provided an early alert to the possibility of developing problems.”

  • Creative Accounting: Definition, Motivation, and Ethical Considerations

    Creative Accounting: Definition, Motivation, and Ethical Considerations

    Creative accounting is a euphemism referring to accounting practices that may follow the letter of the rules of standard accounting practices but deviate from the spirit of those rules. The Concept of Creative Accounting: Definition of Creative Accounting, Motivation for Creative Accounting, the existence of Creative Accounting, and Ethical Perspective of Creative Accounting! They are characterized by excessive complication and the use of novel ways of characterizing income, assets, or liabilities and the intent to influence readers towards the interpretations desire by the authors.

    Learn, Explain Creative Accounting: Definition, Motivation, and Ethical Considerations!

    The terms “innovative” or “aggressive” are also sometimes used. Other synonyms include Cooking the books and Enronomics. Creative accounting is a euphemism referring to accounting practices that may follow the letter of the rules of standard accounting practices but deviate from the spirit of those rules – by Wikipedia.

    Definition of Creative Accounting:

    Creative accounts an accounting practice that falls outside the regulation and gives benefits to certain people. It can describe as a practice with a clear aim to interrupt the financial reporting process which affects reported income to make it looked normal; and, provides no true economic advantages to relevant parties like shareholders. Concisely, it is the transformation of financial accounting figures from what they are to what users desire by taking advantage of the accounting policies which permit by the accounting standard.

    Creative accounts a practice that potentially undertakes as a result of some individual care more on their interest and indirectly causes issues to arise in the ethical dimension of creative accounting. From the information perspective, agency theory gives a clear picture of the creative accounting scenario. Whereby managers misuse their privileged position in manipulating financial reporting in their interest which providing superior information content to the shareholder. Lack of personal skill or unwillingness to carry out detailed analysis making individual shareholders do not have a clear view of the effect of accounting manipulation gives a high possibility of the incidence of creative accounting.

    The motivation for Creative Accounting:

    Several motivations have to identify in stimulating the behavior of creative accounting in the organization. Firstly, the significant motivator for creative accounting is to report a decrease in business income to lower the tax paid. Second, to enable the company’s performance to appear better in the future; the company will maximize the reported loss to make a bad loss that year. This is calls ‘big bath’ accounting to smooth the income. Thirdly, to provide a positive view on expectations, securities valuation, and reduction on risk for analysts in anticipated capital market transactions; and, maintain the firm’s performance in analyst’s expectations.

    Other motivations are to manipulate profit to match the reported income to profit forecasts; and, to distract attention from negative news by boosting company profit figures through the change in accounting policies. Manager’s motivations in managing earning aim to report a stable growth in profit not only to reduce the perception of variability toward an organization’s earnings but also are about income measurement. To make the company faces less risk and gain more benefit in the aspect of raising funds; takeover bids as well as prevent the takeover by other companies.

    It is needed to maintain or promote the share price and create a good profit growth. To gain benefit from inside knowledge, the director of the company engages creative accounting to postpone the release of information to the market. Last but not least, many types of contractual rights, obligations, and constraints based on the amount reported in the accounts also motivate the company to apply creative accounts. What are the Role and Duties of the Management Accountant?

    The existence of Creative Accounting:

    Theoretically, the manager’s motivation in there is acceptable. However, certain companies apply a particular technique of creative accounting to some extent; for example, applied in the non-discretionary component of the bad debts provision. Other evidence is Classificatory smoothing by using the extraordinary items; such as pensions cost, dividends from unconsolidated subsidiaries, extraordinary charges and credits; and, research and development costs in manipulating the figure of income in financial statements.

    The behaviors can identify by having a thoughtful analysis of a financial statement or observe by the reasonably well-inform user of the financial statement. But, how clearness the users of statement observe creative accounting is questionable. Anyway, the value of the information contained in the financial statement is concerned even though financial statements give adequate information that enables users to adjust for them as certain investors rely on reported earning numbers in an income statement.

    Creative Accounting Definition Motivation and Ethical Considerations
    Creative Accounting: Definition, Motivation, and Ethical Considerations! #Pixabay.

    Ethical Perspective of Creative Accounting:

    There are some ethical issues concerning the exercise of creative accounting. Loopholes in accounting standards provide managers some spaces in the sense of manipulating the timing in income reporting. Accounting is a tool to supervise contracts between managers and financial groups, identify the possibility of accounting manipulation; and, how properly it reflected in pricing and contracting decisions. Ethics of bias in choosing accounting policy which implies in they can see through accounting regulators and management level.

    Managers tend to misapply accounting principles to give a better appearance in the financial statement to investors. Conflict of interest, client requests to alter account, and tax evasion are the most frequent ethical issues. Accountants’ attitudes toward creative accounting depend on whether it has arisen from the misuse of accounting principle and manipulation of transactions. Accountants more critical in the misuse of accounting principles as the accountant’s duty is rule-based; and, it falls within their expertise. Failure to act ethically may damage the reputation as an accountant unless he or she reports the abuse to the appropriate party. Slotting is not an acceptable accounting treatment in company practices.

    There is some action can take by accounting regulators to restrain creative accounting:
    • Decrease allowable accounting method or fixed method used in the different conditions so that the scope for choosing the accounting method can narrowly down. Companies should also be consistent in using the method chosen by them.
    • Some rules should establish to reduce the abuse of justice. For instance, International Accounting Standards presently have almost removed the “extraordinary item” from operating profit. Also, companies should be consistent in applying accounting policy to restrain the abuse of justice.
    • Implementation of “Substance over form” can decrease artificial transaction and this can make linked transactions become one as the whole.
    • To restrict the use of timing of the genuine transaction, item in the account should regularly evaluate. Also, the increases or decreases in value should state in the account each year the revaluation occurs. International Accounting Standards also tends to value items at fair value rather than historical cost.
    • Besides alteration in accounting regulations, ethical standards and governance codes must be properly executed to avoid individuals from performing creative accounts.
    How Enron Played the Game of Creative Accounting:

    According to Mulford, the expert in the field, the most common creative accounting practices include improper revenue recognition and misreporting expenses. However, Enron’s game, explains Mulford, involved special-purpose entities.

    “Enron conducted much of its business in these entities that they controlled. They transacted with themselves. That kind of self-dealing allowed them to report profits when they weren’t traditionally making a profit.”

    Though Mulford wrote the book before and published shortly after Enron’s dealings became public; the authors included a special note in the preface regarding the company’s accounting practices, noting that Enron’s; “investors and creditors had not fully discounted the risk associated with the firm’s trading activities; its off-balance sheet liabilities, and its related-party transactions”.

    The authors add they believe careful attention to steps outlined in The Financial Numbers Game; “would have provided an early alert to the possibility of developing problems”.

  • Library and Internet Research

    Understanding and Using the Library and Internet Research


    What is Library? A library is a collection of sources of information and similar resources, made accessible to a defined community for reference or borrowing. It provides physical or digital access to material and may be a physical building or room, or a virtual space, or both. A library’s collection can include books, periodicals, newspapers, manuscripts, films, maps, prints, documents, micro-form, CDs, cassettes, videotapes, DVDs, Blu-ray Discs, e-books, audio-books, databases, and other formats. Libraries range in size from a few shelves of books to several million items.

    What is Internet Research? Internet research has had a profound impact on the way ideas are formed and knowledge is created. Common applications of Internet research include personal research on a particular subject (something mentioned on the news, a health problem, etc.), students doing research for academic projects and papers, and journalists and other writers researching stories.

    Research is a broad term. Here, it is used to mean “looking something up (on the Web)”. It includes any activity where a topic is identified, and an effort is made to actively gather information for the purpose of furthering understanding. It may include some post-collection analysis like a concern for quality or synthesis.

    A third approach to generate new business ideas is to conduct library and Internet research. A natural tendency is to think that an idea should be chosen, and the process of researching the idea should then begin. This approach is too linear. Often, the best ideas emerge when the general notion of an idea, like creating casual electronic games for adults, is merged with extensive library and Internet research, which might provide insights into the best type of casual games to create.

    Libraries are often an underutilized source of information for generating business ideas. The best approach to utilizing a library is to discuss your general area of interest with a reference librarian, who can point out useful resources, such as industry-specific magazines, trade journals, and industry reports. Simply browsing through several issues of a trade journal on a topic can spark new ideas. Very powerful search engines and databases are also available through university and large public libraries, which would cost hundreds or thousands of dollars to access on your own. An example is IBIS World (www.ibisworld.com), a company that publishes market research on all major industries and subcategories within industries. IBIS World published a 30-page report on the solar power industry, for example, in March 2011, which includes key statistics (about industry growth and profitability), a complete industry analysis, and an outlook for the future. Spending time reading this report could spark new ideas for solar powered devices or help affirm an existing idea.

    Internet research is also important. If you are starting from scratch, simply typing “new business ideas” into Google or Yahoo! will produce links to newspaper and magazine articles about the “hottest” and “latest” new business ideas. Although these types of articles are general in nature, they represent a starting point if you’re trying to generate new business ideas from scratch. If you have a specific idea in mind, a useful technique is to set up a Google or Yahoo! “e-mail alert” using keywords that pertain to your topic of interest. Google and Yahoo! alerts are e-mail updates of the latest Google or Yahoo! results including press releases, news articles, and blog posts based on your topic. This technique, which is available for free, will feed you a daily stream of news articles and Blog postings about specific topics. Another approach is to follow business leaders and experts in the industries you’re interested in on Twitter. The best way to locate people on Twitter you might be interested in following is by typing into the search bar labeled “Who to Follow” relevant keywords preceded by the “#” sign. For example, if you’re interested in solar power, type “#solar power” into the search bar. All the results will be people or companies who tweet about solar power topics.

    Once an entrepreneur has an idea, it often needs to be shaped and fine-tuned. One way to do this, in conjunction with the suggestions made previously, is to enlist a mentor to help. An explanation of how to use a mentor in this regard, and where mentors can be found, is described in the “Partnering for Success” feature.

    Library VS Internet Research


    Many people are confused about what constitutes library research versus what constitutes Internet research. Some people argue that effective research is never conducted on the Internet, that one needs access to the resources of a library to conduct thorough investigations. People in this camp argue that institutional libraries pay significant sums to provide access to proprietary databases to their customers that is, databases that offer abstracts, bibliographical information, and, oftentimes, full texts of articles published in scholarly journals. Also, research purists may argue that documents published on the Internet lack the authority of research that is peer-reviewed and published by major publishers. Something important to consider is the difference between an Internet resource and an academic resource accessed via the Internet. For example, if I simply Google “research method,” one of my first search results is from about.com – a good resource, but not necessarily an academic resource. Although I can glean about.com for useful information about the generics of a topic like “research methods,” for the purposes of an academic research assignment, it may be wise to use the Internet to access my library’s databases (like Academic Search Premier, JSTOR, etc.) for online access to a plethora of information pertaining to my search term. The Internet hosts a variety of resources, some of which are useful for casual, everyday references (like about.com) and others which are more appropriate for an academic research assignment (like my library’s databases: Academic Search Premier, JSTOR, etc.)

    Because of a misunderstanding about the way in which the Internet serves both purposes (casual, everyday research and formal, academic research) some students report they never use their library’s resources. Studies of the research processes of students have found that many students limit their investigations to search engines such as Google, paying especially close attention to the first eight or so hits on any search. Unfortunately, students who conduct research in this way often end up with sources that they later realize aren’t useful in crafting informed, thorough, formal academic research and/or arguments.

    To conduct effective research, you may need to use both the library and the Internet. Limiting yourself to the library cuts off some very innovative work that may not yet be accessible for your library’s periodical indexes and abstracts. In turn, relying solely on the Internet is like trying to dig a hole with your tongue rather than a shovel: extremely counterproductive and a waste of time.

    Information junkies know arguments for using either the library or the Internet are out of touch with reality. As research libraries increase the number of electronic resources they subscribe to, many traditional resources are now accessible via the Internet although passwords may be required. In other words, distinctions between the library and the Web are blurring.

  • Brainstorming

    What is Brainstorming?


    Meaning of Brainstorming: “Brainstorming is a group creativity technique by which efforts are made to find a conclusion for a specific problem by gathering a list of ideas spontaneously contributed by its members.”

    Definition of Brainstorming

    Process for generating creative ideas and solutions through intensive and freewheeling group discussion. Every participant is encouraged to think aloud and suggests as many ideas as possible, no matter seemingly how outlandish or bizarre. Analysis, discussion, or criticism of the aired ideas is allowed only when the brainstorming session is over and evaluation session begins. See also lateral thinking and nominal group technique.

    A common way to generate new business ideas is through brainstorming. In general, brainstorming is simply the process of generating several ideas about a specific topic. The approaches range from a person sitting down with a yellow legal pad and jotting down interesting business ideas to formal “brainstorming sessions” led by moderators that involve a group of people.

    In a formal brainstorming session, the leader of the group asks the participants to share their ideas. One person shares an idea, another person reacts to it, another person reacts to the reaction, and so on. A flip chart or an electronic white-board is typically used to record all the ideas. A productive session is freewheeling and lively. The session is not used for analysis or decision making the ideas generated during a brainstorming session need to be filtered and analyzed, but this is done later. Show the four strict rules for conducting a formal brainstorming session. As you’ll see, the number one rule for a brainstorming session is that no criticism is allowed, including chuckles, raised eyebrows, or facial expressions that express skepticism or doubt. Criticism stymies creativity and inhibits the free flow of ideas.

    Formal Brainstorming Session

    I. No criticism is allowed, including chuckles, raised eyebrows, or facial expressions that express skepticism or doubt. Criticism stymies creativity and inhibits the free flow of ideas.
    II. Freewheeling, which is the carefree expression of ideas free from rules or restraints, is encouraged; the more ideas, the better. Even crazy or outlandish ideas may lead to a good idea or a solution to a problem.
    III. The session moves quickly, and nothing is permitted to slow down its pace. For example, it is more important to capture the essence of an idea than to take the time to write it down neatly.
    IV. Leapfrogging is encouraged. This means using one idea as a means of jumping forward quickly to other ideas.

    Brainstorming sessions dedicated to generating new business ideas are often less formal. For example, as described in more detail in Case 11.2, during the creation of Proactiv, a popular acne treatment product, Dr. Katie Rodan, one of the company’s founders, hosted dinner parties at her house and conducted brainstorming sessions with guests. The guests included business executives, market researchers, marketing consultants, an FDA regulatory attorney, and others. Rodan credits this group with helping her and her co-founder brainstorm a number of ideas that helped shape Proactiv and move the process of starting the company forward. Similarly, Sharelle Klause, the founder of Dry Soda, a company that makes an all-natural soda that’s paired with food the way wine is in upscale restaurants, tested her idea by first talking to her husband’s colleagues, who were in the food industry, and then tapped into the professional network of a friend who owned a bottled water company. Through the process, she met a chemist, who was instrumental in helping her develop the initial recipes for her beverage. Klause also went directly to restaurant owners and chefs to ask them to sample early versions of her product. While this approach only loosely fits the definition of brainstorming, the spirit is the same. Klause was bouncing ideas and early prototypes of her product off others to get their reactions and generate additional ideas. DRY Soda is the subject of Case 9.1.

    Approaches to brainstorming are only limited by a person’s imagination. For example, to teach her students an approach to utilizing brainstorming to generate business ideas, Professor Marcene Sonneborn, an adjunct professor at the Whitman School of Management Syracuse University, uses a tool she developed called the “bug report” to help students brainstorm business ideas. She instructs her students to list 75 things that “bug” them in their everyday lives. The number 75 was chosen because it forces students to go beyond thinking about obvious things that bug them (campus parking, roommates, scraping snow off their windshields in the winter), and think more deeply. On occasions, students actually hold focus groups with their friends to brainstorm ideas and fill out their lists.

  • Focus Groups

    What is Focus Groups?


    A focus group is small, but the demographically diverse group of people whose reactions are studied especially in market research or political analysis in guided or open discussions about a new product or something else to determine the reactions that can be expected from a larger population. It is a form of qualitative research consisting of interviews in which a group of people is asked about their perceptions, opinions, beliefs, and attitudes towards a product, service, concept, advertisement, idea, or packaging. Questions are asked in an interactive group setting where participants are free to talk with other group members. During this process, the researcher either takes notes or records the vital points he or she is getting from the group. Researchers should select members of the focus group carefully for effective and authoritative responses.

    Define of Focus Groups

    “A group of people assembled to participate in a discussion about a product before it is launched, or to provide feedback on a political campaign, television series, etc.”

    Definitions of Focus Groups

    Market research: Small number of people (usually between 4 and 15, but typically 8) brought together with a moderator to focus on a specific product or topic. Focus groups aim at a discussion instead of on individual responses to formal questions and produce qualitative data (preferences and beliefs) that may or may not be representative of the general population.

    Problem-solving: Idea generation or forecasting technique where several experts or informed individuals share their point of view on a specific topic or problem.

    A focus group is a gathering of 5 to 10 people who are selected because of their relationship to the issue being discussed. Although focus groups are used for a variety of purposes, they can be used to help generate new business ideas.

    Focus groups typically involve a group of people who are familiar with a topic, are brought together to respond to questions, and shed light on an issue through the give-and-take nature of a group discussion. Focus groups usually work best as a follow-up to brainstorming, when the general idea for a business has been formulated, such as casual electronic games for adults, but further refinement of the idea is needed. Usually, focus groups are conducted by trained moderators. The moderator’s primary goals are to keep the group “focused” and to generate lively discussion. Much of the effectiveness of a focus group session depends on the moderator’s ability to ask questions and keep the discussion on track. For example, a retail establishment in which coffee is sold, such as Starbucks, might conduct a focus group consisting of 7 to 10 frequent customers and ask the group, “What is it that you don’t like about our coffee shop?” A customer may say, “You sell 1-pound bags of your specialty ground coffees for people to brew at home. That’s okay, but I often run out of the coffee in just a few days. Sometimes it’s a week before I get back to the shop to buy another bag. If you sold 3-pound or 5-pound bags, I’d actually use more coffee because I wouldn’t run out so often. I guess I could buy two or three 1-pound bags at the same time, but that gets a little pricey. I’d buy a 3- or 5-pound bag, however, if you’d discount your price a little for larger quantities.” The moderator may then ask the group, “How many people here would buy 3-pound or 5-pound bags of our coffee if they were available?” If five hands shoot up, the coffee shop may have just uncovered an idea for a new product line.

    Some companies utilize hybrid focus group methodologies to achieve specific insights and goals. An example is “college drop-ins.” This approach involves paying college students to host a party at their campus and providing them a budget to buy food and snacks. During the party, the hosts interview and videotape other students about specific market issues. Everything is up-front—the partygoers are told that the information is being collected for a market research firm (on behalf of a client).

    History of Focus Groups

    Focus groups have a long history and were used during the Second World War (1939-1945) to examine the effectiveness of propaganda. Associate director sociologist Robert K. Merton set up focus groups at the Bureau of Applied Social Research in the USA prior to 1976. Psychologist and marketing expert Ernest Dichter coined the term “focus group” itself before his death in 1991.

  • The Creative Process

    The Creative Process


    Creativity is a phenomenon whereby something new and somehow valuable is formed. The created item may be intangible (such as an idea, a scientific theory, a musical composition, or a joke) or a physical object (such as an invention, a literary work, or a painting).

    Scholarly interest in creativity involves many definitions and concepts pertaining to a number of disciplines: engineering, psychology, cognitive science, education, philosophy (particularly philosophy of science), technology, theology, sociology, linguistics, business studies, songwriting, and economics, covering the relations between creativity and general intelligence, mental and neurological processes, personality type and creative ability, creativity and mental health; the potential for fostering creativity through education and training, especially as augmented by technology; the maximization of creativity for national economic benefit, and the application of creative resources to improve the effectiveness of teaching and learning.

    The Creative process can be broken into stages:


    Preparation

    This is the first phase, which most people call “work.” A writer, for example, prepares by writing, by reading, or by revising earlier work. A musician plays scales, chords, or songs; a painter messes with paints or visits an art gallery; an entrepreneur researches problems to solve; a programmer plays with code. In each example, the creative is going through relatively mundane processes.

    The reason I say most people call this phase “work” is that these processes may or may not be inherently enjoyable. They’re also fairly mundane and tedious, but the creative has learned that this process is necessary to plant the seeds that lead to…Preparation is the background, experience, and knowledge that an entrepreneur brings to the opportunity recognition process. Just as an athlete must practice to excel, an entrepreneur needs the experience to spot opportunities. Over time, the results of research suggest that as much as 50 to 90 percent of start-up ideas emerge from a person’s prior work experience.

    Incubation

    Incubation is the stage during which a person considers an idea or thinks about a problem; it is the “mulling things over” phase. Sometimes incubation is a conscious activity, and sometimes it is unconscious and occurs while a person is engaged in another activity. One writer characterized this phenomenon by saying that “ideas churn around below the threshold of consciousness.”

    This would be the mystical process if there were one, because you often don’t know that you’re incubating an idea, or if you do know you’re working on one, you don’t know when it’s going to come out. It’s during this phase that your conscious and subconscious minds are working on the idea, making new connections, separating out unnecessary ideas, and grabbing for other ideas.

    This is the phase that most people mess up the most with distractions and the hustle and bustle of daily lives. Modern life, with its many beeps, buzzes, and distractions, has the strong tendency to grab the attention of both our subconscious and our unconscious mind, and as result, the creative process stops and is instead replaced by more immediate concerns.

    Insight

    Insight is the flash of recognition when the solution to a problem is seen or an idea is born. It is sometimes called the “eureka” experience. In a business context, this is the moment an entrepreneur recognizes an opportunity. Sometimes this experience pushes the process forward, and sometimes it prompts an individual to return to the preparation stage. For example, an entrepreneur may recognize the potential for an opportunity but may feel that more knowledge and thought is required before pursuing it.

    Evaluation

    Evaluation is the stage of the creative process during which an idea is subjected to scrutiny and analyzed for its viability. Many entrepreneurs mistakenly skip this step and try to implement an idea before they’ve made sure it is viable. Evaluation is a particularly challenging stage of the creative process because it requires an entrepreneur to take a candid look at the viability of an idea.

    Elaboration

    Elaboration is the stage during which the creative idea is put into a final form: The details are worked out and the idea is transformed into something of value, such as a new product, service, or business concept. In the case of a new business, this is the point at which a business plan is written.

    Illumination

    This is the “Eureka” moment that many of us spend our days questing after. When it hits, the creative urge is so incredibly strong that we lose track of what else is happening. The driving impulse is to get whatever is going on in our heads down into whatever medium it’s intended for.

    The most frustrating thing for me is that the “illumination” moments happen at the most inopportune times. They invariably happen when I’m in the shower when I’m driving by myself, when I’m working out, or when I’m sitting in mind-numbing meetings that I can’t get out of. Of course, the bad part is as I said above: the impulse is to get the idea out as soon as possible, so it’s not at all uncommon for me to stop showering, driving, or working out and run to the nearest notepad – and, in meetings, I start purging immediately anyway. I’ve yet to gain enough clout to excuse myself from the meetings, but I’m working on it.

    I was speaking to a friend a few weeks ago, and I told her I was frustrated because I was pregnant with ideas and didn’t have time to get them out. Keeping with the analogy, when a Eureka! moment hits, it’s much like labor – you’re done with incubating, and it’s time for…

    Implementation

    This phase is the one in which the idea you’ve been preparing and incubating sees the light of day. It’s when that written piece comes out, when that song flows when that canvas reveals its painting, and so on. It’s also when a good creative starts to evaluate the idea and determine whether it’s good or not – but only after they have enough to see where it’s going.

    Most of the creative I know or work with get really frustrated with others during this phase. Other people only see the creation at the end, and they don’t recognize or care much about the process that generated that idea. This is especially true with some supervisors and bosses who expect the end product on a certain schedule, even though the creative process does not work that way. Creative know that for every good idea, there are at least a few that don’t work out, but they can’t know ahead of time what’s going to work out and what won’t.

    The creative process begins with work and ends with work. The takeaway point here is that creativity is not just percolating and Eureka: it’s percolating and Eureka sandwiched between work phases.