In a Bad Mood? Tackle a Creative Task

Creativity is mysterious and difficult. If you have tasks on your to-do list that require a creative spark, perhaps you’ve been putting them off, waiting to get in a mellow mood or for inspiration to strike. But a new study suggests you may have been making a mistake waiting around for the right mindset to start your creative project. Bad moods can actually improve creativity, the series of studies by three European professors suggest, at least if the negative emotions come at the start of a work session.

The trio took two approaches to come to this conclusion. First, they asked around 100 creative professionals to keep diaries of their emotions and productivity. While happiness at the end of the day was linked with increased productivity (who wouldn’t be happy after getting a ton done?), being in a bad mood at the start of the day was associated with even higher productivity. Why might that be? The British Psychological Society’s Occupational Digest blog explains one possible explanation: The narrow, alert focus on issues can be useful by focusing on things that are in need of a solution and spurring motivation to act on these; previous research does suggest that negative emotion can lead to more persistence in problem solving. Once this focus has been set, allowing the negative emotions to slide away and positive emotions to explore the possibility space is a good recipe for getting to innovative solutions.

Grumpiness, in other words, helps you focus on problems and get down to business, but as you dig deeper into a problem, hopefully, that negativity subsides, leaving the mind more free to roam. To test this model of emotions and creativity, the researchers asked another group of study participants to write about either a neutral or positive event in their lives before completing a brainstorming task.

"Those who were tasked with articulating an unpleasant instead of a neutral experience ultimately performed better the brainstorming task, producing more varied and unique ideas. This happened even though the negative state had no function in focusing their attention on anything related to the creative task, which suggests the better performance was due to entering a more suitable cognitive mode," reports BPS.

More research is needed, the authors note, to determine how negative and positive emotions affect creativity on different time scales (does it matter if you’re grumpy for five minutes or an hour?) but there is an immediate takeaway for entrepreneurs: forget waiting around for the perfect mood for innovation and try to use your less that cheerful moments as a springboard for getting started on creative projects. You may not only improve your mood, but also come up with better solutions for your business.

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Steve Picarillo and Creative Advisory Group, Inc. Announce a Pre-Launch

Globally recognized financial executive Steve Picarillo’s consulting firm, Creative Advisory Group, Inc. is in the process of launching additional products to serve entrepreneurs around the world.

In addition to the various products and services that are designed to assist small, medium, and large companies, Creative Advisory Group will be adding franchise consulting to its menu of products and services. "I am truly excited about the opportunity to help entrepreneurs across the globe find their match" Mr. Picarillo said in a statement. "Yes, I am now a matchmaker!" he continued. "There are so many displaced executives and budding entrepreneurs that are looking for the right business to invest in, we can help them find the match". The additional advisory business, which will be offered under the brand name of Creative Franchise Group, will be able to look through a portfolio of over 400 franchises and find the one franchise that is best suited for the entrepreneur.

"Within the next few days, www.creativefranchisegroup.com will be up and running, and we will be well-poised to formally launch this product" Steve continued. "Over the past nine months, I have focused my efforts on helping individuals and businesses become the best they can and now, with the addition of the franchise consulting business, my team and I will be there to help this often under-served group of individuals”, Steve concluded.

Steve, who is an accomplished financial author, an expert on global banks, business management, cost management, and the economic environment, recently formed Creative Advisory Group, Inc. to house his various advisory efforts. Mr. Picarillo’s credentials can be found at www.stevepicarillo.com.

Steve publishes several blogs with topics that include discussions on the economic environment and operating a business in this still uncertain economic environmen. These newsletters will be distributed on a “ by request only” basis.

To be added to the mailing list email Steve at Steve.picarillo@creativeadvisorygroup.com.

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Creative Franchise Group Launches Program To Assist Displaced Executives

Creative Franchise Group and Steve Picarillo announce the launch of a new program designed to assist displaced executive realize their dream of owning a business. After successful careers, many executives are finding themselves the victim of corporate downsizing and as a result they are looking for new jobs. With significant experience, the executive faces the battle of finding the right job that suits their experience and fulfills their monetary goals unfortunately, in this economic environment, high paid jobs are few and far apart.

Given the importance of networking, the executive calls and emails everyone they know, asking for help and contacts. Although the friends and colleagues have good intentions, with the unemployment rate over hovering between 7% and 8%, neither bears fruit. Creative Franchise Group (CFG), the franchise consultants of Creative Advisory Group, Inc, (CAG) has launched the 'Executive Campaign' to provide an additional resource to those seeking to replace an executive-level job.

“The demand for franchise ownership typically increases in times of high unemployment,” said Steve Picarillo, president of CAG. “We are a valuable resource for anyone who is looking for a business because we are specialists in matching people interested in business ownership to franchise opportunities.” The company’s logo is 2 matching puzzle pieces, which can be found are www.creativefranchisegroup.com. “Creative Franchise works with over 450 franchises and has the tools to narrow in on a franchise business that best match the franchisee candidate’s requirements,” added Mr. Picarillo

Seeking a business opportunity is a long and confusing journey. That’s where CFG’s free consulting services come in. The franchise consultant can save hours and hours of the executive’s time. The consultants work with the executive throughout the entire process, from the initial information gathering stage through the signing of the franchise contract.

“Our goal is to make the negative event of losing a job a positive, as it may be the perfect time for a change” continued Mr. Picarillo. “I am a believer that everything happens for a reason, often the loss of a job provides the push that initiates the franchise search,” Steve concluded.

As part of the ‘Executive campaign’, the Creative Group will reach out to recruiters, job boards, and other job search professionals to educate them about the free services, so that they can inform their clients. Secondly, over the next few weeks, Steve Picarillo, CFG and CAG will host a series of webinars to discuss topics such as the executive job search this environment, branding, and franchise ownership. Dates of these webinars will be posted on www.stevepicarillo.com in the Blog section and will be shared via email. To opt in to the mailing list, send your contact information to steve@creativefranchisegroup.com.

Steve Picarillo is an internationally recognized financial executive, corporate analyst and author. Steve has spent most of his career on “Wall Street” as a lead analyst covering the world’s largest financial institutions. Mr. Picarillo’s rapidly expanding global consulting business Creative Advisory Group, Inc. focuses on helping individuals and companies achieve their financial and business goals.  Steve is a franchise consultant, branding expert, motivational speaker, cost savings expert and an expert on the global economic environment.

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