• 0

Marketoonist | Tom Fishburne

Marketoonist is the thought bubble of Tom Fishburne. Marketing cartoons, content marketing with a sense of humor, keynote speaking.

  • Campaigns
  • Speaking
  • About
  • Cartoons
  • Contact
  • Book
  • 0

eureka moments

November 29, 2010

  • Paid licensing options include high resolution download.
  • Presentation $40 Add to Cart
  • Newsletter or Website $125 Add to Cart
  • Corporate Blog/Sponsored Post $60 Add to Cart
  • Looking for other licensing options? click here
  • View Cart
TweetLinkedInFacebookEmail

I’ve been thinking lately about where ideas come from and the conditions and environments that inspire creativity.

I came across an inspiring article from Scott Belsky who writes on the importance of deep thinking and the “creative pause”:

“This phenomenon is the seed of the break-through “a-ha!” moments that people so frequently report having in the shower. In these moments, you are completely isolated, and your mind is able to wander and churn big questions without interruption. However, despite the incredible power and potential of sacred spaces, they are quickly becoming extinct. We are depriving ourselves of every opportunity for disconnection. And our imaginations suffer the consequences.”

Scott goes on to summarize the variety of ways we are losing this critical unplugged time in our lives, from emails to Facebook. We are constantly connected and always on. As a result, we’re finding less opportunity for the type of deep thinking that sparks creativity.

This line of thought prompted me to think of Rodin’s “The Thinker”, Isaac Newton under the apple tree, and Archimedes in his bathtub. All three icons symbolize the lone genius deep in thought. How would they function in modern business life, with the distractions of meetings and the day-to-day fray of a business?

I then watched this brilliant TED talk from Steven Johnson on the importance of being connected in coming up with good ideas. He describes the lone genius as a myth, and explicitly references The Thinker and Newton. Eureka moments are not really moments; they are “slow hunches”. These “slow hunches” are informed and made stronger by interacting with others. Ideas spark through friction with other ideas. His conclusion is that “chance favors the connected mind”.

Businesses need be adept at fostering connections and encouraging unconnected time. Creativity needs both the “connected mind” and the “creative pauses”.

Filed Under: ideations, innovation

  • Paid licensing options include high resolution download.
  • Presentation $40 Add to Cart
  • Newsletter or Website $125 Add to Cart
  • Corporate Blog/Sponsored Post $60 Add to Cart
  • Looking for other licensing options? click here
  • View Cart
Your Ad Ignored Here Book Image

15 years of Marketoonist compiled for your marketing pleasure.

Order Now

About Marketoonist

Marketoonist is the thought bubble of Tom Fishburne a career marketer and cartoonist. Learn More...

Browse Blog Posts

Most Popular Cartoons Browse Categories

Marketoon Campaigns

contentmarketing

Content marketing with a sense of humor.

Learn More

Keynote Speaking

speakingworkshops

Insightful, funny, and visual keynote talks and workshops.

Book Tom to Speak

Search Blog Posts

Interested? Let’s Talk!

Footer Form - Let's Talk

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Marketoons

Browse Categories
Spacing Things Out

About Marketoonist

Tom Fishburne is the Founder and CEO of Marketoonist, a content marketing studio that helps businesses reach their audiences with cartoons.

© 2025 Marketoonist