Making Ideas Happen.

• Author: Thomas, Chris

Scott Belsky's Making Ideas Happen offers valuable insight into executing the creative process. The book does not delve into how to develop ideas and concepts but rather provides tips and techniques for making the creative product a reality.

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Belsky, who is the CEO of a company and of a think tank dedicated to creative collaboration, makes a convincing argument that the creative psyche is not conducive to organization, which is the key to taking an idea from vision to reality. Belsky asserts that often individuals and organizations with average creativity but stellar organization skills are more successful and make a greater impact.

He applies organization to every step of the creative process, from brainstorming, which should have a goal of "capturing something specific, relevant and actionable," to meetings, which should also have objectives and action items and end as quickly as possible, and even to work space: smaller, more enclosed areas work best for focusing on execution, while large, open spaces are suggested for brainstorming and/or beginning a creative project.

Many of the principles resonated with me personally because my firm takes a strategic approach to the creative process. As a team, we work to define the...