What’s holding you back from reaching your fullest capability for creativity?

On today’s episode of Potent, Steven is joined by Syracuse University’s Professor Elizabeth Wimer to discuss a range of topics from providing practical advice for avoiding burnout, to understanding the Pareto principle to identify impactful relationships, fostering creativity through thoughtful practices, and leveraging weak ties for idea generation. 

The two also touch on cultivating an entrepreneurial mindset and get into Professor Wimer’s personal reflections on teaching and balancing professional life with genuine care for her students. 

About Today's Guest

Elizabeth Wimer is equally passionate about coffee and entrepreneurship – a combination that serves her well as a caffeinated educator for conferences, consulting, and as an Assistant Teaching Professor at Syracuse University’s Whitman School of Management. 

Her experience in entrepreneurial ventures and her passion for marketing translates into courses, consulting, and speaking engagements in entrepreneurship, ideation, marketing, creative problem solving, personal selling, management, and customer service.

Her consulting work has taken her throughout the United States and also to the United Arab Emirates, Asia, Africa, and the U.K. and her passion for education has led her to South Sudan to volunteer to teach at an understaffed school in rural Ariang. She is currently running an annual signature immersion experience for Syracuse University students to consult on-site with entrepreneurs, refugee artisans and underserved rural schools in Nairobi & Nakuru, Kenya.

Although she resides in Syracuse, New York with her husband, sons and new puppy she remains an avid Boston sports fan – particularly for the Boston Bruins and especially when they win against the Habs or Rangers.

Show Notes

0:00 Intro

02:21 Applying the Pareto Principle to Life

07:16 Elizabeth's Journey Toward Teaching

10:54 How to Find Your Purpose

14:52 How to Reframe Problems and Generate Ideas

18:13 The Problem with Brainstorming

23:05 Are People Born Creative?

28:13 Idea Generation with Steve: Who is Your Audience?

34:30 The Intersection of Generosity, Curiosity and Creativity

41:20 Processes & Practices

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The Potent Podcast is produced and edited by Justin Sinclair, who also composed the theme music. Additional editing support and mixing by Aaron Feeney.

This podcast is brought to you by the Monk Manual. The monk manual is dedicated to providing best-in-class tools for helping you build a more potent life, and experience peaceful being and purposeful doing on a daily basis. If you’d like to be more intentional with your time and energy - please visit monkmanual.com.