Most Corporate Brainstorming Isn't Brainstorming . . . Not Even Close. (Usually what's going on is playful arguing with snacks on the table.) McNair Wilson spent a decade inside Disney--mostly at Disney Imagineering designing theme parks. His teams HATCHed so many ideas he was invited to teach his methods through Disney University. His 7 Agreements of Brainstorming will assist your team in launching world-class products, services, and programs. You will create competition-crushing concepts using brainstorming that works! (And you can keep the snacks on the table.) Whatever's next for your organization, why not make it BEST? McNair's clients include Apple, the Salvation Army, and aerospace companies that make objects currently orbiting the planet. HATCH! is a highly entertaining book filled with the author's witty drawings and scores of examples of McNair's 7 Agreements in use by big corporations and small non-profits. Turns out, McNair says, working at the top of your creativity affects the bottom line. Count on your competition reading HATCH! Get TWO copies: You'll loan it to a friend and NEVER see it again.
My dad bought this book out of curiosity and I quickly stole it from him. HATCH! is a funny, easy-to-follow guide to bringing your brainstorming to the next level. Mr. Wilson uses his smooth, conversational voice, witty humour, and Disney Imagineering experience to walk you through the seven steps needed to conjure up truly great ideas. He uses stories from his own life, hypothetical examples, and an interesting view on achieving goals that makes this a fantastic book to read. If you want to make your brainstorming sessions more efficient, and more fun then this is the book for you!
An insightful and engaging look at the brainstorming process by a former Disney Imagineer that will help anyone improve their brainstorming and creativity process. This is a book you will WANT to share with others (but buy them their own copies - you won't want to let this one leave your library).
I had been looking forward to this book for a while, following the author on Facebook and Twitter, and even offering suggestions for cover design from time to time (only when the author solicited opinions), and was excited to finally get to read it.
The book starts with an explanation of the author's "7 Agreements of Brainstorming". In general, these sync with other "rules" of brainstorming (such as the "there are no bad ideas" and others used by Walt Disney Imagineering (WDI)), but this book drills into more detail on all of the rules outlined. I especially like the emphasis the author puts on separating "creative thinking" and "critical thinking", which while it seems like common sense, is not common practice in my experience. Probably my favorite of the agreements is #7: Critical Thinking, because it provides an answer to one of the questions I've had about the Imagineering process - namely, how they move from generating lots of ideas (Blue Sky) to selecting the ideas to flesh out and develop (Concept Development).
Following the 7 Agreements, the book then explores other topics related to the brainstorming process, including the use of storyboarding, assembling teams, dealing with budgetary matters, setting up a suitable environment for brainstorming, and doodling/visual note-taking.
I strongly recommend this book to anyone interested in creativity or the creative process in general. The examples in the book span a variety of situations (theme park design, community theater, birthday party planning, and others) and provide excellent case studies of how to apply the principles described in this book. You won't be sorry you added this to your library.
If you have never experienced the joy of brainstorming - or if you've forgotten or if you just don't know where to start - this is your book. Seriously. Don't wait. This will change your life, even if you've never seen yourself as creative.
Not only did it teach me to dream freely again and explore my own possibilities, but the principles WORK. The chapters are enlivening, invigorating, renewing - from my writing life to my day job to my personal relationships, Hatch! has made me look at everything I do in a whole new, playful light. It's amazing what attaching that word to your life does: "playtime" is essential, even for adults. Nowhere is this is so embodied as in the doodling lessons. Yes, McNair gives you doodling lessons. I haven't stopped drawing in meetings since (and my memory and interaction in said meetings has tripled).
As others have said, my only regret is that McNair can't jump out of the book and into your living room. I first met him at a writing retreat for the Jerry B. Jenkins Christian Writers Guild and his lessons - while vibrantly described on paper - are larger than life in all the best ways in person.
If you're wondering if it's worth it the money, the answer is unequivocally "yes." Go buy it. You won't regret it. You might even find yourself buying extra copies for everyone else you know.
I've owned this book for three weeks. Since then, I've purchased two for coworkers (and will likely purchase more). Plus, I've shared the 7 Agreements of Brainstorming with our staff at our annual staff retreat. We are already implementing much of what I shared.
My only regret when I tell others about HATCH! is that they cannot hear McNair personally. Having heard and met McNair on a couple of occasions, HATCH! was even better because I could "hear" McNair's voice as I read. If you ever get a chance to hear McNair in person - GO! His genius and creativity is contagious.
Whether you consider yourself creative or not, HATCH! will convince you that you are creative and McNair will help you learn how to unpack your creativity. HATCH! is for solo acts (writers, artists, teachers,) and corporate leaders. I highly recommend it for anyone wishing to make a difference in the world.
C McNair Wilson's book Hatch! Is a wonderful guide to stir the often stagnant waters of brainstorming. Taking the tools collected from a life time of creative work, including time with Disney Imagineering, McNair lays out the ground rules of true brainstorming--taking it far beyond the stale corporate brainstorming that is all too common and far from true brainstorming. McNair has fun with the subject interjecting personal stories and scenarios. The book is also liberally laced with fun illustrations which flesh out the material rather than impose on it. I consider Hatch! to be a great companion to two Imagineer produced books: The Imagineering Way:Ideas to Ignite Your Creativity and The Imagineering Workout.
Sometimes we feel like we are running on creative empty and don’t know where to turn. I’d encourage you to reach for a copy of HATCH, BRAINSTORMING SECRETS OF A THEME PARK DESIGNER (http://amzn.to/1aX6RT2).
With engaging visuals and entertaining stories, C. McNair Wilson helps readers understand why most brainstorming doesn’t work and gives you the insights to make it work.
Yes there are some basic rules and tips to successful brainstorming and they are woven into the fiber of HATCH. It doesn’t require a huge budget but these techniques can be lifechanging.
Use the seven agreements of brainstorming and you can move from a slump to loads of fresh ideas and a lifetime of exciting work. The inspiration oozes from these pages. I recommend HATCH.
I first came across McNair when I was running camera at a Dynamic Communicator's Workshop, and was amazed at the creativity of his presentations. So, when I saw his book, I snatched it up. It more than lived up to my expectations. Very practical how-to for getting wildly creative (yes, "practical" and "creative" can be in the same sentence). Great ideas that I'll use in my writing, and when our leadership team gets together to dream about what our small church can be. Should you get this book? Yes, and...buy a 2nd copy for your boss.
Valuable stuff, but tough for a introvert to follow without being overwhelmed. I'm guessing I'd love a TEDTalk or seminar by this author, but I couldn't make it through the frenetic stream-of-thought format. I highlighted the key points at the end of each chapter instead.
I have read several books that attempt to give you insight into the mind of an Imagineer. But honestly many of those books gloss over the skills of theme park design and creativity without giving the reader the tools to use those skills in their professional and non-work life. You often think to yourself, yes I want to be creative, but how do I go beyond the nugget that has been presented to skills building. C. McNair Wilson bucks in trend in Hatch!, a book that provides a formula for successful brainstorming and a blueprint on making this formula work!
Hatch!: Brainstorming Secrets of a Theme Park Designer by C. McNair Wilson showcases Mr. Wilson's expertise in brainstorming that has proven to be successful during his time as an Imagineer, private consultant (including for Disney), and within numerous stage productions. The book is broken into two halves. In the first portion, Wilson presents his "7 Agreements of Brainstorming", the principles that he shares with groups when he leads a brainstorming endeavor. The second half focuses on the nuts and bolts of brainstorming from creating your own sand box to brainstorm within, setting up brainstorming teams and the ever terrifying doodling! The author has illustrated the volume with doodles of his own, which reinforce his lessons, and inspirational quotes.
I feel like C. McNair Wilson has freed me! That may be overstatement, but it is a fun one. I work within a field where I brainstorm solutions to problems all the time. And recently I even gave a professional presentation where I used Marty Sklar's "Mickey's Ten Commandments" to urge my fellow professionals to quit seeing ourselves as bland and dull writers of vanilla passages but instead as creatives who are artists when fulfilling external regulations. I feel like Hatch! has further provided me tools to continue screaming this fact. So for me, when reading through the "7 Agreements of Brainstorming" it was the liberating principles that stuck out to me. For example, "Agreement No. 6: Wild Ideas" with the mental picture of putting doughnuts on the moon really hit home with me, especially after he showed it was possible to find ways to get doughnuts on the moon! It helped show me that in brainstorming it is not just that no idea is a bad idea, but it was the fact that a wild idea may either be a good idea or provide the seed of a great idea. For me, the six first principles that Wilson provides are about creativity and having the freedom to be creative when brainstorming. Though he still provides space for critical thinking. But even in this phase of planning, Wilson's formula provides plenty of space for creative thoughts.
The second half of the book is really the nuts and bolts of how to make the "7 Agreements of Brainstorming" work. Throughout the book it becomes clear that Wilson respects doodling as a way to both foster thought and to express ideas. But, I raise my hand and say, what about me who has little to no drawing skills? What can I do? I am happy to say that Wilson addresses this issue. He provides suggestions on tools and how to practice one's doodling skills so one can have confidence in them. Of course he also gives us a healthy reminder that we do not have to be perfect. Honestly, as I read through this book I thought of a recent business situation where I lead a team through the critical thinking stage of brainstorming a problem without the help of Hatch!. At one point I started doodling on our group notes. This included simple doodles like happy and sad faces, and a burning house. The funny thing is it helped us make a consensus decision for a recommendation, and when we presented it to others we included graphics as part of our presentation! Though someone did have to ask me if one face was crying or just needed a shave! So despite the fact I have no drawing skills at all, I had already seen the power of doodles. (Recently I was faced with a project where I had to draw, an artistic friend gave the great advice of simple geometric shapes. If you are worried about drawing it is a good place to start).
Disney fans will be interested in this book since the cover makes note of Wilson's Imagineering past. And the Disney stories within it are enjoyable to the Disney history fan. He recounts the day Michael Eisner asked a team to consider options for the parking lot across from Disneyland. And one of my favorite examples was the evolution of an idea when Wilson suggested they build a hotel in a theme park (thank you, my few days there were very enjoyable). And there are even stories of plans that never fully developed. So overall a Disney fan will be pleased. But one should keep in mind that included stories go well beyond Disney, with stories from his stage productions and even his 40th birthday party.
So despite the Disney connection, this really is a book for those interested in creative thinking and effective brainstorming. As I have thought through the book I have found more application to how I support creative thinking at work than adding to knowledge of my Disney fandom. So, one should realize this is a brainstorming book that anyone can use, with some Disney sprinkled in. Hatch! really is a guidebook to creative thinking in group settings, not a history of the creation of Disneyland.
When it comes to the question of where to buy Hatch! there are several options. At the author's website you can see all of the purchasing options, including one that helps support some good causes. He has made available a PDF excerpt from the book that you can look through. You can also read some of McNair Wilson's thoughts about Disney and non-Disney things, including his take on Saving Mr. Banks. But being the selfish guy I am, I suggest purchasing the signed personalized copy. My copy has a bit of whimsy to it since the author added his own personal touch.
Hatch!: Brainstorming Secrets of a Theme Park Designer by C. McNair Wilson is a liberating book. It allows the rational being to release themselves into a creative one by providing a simple set of seven agreements. By following these steps one can make a good thing great, much like Imagineering does! But even if you are not a Disney parks fan, you can still gain much by sharpening your brainstorming skills while having some fun.
There’s a ton of great potential in this book but it’s desperately in need of an update. The book gives a few decent tips but it’s hardly revelatory for someone that has run a creative workshop before. Many illustrations were pixelated as if they’d been grabbed off the web and immediately printed.
Every idea gets written down because it is axiomatic that the quality of the ultimate idea is directly related to the quantity of early ideas.
If you’ve read any books on creativity, the ideas within Hatch! won’t surprise you. There are no earth-shattering secrets here, but half the battle with practical books is getting the reader excited enough to practice. That’s why it’s a good thing C. McNair Wilson is at the helm, because his enthusiasm might convince you it’s the first time you’ve ever heard this stuff, and by golly, it's going to work!
Ever visited a Disney theme park? You’ve probably come across this one-time Imagineer’s brainstorming results and not even known it. If Happiest-Place-On-Earth-level creation doesn’t inspire you, I’m not sure what will.
But enough about the author's creds. What about the book itself?
I soon discovered that when reading Hatch!, how it's approached was key. McNair reminded me of the long-winded uncle we see once a year at Thanksgiving. Throughout my first read-through, I was like an old lady in an 80s fast food ad: Where’s the beef? Hatch! is filled with stories and anecdotes that require a little work to pull out the core. It wasn’t until I pulled back, relaxed, and accepted his playful style, that McNair’s levity and affable personality made his tangents (and sketches) a joy to read.
The first half of Hatch! focuses on the Seven Agreements of Creativity. They provide the rules of the road that keep unbridled creation front-and-center, until you can finally narrow down the menu of options to The One.
The second half is a smorgasbord of topics, including a fun section on doodling which illustrates (haha) how visual note-taking can be a boon to creative gold mining.
Also, it’s important to realize that while this book is focused on team and corporate brainstorming, many of the tips still apply to individual creation. I’m hoping McNair decides to write another book focused on solo artists.
The main takeaway? Have fun! Don’t be afraid of failure. When you’re being creative, there are no right or wrong answers, there are only lots of answers. The best part? Ideas don’t cost a penny. The critical thinking phase will take care of the rest, but until then, you need to give that inner child time to shine.
Some of us (*cough* turns head away awkwardly *cough*) start things and rarely finish them for fear of not meeting our own expectations (you tell yourself it’s what others expect, but I’m pretty sure (hoping) you’re the only one living in your head). Sometimes we don’t start at all, imagining all of the horrible things that could go wrong and all of the ridicule we’ll suffer for our stupid idea. That’s what McNair calls “Blocking” (Agreement #4) and we need to eliminate it when we’re trying to be creative. Don’t punish yourself before your idea is realized. Punish yourself afterwards for taking so long to get it (and by punish, I mean eat some ice cream).
If you can’t tell from the rest of my review or decided to skip it and just read the end, then let me make it easy for you: buy this book and put it to use in your life. Even if you think you're at the top of your creative game, I think you’ll be happy with the results McNair inspires.
Hatch! Brainstorming Secrets of a Theme Park Designer shows you how to think up stuff like that yourself. It teaches the art of brainstorming in a way that is entertaining and understandable. He breaks the whole process down into his 7 Agreements of BrainstormingTM with illustrations and activities that makes you more creative and more fun. Did I mention it's one of the most fun books I've ever read. I mean, really, even the book blurb above is funny!
Get this book. Whether you're a lone writer in a tower or the training director of a huge corporation, this book will help you lasso your creative side and keep it bucking out great ideas.
Hatched is a fun book to read. (shouldn't all books be fun to read?) It's fun because at its essence, it is a "how to" book. It walks you through the process of doing brainstorming and strategic planning. But it intermixes stories, examples and "doodles" in a way that makes you wonder what's coming next...which, I suppose is a part of the point.
Read the book for the learning and the fun. Use the 1-page summaries at the end of each chapter to incorporate into your planning process, and let hyour imagination run wild.
Writing was a bit all over the place and I really wish he had stayed away from the religious angle, but there is a lot of good content and useful ideas