Number of words: 140

Complete the following sentence: An example of a bird is…….

Now complete this one: A bird is an example of…….

Which of the two exercises seemed easier if you are like most people it was quick and easy to come up with example of birds pigeon, Sparrow, dove…..

The second sentence was probably marginally more challenging we suspect you thought a bit and then after “A bird is an example of….” You might have settled on “an animal.” If this is how you completed the sentence, you have nothing to be ashamed of. But we will not congratulate you either. This answer falls in what is commonly referred to as the comfort zone and it does not take full advantage of the creative freedom available to you.

Excerpted from ‘Thinking in new boxes’ by Alan Iny and Luc de Brabandere