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Teenager, Version 1 - Confusion

By Thomas Eklund

This article is the second part of a seven article series on neglecting versus using goal oriented creativity management principles.

These articles have a common thread that is related to CreativityModel Method usage. From a teenager to an employee, to president of a company or a country - CreativityModel Method usage principles are the same. So, your learning to use them is worth the effort, because you can use these creativity management skills throughout your life.

Both Version 1 and 2 are examples of projects that require goal oriented handling. Each Version 1 is an example of a scenario where goal oriented creativity principles should be used, but are not being used. This creates consequences. That's just the way life is, whether we like it or not.

Each Version 2 is the same scenario, except that this time goal oriented creativity is being used. The consequences are different, too.

  • So, when you read this material, ask yourself, which version do you identify with more, Version 1 or 2?
  • Do you recognize any of the people you know in these versions? In version 1 or 2?
  • Both goal oriented creativity usage and self-expressive creativity usage can be learned and taught. Keeping this in mind, where are you now, and where do you want to be, as far as your own goal oriented creative thinking skills usage is concerned? Do you know anybody in your life who would benefit from improving his or her creativity management skills?

Teenage Confusion

Some projects are short-term undertakings and others take years to materialize. From CreativityModel Method usage perspective, life is a project, too. Projects, and especially goal oriented projects, need a structure.

You don't necessarily have to live your life so, that you want to achieve something with it. Ending up, wherever life takes you, maybe good, too. But if you do want to achieve something in your life, usage of goal oriented creativity principles is recommended. If you proceed by using choice supported creativity principles, you end up somewhere, but that may not be what you really want.

So, how do you want to live your life? Either explicitly or implicitly, you are making choices that affect the outcome.

The principles addressed in this Teenager, Version 1 and the next Teenager, Version 2 examples apply to life management and career development in general and to other age groups equally well. However, let's look at these topics from a teenager's perspective.

So, please try to imagine that you are a teenager, a boy who is not yet an adult but isn't a child any more either.

Maybe you are a teenager, maybe not. Either way, try to imagine it and think with me.

You are in your senior year at high school. You know that you want to go to college. It's a good thing - going to college. It can be a lot of fun, too. And a lot of work. Either way, you want to do it. It's important to you.

You are thinking about several colleges and universities that you could apply to.

You don't have any money to pay for the college, and that's a problem.

You also want to choose a profession for yourself, and a major that you will have in college. You kind of want to figure out, what you will do professionally.

Every once in a while you talk with different people about it.

You talk about it with your friends, your girlfriend, your parents, and sometimes with other people as well.

You consider yourself good at working with your hands, repairing things, taking things apart and fixing them. You like that.

Your dad recommends working on a construction site.

You kind of like working with computers. Maybe something like what your dad's friend does, who works as a network administrator. Maybe you should look into majoring in engineering? You are pretty good at math. You also like working on houses and construction. You also would like to have a really good understanding of business management principles. Maybe you will want to go into business for yourself.

You are not sure what to do.

You do some Internet research on becoming a network administrator. People say that you should become an intern, do help desk and support jobs, get certifications. And, of course, you should get a college degree.

You are not sure, how you can learn all that stuff.

You think that maybe you should work for a while instead. Make some money, you know.

You graduate from high school.

You still want to go to college, but college is expensive.

There do not seem to be any network administration related jobs, or other computer jobs available that fit your background and expertise level and you could apply to.

You work, helping out your dad.

You try to save money for college, but there is just too little of it. Not enough. Financial aid doesn't seem to offer any really usable solutions either.

You postpone going to college - just by one year. Initially.

You work. You hang out with your friends. You really like your girlfriend.

Your girlfriend gets pregnant.

You have to work more now. There will be more bills to pay.

You are really not sure what to do.

You work, doing whatever work you can get. You hang out with your friends. You really like your girlfriend.

The future is uncertain and a lot in life seems kind of confusing, but you will handle it.