You Too Can Be Creative!

I found this piece from Mashable really interesting. It’s an interview with Jonah Lehrer, author of a new book called Imagine. His comments about the creative process are pretty eye opening. And while I was not drawn to it immediately because of any legal tie in, I found one. In the interview, Lehrer discusses why the Route 128 region in Massachusetts lost out as an innovation leader to Silicon Valley. One factor was the fact that in California, unlike in Massachusetts, non-compete agreements were rarely enforced. So employees were more free to move around in the industry, which led to greater collaboration, which led to more innovation. I don’t know if this thesis is true, but if it is, it suggests that on occasion at least, what is best for an individual employer may not be in the best interests of the community. Food for thought.