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For most of us, the weekend is less agenda-driven and more relaxed than our usual weekday. You're more likely to slip into that state of relaxed alertness that psychologists call "alpha." That's when you're most likely to have creative thoughts. Here's a thought starter from Nobel Laureate Arno Penzias to help you along.

"As I see it, intelligent behavior calls for the ability to use information acquired in one situation to solve problems in another."

I interpret that as a suggestion to look outside whatever box you're in at the moment. I'm not talking about "thinking outside the box." You can stay right there in your box and think merrily away. But look outside your regular environment for information, ideas, processes, and concepts that you can use to make your thinking better.

What are you doing to seek out new sources of information, insight, and inspiration?

You also have more time for serious reading on the weekend. Here's a recommendation for something serious, fun, and most likely outside your box of professional interest. What could be better?

Stephen Jay Gould was a biologist, known among his peers as one of the developers of the theory of Punctuated Equilibrium in evolution. He was also a recipient of a MacArthur Foundation "genius grant." All that is swell, but he also wrote a monthly essay for Natural History magazine. Those essays were collected into books. Can you guess where I'm going with this?

Gould was a modern master of the long form essay. His pieces begin in one place, wind around through a number of different concepts and conclusions and come out in a perfectly logical but surprising place. You learn a lot along the way. I'm pointing you to The Panda's Thumb, the collection of Gould essays that was the first one I read and that hooked me forever after. It may do the same for you.

Wally's Working Supervisor's Support Kit is a collection of information and tools to help working supervisors do a better job. It's based on what Wally's learned in over twenty years of supervisory skills training. Click here to check it out.