My friend Keith tweeted his surprise that I still write cheques (He’s British) and balance my checkbook. I write less than half a dozen checks a month and it would be easy to pay all my bills electronically.

I confess there’s something comforting (?) about the routine of opening the bank statement and reconciling it with my checkbook. Maybe it’s an age thing. I’m old enough to remember Diner’s Club cards and the introduction of ATM machines.

And while there’s precious little math involved in balancing a checkbook, it’s the only math I have/do these days.

But I think the real reason I cling to this anachronism has something to do with my perception of the “reality” of money.  The same reason I have never used a debit card and always keep a little cash in my pocket. I love PayPal and used it every few days. But a bank statement and my little money clip with a few bucks in it are the threads that keep money real, at least in my head.

Bonus reference: Who remembers counter checks?

I don’t think of myself as clever but it is something to which one might aspire. This article at FinancialPost.com identifies the attributes of clever and why organizations need such folk:

“The truth is that organizations need a particular kind of clever employees — people with a propensity for innovation and even iconoclasm. People who happily tread on organizational sacred ground while seeking new ways to produce sustained economic growth.

Clever people are highly talented individuals who have the potential to create disproportionate amounts of value from the resources that an organization makes available to them.”

And how does one spot a clever boy or girl?

• They know their worth (their skills are not easily replicated).
• They ask difficult questions.
• They are organizationally savvy.
• They are not impressed by corporate hierarchy.
• They expect instant access to decision makers.
• They are well connected outside of their organizations.
• Their passion is for what they do, not for who they work for.
• Even if you lead them well, they won’t thank you.

Leo Babauta has a very good list of tips on how to cultivate your creativity. Here are a few of my favorites from his list:

• Shut out the outside world.
• Reflect on your life and work daily.
• Just get it out, no matter how crappy that first draft.
• Teach and you’ll learn.
• Drink ridiculous amounts of coffee.
• Write all ideas down immediately.
• Turn your work into play.
• Get lots of rest. Overwork kills creativity.
• Don’t force it. Relax, play, it will start to flow.
• Do it when you’re excited.
• Don’t be afraid to be stupid and silly.
• Small ideas are good. Don’t need to change the world — just change one thing.
• When something is killing your creativity, kill it.
• Most of all, have fun doing it.

If I might add one idea to this excellent list (be sure to check out the full list from link above), you have to be in an environment that will allow (better yet, encourage) creativity. I’ve been so blessed for most of my working life. I guess this means working for the right company or working for yourself.