Skinny Jeans And A Scarf Does Not Make You Creative

Many businesses and churches are making a critical mistake.  They hire a millennial wearing skinny jeans and wearing a scarf and say, “Let’s put him on the creative team!”
Well, skinny jeans and a scarf does not make you creative.  Khaki pants, a tucked-in blue pullover, and a ball cap makes you creative.  Don’t believe me?  Let me introduce you to Michigan Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh, the most creative man in all of college football.
Coach Harbaugh reminds us that creativity is not coloring outside the lines.  Creativity is coloring inside the lines differently than everyone else.
Last week, he took his players on a five-day, four-practice trip to sunny Florida.  College teams have traditionally always practiced on their campus.  Not Harbaugh who cares little of how things have always been done.  He decided his players would rather put their toes in sandy beaches rather than six inches of snow.
What is even more unique – he team setup their satellite campus at IMG Academy in Bradenton, FL.  IMG is the #1 high school football powerhouse in America.  Though they could not interact with the players, potential star recruits saw a weeklong infomercial of the coolest/hippest/most relevant/trendy program in the country.
Senior defensive tackle Maurice Hurst told the USA Today, “Coach Harbaugh is an innovator.  He’s always going to try to find something new, a loophole to help us get better. He told me he’s going to top the Signing of the Stars (more on this later). I don’t know how you top that.”
The maverick coach also seems impervious to complaints from fellow coaches who are put off by Harbaugh’s completely unique approach to recruiting.  He said, “I think my favorite one so far was the comment that this was a circus, like a big circus. This and the Signing of the Stars, like, ‘What a circus.  As a youngster I remember the circus coming to town, looking forward to it, saving my pennies and dollars because the circus was coming to town and I couldn’t wait. Every circus I ever went to, I left feeling really great about it. It was a lot of fun.”
Signing Of The Stars has now been mentioned twice.  If you are unfamiliar with this event, on National Signing Day, Harbaugh paraded a cascade of stars in front of 3,500 fans as they introduced the team’s newest recruits.  These stars included Tom Brady, Derek Jeter, Desmond Howard, Lou Holtz, Todd McShay, and yes, the Nature Boy Ric Flair.  WOOOOO!!!!  For a video of this groundbreaking event, watch the video below.

The celebrities did not stop there.  Dick Vitale made an appearance in Bradenton.  All in all, over 5,000 people attended the team’s Florida practice.
Former season ticket holder for 31 years Debbie Fielder said, “It’s exciting they’re here in Florida, it’s exciting to see the new players and he makes it so fun for the kids.”
In addition to being fun, Harbaugh’s creativity is also building team unity.  Hurst added, “Normally we go on spring break with a bunch of teammates anyway; now we get to come all together as a unit.”  The fun included beach time, movie nights, batting practice and countless meals together as a unit.
Harbaugh concluded after the trip, “It was a great thing for everyone involved, most importantly the fellas. Let the guys play. Let the fellas play, let them have fun. What’s wrong with that?”
One final question – what’s also wrong with khaki pants, blue pullovers, and ball caps.  This is what creativity now looks like.

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