Jan Cross, Extraordinary Mind Project developer, has specialised knowledge and expertise for anyone wishing to uncover and recapture their natural birthright of extraordinary talents and creativity.

So far, over 2,000 people, many of whom started out saying "I don't have a creative bone in my body", have turned around in a few short hours of working with the Extraordinary Mind Project principles to produce artwork which astounds themselves... and their friends and family!

Most of us live far below our potential, though not because we are lazy or disinterested. The first few years of our lives are spent in an ongoing state of super-learning and creativity. Soon though, due to the hard-wiring of our brains, most of us lose close touch with the potential of these natural abilities.

Jan's innovative approach will help anyone who would enjoy experiencing a fast, sure break through the conditioned, unconscious hard-wiring of the brain and reconnecting with their 'forgotten' abilities.

The method uses drawing abilities as a learning context for - and display case of - applying practical information about the functioning of the mind in any learning, problem solving or creative situation. The results are reliably outstanding ... well outside the 5-10% level of potential that we are commonly thought, and seemingly able, to function within.

The courses are designed so that visual and other habit patterns, including perceptions and beliefs about what's possible and what's so, are intercepted or by-passed. The participant is able to enter the natural learning 'flow state' and the environment can be seen afresh and new skills and ideas come easily. The signature course is aptly named Draw Your Way To Creativity.

Participants' see themselves and what's possible for them in a new light ... and like what they see! Many new possibilities open up for everyone - in art, sport, business, relationships, communication, life itself.

The method is the outcome of many years of intense interest and study and creative ongoing trialling of information and ideas by Jan. It synthesises information from varied sources including comparative creativity studies, right brain left brain research, cognitive science, psychology of optimal experience, adult learning, teaching methods, leadership studies, personal development, neurolinguistic programming, meditation, social change research, and others.

The spark. Jan's pioneering work was stimulated initially by observation of her first born, and other young children. She saw them brimming naturally with life and enthusiasm, having insatiable curiosity, unconditional confidence, no concepts of fear or risk, and with an unstoppable desire to learn and master new things. In fact, the first few years presented as an ongoing state of super-learning and creativity.

Being left by these observations with an acute awareness of the difference between this state and that of herself and, apparently, many other adults, Jan resolved to find a way of recapturing for herself what she saw as our birthright, our original art of living - natural creativity.

Jan leads courses and workshops, coaches, speaks regularly to groups and has presented at two conferences. Her courses have been presented by invitation in several of The UWA Extension Summer Schools and her work has been featured in articles in The West Australian, The Sunday Times and several community newspapers. Her participants' achievements have been showcased in exhibitions held at the Perth Concert Hall.

Community

The Extraordinary Mind Project unintentionally serves a social connectivity function.

Self-forming groups of past participants continue to meet regularly after the courses and, among other activities, from time to time organize exhibitions of their work.

The resulting community group Ideas Place Melville consists of a dozen or so shared interest sub-groups and continues to flourish.

In her spare time Jan enjoys mosaicing, windsurfing, travel, photography and reading and likes to tell a good digital story.

Dear Jan,

I have just got home after the last day of my second course with you and have to say I am likely to remain on a huge high for some time.  It was very obvious from the energy levels when we all parted that I wasn't the only group member filled with such elation and sense of power.

THANK YOU so much for showing us what extraordinary minds we each have.  Many people talk about untapped potential in a theoretical way.  You, however, have a unique and most effective way of sharing your insight.  In very practical ways you lead us through the scary territory of "not knowing" and allow "just doing" to emerge. 

For recovering control freaks such as myself, this is a feat bordering on miraculous.  It is so exciting to anticipate more and more of those indescribable minutes of "going with the flow" when my hands seem to infallibly drive themselves, and not just for drawing either.

Your Extraordinary Mind Project is a rare and exceptionally valuable treat.    If you find a way to spread the understandings more broadly (web site, CD / DVD, education department materials ...) I believe the impact, in emotional well-being as well as productivity, will be profound.  Meanwhile, I shall continue to savour the competence and confidence you have unleashed within me!

Katherine

August 2008