An elderly man was harassed every afternoon by a group of kids on their way home from school. They'd ring his doorbell and run, or taunt him while he was working in his garden, or throw things at his house. He shouted at them, and thought about calling the police or talking to their parents, but then he had a better idea.

On a Monday afternoon, when the kids ran by at the usual time, he called them together. "I'm an old man, and I don't get much company," he told them. "I want to show you my appreciation for paying some attention to me, so each time you kids come by, I'll give each of you a dollar." That sounded good to the kids, and they each collected a dollar bill from the man. Happy, they ran off and left him alone.

On Wednesday, the man told them, "I'm a little short today, so instead of a dollar, I can only give you a quarter." That was still better than nothing, so the children took their quarters and ran home.

The following Monday the man came out of his house and told the kids, "I'm afraid I don't have much money left, so all I can give each of you for visiting me is a penny."

"Forget it!" the kids shouted, and they left. And they never came back to bother the old man again.

How's that for creativity in solving a problem?

Creativity and imagination are vital for business and personal success. January is International Creativity Month, so capitalize on your creative powers by devoting the month to exploring new ideas and strategies to make you more creative.

New evidence suggests that you can boost your imagination by just getting outside and spending some time in nature. Researchers from the University of Kansas gave a standard creativity test -- called the Remote Associates Test -- to four groups of backpackers as they were about to set off on a series of lengthy hikes. They also administered the test to a second group of hikers who were already four days into their nature excursion. This second group scored almost 50 percent higher in creativity than their counterparts.

Ruth Ann Atchley, department chair and associate professor of cognitive/clinical psychology at the University of Kansas, describes the findings this way: "Nature is a place where our mind can rest, relax and let down those threat responses. Therefore, we have resources left over -- to be creative, to be imaginative, to problem-solve -- that allow us to be better, happier people who engage in a more productive way with others."

Similarly, some of us feel more creative wearing our favorite green T-shirt or checkered cap. Research suggests that the colors around us actually influence how well we do certain tasks.

For whatever reason, some days ideas pop into your head without any effort at all. Other days you probably feel like you're digging for them at the bottom of a very deep ditch. Try these tips for generating fresh concepts:

-- Gather information. Research whatever you're trying to develop ideas for. Don't think about solutions initially; just immerse yourself in the subject. You may uncover a single fact that can spark a dozen ideas.

-- Mix everything together. Take a bird's-eye view of what you've collected. Look for underlying assumptions, common concepts and roads not taken. Make notes of anything that stands out.

-- Let it simmer. Concentrate on something else for a while. Listen to music, take a walk, sleep on it -- and let your subconscious sort through what you've learned.

-- Brainstorm. Invest some time in generating more ideas from the information you've processed. Your third or fourth attempt may prove more useful than your first and most obvious solution.

-- Share your idea. Run it past someone you trust for feedback. An outside perspective can help you shape and mold your idea into something you can put into action.

-- Accept mistakes. Give yourself permission to try things even if you're not sure they'll succeed. Often you'll stumble across a different strategy or a better path along the way.

-- Copy other ideas. Don't directly steal anyone else's work, but look at what's been done with an eye toward doing it differently. Even the most familiar landscape can come to life in interesting ways depending on the colors you use to paint it, or the point of view from which you show it.

Mackay's Moral: Creativity, not necessity, is the true mother of invention.

This time of year, we often contemplate New Year's resolutions. What's at the top of the list for many people? Exercising and getting your body in shape. A noble thought, to be sure, but I have an even better idea. How about exercising your mind so you can get the most out of it?

Resolve to try something new to keep your brain challenged. Just as doing the same physical exercises over and over again works only a specific part of the body, doing the same mental work repeatedly tends to narrow your focus and limit your potential.

Clearing the clutter and cobwebs out of your mind is not complicated, but it does require some practice for those who are constantly on overdrive. And you all know who you are!

One of my favorite books, "Think and Grow Rich: A Black Choice" by Napoleon Hill and Dennis Kimbro, offers wonderfully well-defined advice about caring for your mind:

"Assume for a moment that you have in your possession a million dollars in gold. Would you protect it? Would you safeguard this treasure? Would you respect its value? Of course you would. You might even hire bodyguards or install security devices to ensure its safety.

"In comparison, your mind and self-image are worth far more than one million dollars. They're priceless! Your mind is the exclusive source of all you will create spiritually, financially or materially in your life. Your level of joy, happiness and peace of mind originates from one place -- your mind. Now ask yourself, do you protect your mind as carefully as you protect your physical assets?"

Beyond the oft-repeated advice to read a novel, take a walk, learn a new language and so on, there are plenty of other options that address long-term mind exercises.

A growing trend among business professionals is meditation. Meditation clears and relaxes your mind, which can have a significant impact on your physical health. And meditation doesn't require any special equipment or clothing, just an open mind and a quiet environment free of distractions.

Get comfortable and clear your mind. Be conscious of only your breathing. Don't direct your thoughts in any particular direction; let them drift freely. How long you meditate is up to you.

This is a simplified description, and there are many different meditation practices. Check online for coaching in a technique that will help you.

Back at work, learning and remembering new information can grow more difficult with every passing year. Here are some tips to help you stay on top of the knowledge game:

-- Focus on concentrating. Distractions are the bane of any learning attempt. If you're attending a seminar or training session, sit near the instructor and maintain eye contact. Let your focused attention do the job.

-- Say it out loud. Read aloud the material you're trying to learn and repeat out loud the facts you want to retain. This way, both your eyes and your ears are delivering information to your brain.

-- Tame frustration. If you're getting frustrated over material you're trying to learn, remind yourself that getting emotional will only hamper your ability to retain information. Step back and take a break.

There was once a man who wanted to gain power over his mind. He heard there was a monk in Tibet who could make this come true for him, so the man traveled through the Himalayas. When the man finally met the monk, the monk replied casually, "Yes, my friend, attaining supernatural powers is simple. For this you merely need a mantra. Just say, 'Buddham Sharanam Gachchami, Dhammam Sharanam Gachchami, Sangham Sharanam Gachchami' three times -- and whatever you do, do not think of monkeys."

This was going to be a cinch, the man thought. He wondered at the direction to not think of monkeys, asking himself, "Why would I think of monkeys?"

Then he sat down to try this new practice. But as he chanted the first words of the mantra, the first thought that came to his mind was "monkeys!" He tried chanting louder and imposing a more powerful order to not think of monkeys. Still, all he could think of was monkeys. In fact, he found that monkeys now roamed about his consciousness everywhere.

The monk, seeing the struggle taking place, smiled and said, "Whenever you try to force your mind to go in one direction, you can be very sure it will always go the other way."

Mackay's Moral: Nurturing and mastering your mind is anything but monkey business.

Do you believe in Santa Claus?

Whether you ever did -- or still do -- there are some things about the jolly old elf that wise businesses should consider emulating if they want to establish a year-round aura of good will. Santa has attributes that easily translate beyond the holidays. Here are some I think are worth noting:

-- Good reputation. You can't buy a good reputation; you must earn it. Santa has a positive reputation because he is a magnanimous soul who stands for goodness and generosity.

Nothing is more important than a good reputation in building a successful business. Stand for what is right, and you won't get knocked down.

-- Fun-loving. Santa's elves always look as if they are working very hard, yet loving their jobs. A fun workplace is more productive and attracts people and profits. Your company motto should be, "Thank God it's Monday." You should want your employees to look forward to coming to work.

-- Great memory for names. Santa never forgets a name. If you want people to know how much you care, show them how much you remember. The sweetest-sounding word in the English language is your name being said by someone else. There are many methods for remembering names, such as name association and repetition. It's an important skill to develop.

-- Creative gift giver. Santa's gifts relate to the recipient, not the giver. To do the job right, you have to know your customer as a living, breathing human being with likes, dislikes and interests. A knock-your-socks-off gift doesn't have to be expensive. A gift that shows you have paid attention and have taken a genuine personal interest in your customer says a lot more than a dollar sign.

Santa also understands the importance of rewards. I hate to say this to Santa, but Thanksgiving cards still pack a bigger punch than Christmas cards because they stand out from the crowd.

-- Good listener. If you remember sitting on Santa's lap, you probably also remember that he paid close attention to your requests. You can win more friends with your ears than with your mouth. People who feel like they're being listened to feel accepted and appreciated rather than isolated and rejected. They feel as if they are being taken seriously and what they say really matters.

-- Great smile. Santa's flowing beard may hide a lot of his face, but never his happy smile. I learned years ago that one of the most powerful things you can do to have influence over others is to smile at them. That's why I never underestimate the value of a smile. It should be standard equipment for all people -- at work and after hours.

-- Humility. Santa doesn't take credit for all the happiness he spreads. It's refreshing to come across co-workers, bosses or even customers who have enough self-confidence to let their work speak for their abilities and achievements. Humility is becoming a lost art, yet it's not difficult to practice. It means you realize that others have been involved in your success.

-- Enthusiasm. How can Santa Claus continue to do the same job year after year? He's a pro. He gives it everything he's got. His focus and enthusiasm are obvious. He loves what he does.

If you aren't getting excited about hitting the pavement every day, it will show. You get what you give -- nothing. Enthusiasm is contagious. Start an epidemic.

-- Positive attitude. Santa promotes good will and good behavior wherever he goes. He encourages children to "be good for goodness' sake." Thinking positive has no negative. A positive mind anticipates happiness, joy, health and success. If you get used to behaving in a positive way, you will form good habits. And your habits will help define the kind of person you are.

-- Loyalty. Santa has his elves, just like the Lone Ranger had Tonto. One of the first qualities I look for in employees and friends is loyalty.

-- Respects deadlines. If ever there was a job with deadline pressure, Santa has it. Getting the job done on time is essential in building trust and loyalty.

-- Good judge of character. A naughty or nice list isn't necessary for most businesses. But demanding that people in your organization act with complete professionalism and respect for your customers is not up for discussion.

-- Well-dressed. Say what you want, but Santa dresses for success!

Mackay's Moral: Happy and safe holidays to all!