LAS VEGAS — Erik Wahl, a former corporate executive, who leftthe corporate world to reconnect with creativity and art, explainedand demonstrated Tuesday to attendees at the American Credit UnionMortgage Association's annual conference how they can usecreativity to spark innovation and improved performance.

Wahl started his presentation by asking the audience at theEncore in Las Vegas if they can draw. When no one raised theirhands, he said that was the usual response from most of hisaudiences. The difference was stark compared to when he would askthe same question at schools where nearly 100% of hands would goup, he said.

Those children have not yet learned to doubt their owncreativity and desire to do things that are new and different, Wahlsaid, recounting how he had loved to draw as a child but waschastised in class for painting an apple pumpkin orange.