Thinking Outside the Box Making changes in your life involves changing your old thinking habits. When you’re stuck, is there an approach you haven’t thought of? A creative solution? A new way of thinking? This activity first appeared in Penney’s Forum (Fall/Winter 1973). It was developed by Sidney Parnes for the JC Penney Company. Without removing your pencil from the page, draw four straight lines connecting all 9 dots, and going through each dot only once.