2005, Stu McLaren

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Creativity Secrets: What Creative Thinking Can Do For You

All work contained in this book is the copyright of Stu McLaren. No part of this document may be reproduced or transmitted for resale or used by any party without express written permission from the author.

LEGAL NOTICE
While all attempts have been made to provide effective, verifiable information in this document, neither the Author nor Publisher assumes any responsibility for errors, inaccuracies, or omissions. Any slights of people or organizations are unintentional. The information contained in this package does not make any claims or guarantees. Many variables affect each individuals results. Results will vary. The author does not make any promise of your personal success. The author has no control over what you may or may not do with this information, and therefore cannot accept the responsibility for your results. Any and all references to persons or businesses, whether living or dead, existing or defunct, are purely coincidental.

Table of Contents
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

Chapter 1: Creativity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

Learn the driving factors for creative thinkers

What is Creativity? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 What Creativity Can Do For You . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 Overcoming Obstacles & Roadblocks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

Chapter 2: Characteristics of Creative Thinkers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 The Driving Factors for Creative Thinkers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 Overcoming Fear & Breaking the Cycle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23 Creating Your Own Success . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26

Chapter 3: Generating Ideas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28 The Rules of Creative Thinking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28 The Power of Stimuli . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31 Opening the Floodgates of Your Mind . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41

Chapter 4: The Basics of Brainstorming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42 What is Brainstorming? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42 The Uses of Brainstorming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44 The Benefits of Brainstorming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45 Conducting a Brainstorming Session . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48

Chapter 5: Creative Thinking Techniques . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52 How Does Creative Thinking Work? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52 Making Creative Thinking Work for You . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53 Continuously Improving Your Creativity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60

Chapter 6: Mind Mapping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63 What is Mind Mapping? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63 Mind Mapping in 6 Easy Steps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64 Uses For Mind Mapping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67

Discover the secrets of mind mapping

Chapter 7: Creativity In Action . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .71 Short Stories on Creativity in Action . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .71 Useful Web Site Links . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .78

Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79

Introduction
You have a problem and you cant think of a solution. You sit there, scratching your head, racking your brain for answers. Nothing happens. In fact, the harder you think, the more frustrated you get.

Every person in the world has at least a kernel of creativity inside him or her

Why is it that some people seem to have an endless source of creative ideas? You know the type-the ones who never seem stuck for cuttingedge thoughts, the ones who make heaps of money from their ideas, the ones that everyone want to work with. How do the superstars of the business world come up with such innovative technologies and products? How do inventors dream up creations that everyone want? Why are you struggling to generate those kinds of valuable ideas-and most importantly, how can you unleash your own creative potential? Every single person in the world has a kernel of creativity inside him or her. We have it at birth, and we have it as babies. Think about it: what are infants but great inventors? They develop language, they make associations between various objects, and they associate words with objects. So why, as we get older, does it get harder and harder to come up with really groundbreaking ideas? The answer is sad but true. All too often we get sucked in by the constancy and stability of a life in which there are no challenges, no innovations, just doubts. We dont push ourselves because were afraid of the unknown-as a culture, we have a fear of failure, thats a fact. What that often means is that we dont try new things out of our fear of failure. We stagnate ourselves deliberately. Nothing changes, and we dont move ahead. We are in fact our own biggest obstacle to success.

So what if you could learn the secrets to mastering your fear, stimulating your mind, freeing yourself from the daily grind, and positioning yourself for unlimited wealth and success? Well look no further-this book is the key to unlocking your creative potential and living a more lucrative,

This book is the key to unlocking your creative potential

more satisfying, more successfully creative life. The principles and rules of creativity that will be shared with you in this Ebook will change your life dramatically, for the better! Lets get started on a journey that will tap into your hidden creativity and bring it to the surface so that you too can learn how to use that creativity to change your life, forever!

CHAPTER 1: Creativity
Creativity is the place where the individual and ideas collide

What is Creativity?
Before we go any further, lets take a minute to consider a word that weve heard hundreds of times, probably without ever really thinking about it. The word is creativity. So just what is creativity? In the simplest possible terms, its taking an idea and putting it into action. Its bringing something unprecedented into being, solving a problem, inventing new techniques or dreaming up innovative products or services. Take, for instance, an Advertising Executive. An advertising executive is creative: hes an idea man who acts on his creativity by designing a brilliant ad campaign, one that catapults a product to the heights of success in the marketplace. Or consider the example of an Artist. An artist is creative as well: she/he has a burst of insight and rushes to a canvas to give that thought physical expression through painting. Dont forget that a child is also creative, simply by stacking building blocks into various shapes, the child is trying to create something. Creativity exists in all of us to some degree, it is the place where the individual and ideas collide. Its where unique inspiration and circumstance come together to yield something exciting and brand-new. Its a way of thinking-and living-that makes you strong, profitable and successful!

Creativity is really believing entirely what you see and hear. But finding another angle and seeing the truth in that. That is very much part of creativity, because it means taking yourself out of the shell. -Sir Peter Ustinov, two-time Academy Award Winner

Creativity is like a muscle the more we use it, the stronger it becomes

But where does creativity really come from? It is something we are born with, or do we acquire it, like a skill? I prefer to think of creativity as being like a muscle. The more you use it, the stronger it becomes; but if you are lazy and dont tap into your creativity, it will grow weak and shrivel up. People who have an incredibly strong creative instinct are like bodybuilders: they give their creative muscle regular workouts and nourishment, and they thrive with this process. People who think of themselves as less creative are like couch potatoes: their creative muscle has turned to flab due to inactivity. They may never have a creative idea pop into their heads throughout their entire lives. If you are one of those couch potatoes, the idea of getting your creative mind into shape can seem like a long, arduous uphill battle. It may be tempting to sit on the couch with a bag of potato chips, watching the television instead of thinking about the possibilities for leading a successful life. But you, too, have the potential to become a strong creative thinker! Just as exercise floods your body with endorphinsthose wonderful natural chemicals that make you feel amazingly alive and full of energy-creative thinking fills up you with inspiration, making you emotionally healthy, mentally fit, and poised for success. And while theres a limit to how much iron you can pump, theres no end to your creative resources. Once you commit to your daily creative

exercise plan, you have the power to grow and grow and grow. As the supremely creative poet Maya Angelou puts it, You cant use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have restored. At first, it can be tough to get out of your old habits and into new

The success and failure we experience in life are mirror reflections of the way we think

ones. We are, after all, creatures of habit. We tend to think the same things over and over again and follow the same schedule day in and day out. Yes, its boring, we tell ourselves, but its easy. We love to stay in our comfort zones because its simple and undemanding. But just as it doesnt require much energy to coast along, it also doesnt give us much in return. If you are mired in the daily grind, if you are stuck in a rut, if you are a creature of habit, bear this in mind: consistent thinking produces consistent results. Not good, not great, not even interesting-just consistent. The success and failure we experience in life are mirror reflections of the way we think. People who are timid and afraid to stick their necks out lead small, bland, uninspired lives. But creative thinkers push the envelope, always looking out for opportunities, always engaging the world around them-and this exciting way of life produces dramatically different results, including enormous financial and personal rewards. If you want those huge rewards, its time to start pushing yourself. Its time to begin using new parts of your brain. Its time to challenge yourself by rejecting the status quo and entering the exhilarating world of What if? Its time, as famous author and radio host Mike Litman would say, for you to unleash your greatness!

It all starts with learning the rules of creativity. Why is it so important to have creativity guidelines? Just take a look around. We all start off as truly creative beings, babies who invent solutions all the time as they discover new aspects of the world and themselves. But from the

We all start off as truly creative beings

moment you are born, the world works to age you quicker than is good for you. As time passes, you are taught and influenced to think in a certain way. The world pumps us full of experiences and information that grinds away at our innocence and creativity, leaving behind a mere skeleton of our creative potential. Slowly but surely, our youthful spirit of adventure and limitless possibilities turns into an obsession with deadlines, budgets and boundaries.

We all started creatively free...remember the sandbox, all we needed was a bucket and a good shovel. Then we went to school, we learned that the chairs were to be in rows and that tree trunks were to be colored brown, if you lived in a world of purple tree trunks, you probably learned to hide it -SARK, author of Creative Companion

As we get older, it becomes harder and harder for us to let our creativity shine. In school, we learn that success means making the least mistakes. Were taught to play it safe. We are made to feel that emotions, beliefs and ideas that differ from the norm are bad or abnormal. In short, our creative abilities take a massive nosedive the older we get. Im here to tell you that the ideas we shared so freely as kids need to come out of hiding! We must recapture our innocence in

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order to be able to generate ideas that are original, distinct and fresh. The graph below proves it:

We must recapture our innocence in order to be able to generate ideas that are original, distinct and fresh

100 80 60 40 20 0

Percentage Testing Genius in Divergent Thinking

3-5 years old

8-10 years old

13-15 years old

over 25 years

Results of 1,600 children given eight tests if divergent thinking ability show: Ages 3-5 years, 98% scored in the creative genius category. Five years later, 32% scored in the creative genius category. Ten years later, 10% scored in the creative genius category.

In tests of over 200,000 adults over 25, only 2% tested in the creative genius category. Source: Breakpoint and Beyond by George Land and Beth Jarman

That sinking line is an alarm-its time to hear it and wake up!

What Creativity Can Do For You

As Ive already said, opening up your mind and life to new ideas and solutions can bring you a treasure trove of riches in return. But what can you realistically expect to happen once youve made a conscious

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effort to become a more creative person? specifically, will come knocking?

What opportunities,

The rewards will be both material and emotional. When you start generating innovative ideas, and after you put your plans into action,

We live in a world that prizes new methods for solving old problems

the money will start rolling into your bank account and lining your pockets. We live in a world that prizes new methods for solving old problems. We live in a society jumps on original ideas and hungers for inspiration. We revere entrepreneurs, people who build up their

businesses from nothing but a dream and a plan to make that dream into reality. You can be one of them! Just start thinking outside the box! When you do, not only will you make financial gains but youll also feel a greater sense of satisfaction, contentment, and accomplishment. A creative thinkers most important commodity is his or her brain, and the well-being that comes with using your head efficiently and inventively is largely its own reward. Getting creative means becoming self-reliant: when you make your living off your own ideas, you are your own boss! So what can you expect? If you implement the steps in this book youll meet new people, gain valuable exposure to new ways of thinking, strengthen your financial livelihood and establish a secure, more efficient professional life for yourself! The world is full of phenomenal personal and professional opportunities. What most people dont realize is that we have control over them. Just listen to what leadership expert John Maxwell has to say: Creativity is being able to see what everyone else has seen and think what nobody else has thought so that you can do what nobody

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else has done. Once you start designing and creating a lifestyle that suits your goals and your dreams, others will marvel at how many opportunities seem to fall into your lap. Theyll probably think that you were born lucky, but youll know it isnt luck at all-its your ability to

Start taking control of your success, and get ready for your life to change for the better

generate creative solutions. Sound too good to be true? Well, it isnt-take my word for it! Start taking control of your success, and get ready for your life to change for the better. But before you get creativity to work for you, you have to start getting creative. That means finding creative ways to meet people you want to work with. That means developing solutions for problems. That means learning how to rely on your mind, and doing your exercises so that your creative muscle is always in peak condition. If you can commit to these goals, the rest of this book is your key to a life in which YOU are the boss. Remember, YOU create your own success. And in the end, your

creative skills will find a way to consistently bring you a never-ending stream of cash heavy opportunities. Youll never have to be a slave to a paycheck again! Getting creative gives you the most important gift of all-the freedom to do what you want!

Overcoming Obstacles & Roadblocks

Every single one of us experiences ups and downs, triumphs and failures. But you may have noticed that there are some people who are constantly down and almost never up. Is this bad luck? Is it

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inevitable? NO! Then there are those who have far more ups than downs, who seem to shine with success and accomplishment. Are they blessed with some magical ability to get what they want? Are you doomed to watch them pass you by? Should you just give up and resign

Thinking creatively is the key to tipping the odds in your favor, so that the triumphs vastly outweigh the failures

yourself to a life of mediocrity? NO! Thinking creatively is the key to tipping the odds in your favor, so that the triumphs vastly outweigh the failures. In the beginning, of course, youre not always going to come out on top. There may be moments of frustration, of uncertainty, of difficulty-and thats GOOD! Obstacles and roadblocks are hurdles that you should actually look forward to! Thats because challenges are a sign that youre getting out of your mundane comfort zone. And like anything new and worthwhile, you may stumble a bit before you can walk, and then run. Think of a child learning to ride a bike: he will probably fall a few times once he takes off the training wheels, but soon hell have newfound freedom and independence. Similarly, you might start off with more failures than successes. But remember that failures are learning experiences. Even the most successful people in the world have gotten where they are through trial and error. And soon youll be achieving your goal a lot more often than not. And dont forget that if you are finding something difficult, chances are that its difficult for everyone. Thats actually GREAT news. Let me explain-if you run into a tough challenge, theres a good chance your competition is facing a similar problem. What that means is that if you come up with a creative solution first, your success will be even bigger and more financially rewarding!

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Its sound marketplace logic. Creativity guru Doug Hall who founded the Eureka Ranch think-tank, found that, among like products and services, those that entered the marketplace first had a much greater market share than those that entered second or third. In other words, if

Whoever solves problems or creates solutions the fastest will tip the odds of success in their favor

there are three similar inventions, the first one to hit the shelves is the one thats going to make the most money. And that means that

whoever solves problems or creates solutions the fastest will tip the odds of success in their favor. So in a sense, roadblocks and obstacles are actually incredible moneymaking opportunities. You want problems. You want difficulties. In fact, these challenges-which up til now probably seemed like negativesare going to become your favorite things in the world, because people are willing to pay you big bucks to solve them. When youre in the position to provide creative solutions quickly and reliably, youll find that the world is chock-full of financially rewarding opportunities!

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CHAPTER 2: Characteristics of Creative Thinkers

Creativity is a set of characteristics and skills that anyone can acquire, with the right tools for learning
If you put Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Oprah Winfrey and Martha Stewart together into a room, youd have not only four of the worlds richest people but also four of the worlds best-known creative geniuses (okay, okay, and one convicted felon-but shes still an incredible success story!). All of them saw opportunities that no one else had ever seen, and they took paths that no one else had ever taken. Sometimes it seems like they have attained heights that no one will ever be able to match, but its not luck or chance or birthright or even destiny that got them where they are today. If you ask each of those four people how they became so successful, theyll invariably respond, Through hard work and determination. Creativity is not a gift. Its not something only a chosen few have. Its a set of characteristics and skills that anyone can acquire, with the right tools for learning. In this section, well go over the key personality traits of creative people, and well discuss how you, too, can obtain and strengthen these characteristics.

The Driving Factors for Creative Thinkers

1) Creative thinkers value ideas
America is a country founded on the power of ideas-literally. Our history as a nation begins with one mans farfetched dream of exploring

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undiscovered lands.

Because of his driving ambition, millions of

immigrants were able to start new lives and claim new territory. Columbus is in the history books as a great explorer, but in a way he was also a great entrepreneur and a truly creative man.

Every light bulb that goes off in your head can potentially lead you on the path toward that Million Dollar Idea

He also perfectly embodies the risk-reward dynamic of creative thinking. Just think of all that he was risking when he announced his plan and embarked on his journey to the New World! To see the rewards, just take a look around. The American dream has its roots in Columbuss dream-a man who created his own opportunities discovered a land of opportunity! One idea, courageously and ambitiously

accomplished, is responsible for the livelihood of millions and millions of people. If you ever find yourself wondering just how much you could possibly expect to gain from harnessing your creative abilities, remember this example of the power and value of thought. All creative thinkers know just how valuable ideas are-and not just the obvious, flashy, immediately lucrative ideas. After all, creativity is a game of odds. Not every risk pays off, and not every sure thing actually delivers. So the more ideas you come up with, the more likely you are to succeed. Every idea counts! People like Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Oprah Winfrey and Martha Stewart know this, and so they value ideas whether they are big or small. Every light bulb that goes off in your head can potentially lead you on the path toward that Million Dollar Idea. Think about it: all it takes is one flash of insight, one new product, one innovative service, to create a multi-million dollar business. With one idea, a scientist or researcher could uncover the cure for a previously

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incurable disease. With one sudden epiphany, a software engineer could invent the next major advance in computer technology. Creative thinkers never underestimate the power of ideas. And they never underestimate the value of simple ideas, either! Sometimes its a

Creative thinkers never underestimate the power of ideas

seemingly simple idea that others dismiss as silly that ignites a creative thinkers imagination. Its like a seed with the potential to blossom-and its growth depends on the skill and integrity of the person who plants it and cares for it. Ignoring that seed will, of course, kill it. The bottom line is this: you dont know what kind of beautiful flower you could end up with until it actually blossoms.

2) Creative thinkers celebrate the offbeat

In the competitive world around us, everyones trying to be different. Being unusual is a good way to guarantee that people will take notice of you, and being noticed is a short distance from becoming a success story. Just think of the TV ads shown on Super Bowl Sunday-the commercials you remember are the ones that stick out. And the ads that stick out are the ones that generate lots of customers-and lots of revenue! Creative thinkers prize a variety of ideas, but they are especially passionate about ideas that are new and original-things that no one has ever thought of before. They let their imaginations run wild and make associations that others havent thought of. Creative thinkers connect the unconnected. Of course, theres a huge amount of pride and excitement that comes with being the first to come up with a thought, an ad campaign, a story

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line, a product.

But offbeat, imaginative solutions are not just

hallmarks of creative thinking. They are also financial cash cowspeople will pay more for unique ideas they cant get from anyone else. When you think outside the box, you pretty much guarantee that

When you think outside the box, you pretty much guarantee that people are going to take a second look

people are going to take a second look.

3) Creative thinkers explore all possible options

Imagine a world in which everyone is the same. In this world, we all have the same features: the same eyes, the same nose, the same hair. We all have the same characteristics: the same attitude, intellect, emotions and worldview. We look the same, think the same, and act the same. What a tragic world this would be. We wouldnt have the freedom to make choices for ourselves because there would be no choices to begin with. We wouldnt be stimulated to think in new ways. We wouldnt ever have the drive or ambition to get ahead, because everyone would always be at the same level. Or take another example: what if everyone you ever dated was exactly alike? Think how boring that would be when it came to the prospect of choosing a spouse! All the excitement we have when we find the right person would not exist, because there wouldnt be any right or wrong persons. In short, we wouldnt really have any options-because every single potential spouse would be exactly like every other potential spouse. Thankfully, we live in a world full of differences, and therefore full of options. Every day we have the chance to make hundreds of real choices, each one of which has a different outcome. This is the joy of

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being human and living in a free society. And its something that creative thinkers value highly. Creative thinkers explore many different possibilities. Every option leads to a new and different consequence, so the more chances you take,

Letting yourself consider many different possibilities opens up your way of thinking

the more avenues you explore, the better your chance of success. Dont block yourself off! Dont censor your brainstorming! Letting yourself consider many different possibilities opens up your way of thinking. It challenges you to solve problems in a variety of ways. And the more options we give ourselves, the higher the likelihood that a truly original thought will occur and evolve into a winning plan.

4) Creative thinkers embrace the unknown

Remember when we talked about choosing between mediocrity and the unlimited potential for success? The difference boiled down to doing whats comfortable and doing whats risky. In other words, the difference between creative thinkers and the rest of the world is that they arent afraid to explore the unknown. The people who discover new countries are the ones who decide that they want to explore uncharted territory. The people who invent new technology are the ones who believe that a better solution is out there. The people who launch a spacecraft to the moon and other planets are the ones who understand that pushing ourselves to the limit yields phenomenal results. Imagine yourself standing in front of two doors. Behind the first door is the road well traveled. Its well groomed and has lots of signposts, there arent many twists and turns, and youre pretty much guaranteed an easy journey. But you already know where this road is going to take you, and the destination isnt too exciting.

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What about door number two? Well, whats behind it is limited only by the reach of your imagination. If you choose to take this path, you can expect it to be wild and unpaved. Youll have to be a true trailblazer, swinging your machete through the branches. But in return, youll go down in history as the one who created the road, instead of just

Door number two is the gateway to your boundless success

following it. People will say that, instead of standing idly by and watching others pass before you, you made things happen. Behind door number two is your reputation as a calculated risk-taker, a person of great courage, someone who gives a lot in order to get a lot. Door number two is the gateway to your boundless success. Because creative thinkers open themselves up to exploring all sorts of opportunities, its inevitable that sometimes theyll find themselves staring into the unknown. In fact, they often find themselves on the brink of new, undiscovered territory. Creative thinkers are people who love to open that second door. They enjoy a healthy dose of uncertainty, because to them, uncertainty means new obstacles, new challenges and new problems that need to be solved. They know from experience that uncertainty is a vital part of wealth and success.

5) Creative thinkers dont fear failure...as much

You cant make an omelet without breaking some eggs, and you cant become a successful creative thinker without experiencing some failures. Most people are afraid of looking silly, so they dont share their ideas. For example, during brainstorming sessions these people like to hide behind others, agreeing with other plans and endeavors. Sure, this is easy, but is it rewarding? Absolutely not! Not only are these people

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losing out on individual success, but they are also hurting their groups chance of success. Brainstorming with a group is like cracking open those eggs, mixing them up with other ingredients, and cooking them up into a tasty

Hearing other ideas gets your own creative juices flowing

dish. As different group members explain their ideas, others listen and start thinking about how to improve upon them. Hearing other ideas gets your own creative juices flowing. One idea generates another, and so on, until you hit on a fantastic solution that incorporates elements from all the different ideas. But clamming up and being a yes man is like leaving the eggs in the carton. You cant accomplish anything new or interesting if youre afraid to speak up and share your thoughts. Instead, youll be right back where you began. Creative thinkers know that offering their ideas is a way to test potential solutions-and, inevitably, sometimes those solutions will fail. Its the law of probabilities! You cant be right all the time, on the first attempt, and no one expects you to be! Fear is a human instinct, and its natural to want to protect yourself. But fear of sharing your ideas because youre not sure if theyre good enough is something all creative thinkers know they have to overcome. Fear impedes your ability to create and destroys the possibility of innovation. If you cant talk about your ideas, how can you ever hope to put them into action?

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Even worse, people who let fear run their lives become increasingly fearful and unable to think creatively. Its a vicious cycle: the more you second-guess yourself, the less willing you will be to take necessary risks. Creative thinkers know that the occasional failure is nothing to fear-its

The more you second-guess yourself, the less willing you will be to take necessary risks

part of the creative process.

Overcoming Fear & Breaking the Cycle

Fear paralyzes our creative impulse, so the first step in learning to think creatively is breaking the cycle of fear. And in order to do that, we need to understand what that cycle is. After all, we need to know our enemy in order to vanquish it! How does fear inhibit our creativity? It diminishes our willingness to go out on a limb and reach for new ideas. The greater our feelings of fear, the smaller the chance we will speak up and articulate our ideas. The less willing we are to speak our ideas, the less chance there is for our ideas to be realized. If our ideas dont get realized, we feel an even greater sense of fear. And then, of course, the cycle repeats itself. This will continue to go on and on, around and around in circles, until you decide its time to break the pattern! Everyone experiences a little fear every now and then. Even the most successful people have a little voice inside them that sometimes speaks up and expresses doubt. Even big risk-takers have worries with the

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potential to stop them dead in their tracks. But they also know how to master and manage their fear.

Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear - not absence of fear.

The more you fail the closer you get to a successful result

-Mark Twain

How do creative thinkers do this? Well, they prepare to meet their enemy by being aware of it. They recognize that fear exists in each of us. They dont ignore it or pretend its not there. They embrace fear-or, more precisely, they embrace the thrill and exhilaration that comes only when you try something new. They thrive on the

excitement you feel when you dare to let go and make a change. They recognize that fear can be a signal that youre on the cuttingedge and onto something great. Think of it this way: what are you afraid of? If youre like most people, youre probably worried that you might fail. But remember what weve said before: creativity is a mix of failures and successes. Failure is a crucial part of generating success. The more you fail the closer you get to a successful result. This is exactly what Armand Morin (www.AudioGenerator.com) and Alex Mandossian (www.AskDatabase.com), two highly successful Internet marketers, realize as they tackle the task of producing new ideas and products. They found that initial failures are the businessmans friend. They are testing fanatics, always looking for which ideas

outperform the others. Without purposely trying new ideas and looking

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for failures, theyd be stuck with underperforming products. Understanding upfront what doesnt work helps you to rule out possible solutions. That means that early failures actually save you time and money.

Understanding upfront what doesnt work helps you to rule out possible solutions

So why should you fear failure? Accept it as part of the game. Things are only going to get easier-trust me. The more success you have-and you will have it-the more confident you will become. Confident people are less likely to experience fear and more likely to take risks in the future. On the other hand, people whove recently experienced a defeat are more likely to lick their wounds and be more cautious. This is the vicious cycle I mentioned earlier! Dont get caught up in it! Dont let one or two or three failures drag you down. Instead, let them pull you up! And keep in mind that there is something far worse than fear-and thats regret. Imagine yourself in the future, looking back on your present life. What will you have to say about yourself? Will you be able to say that you did what you wanted to do, that you embraced life to the fullest and took courageous risks, or that you stuck to the status quo because you were afraid of making a change? A study conducted by Cornell University asked senior citizens to describe their greatest regrets about their lives. An overwhelming majority of the respondents said they regretted actions that werent taken as opposed to actions that were taken-even when the outcome was bad!

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Take it from those senior citizens-you dont want to find yourself retired and wondering What if? The fear you feel today can prevent you from acting on your ideas, but dont let it! An idea without any action is as worthless as not ever having the idea in the first place. Say yes to

Creative people will always be in demand, no matter what the market is like or what the unemployment rate is

your ideas. Make an investment in yourself and your future. Take a chance. If it turns out badly, time will heal the pain. On the other hand, if you are met with success, then youll have one less regret when its time to look back.

Creating Your Own Success

The business world will always need new products and services. People want to make their lives easier, so theyll always be searching for new solutions, systems and techniques. Theyll always want to do things cheaper, better, and faster. And who comes up with all the new ideas? Creative thinkers! Thats why creative people will always be in demand, no matter what the market is like or what the unemployment rate is. At the same time, being creative in and of itself is not necessarily a guarantee of being successful. After all, no one can predict whats going to happen tomorrow, or next week, or next year. Remember, there are virtually no limits to creative possibilities, and that is both fantastic and dangerous. Its great when YOU are the one coming up with those possibilities, but what about when its your competitor? Imagine this: just when you have a phenomenal product flying off the shelves, your competition comes up with something better, stealing away your market share. Or maybe customers are just gradually losing interest in your products or services. Perhaps a social issue, like an

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interoffice divorce, divides your staff into happy coworkers and sworn enemies. A natural disaster or a terrorist activity could change the way you do business forever. The point is this: there is no way for us to know whats going to happen.

We have to work hard to create our own success, and to maintain it

So we have to be prepared. We have to work hard to create our own success, and to maintain it. In reading this book and following the steps, youre doing just that. Did you know that: According to the Wall Street Journal, a two-year in-house creativity course at General Electric resulted in a 60% increase in patentable concepts. At Sylvania, several thousand employees took a 40 hour course in creative problem solving. The ROI: $20 for every $1 spent. Hewlett-Packard invested over $2 billion in R&D in 1999, and generated more than 1,300 patent applications. Net revenue: $42.37 billion. All the odds are saying that youre going to be just fine-no, WAY better than fine! So let go of fear, and embrace your creativity. Your future is in your hands. Its time to take responsibility for creating your own success!

In order for all of us to prosper, perhaps even to survive, in the coming new century, we need to start thinking smarter, more comprehensively, more creatively. -Joey Reiman, CEO and founder of Brighthouse

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CHAPTER 3: Generating Ideas

Weve talked about how new ideas breed success and that they go hand

New ideas and the fantastic opportunities dont just appear by chance

in hand. But those new ideas and the fantastic opportunities that they come with dont just appear by chance. They need to be cultivated, not just hoped for. In this chapter youll get a step-by-step, easy-to-use method that, with repeated use, produces the same result-great ideas. This versatile method will help you generate new ideas for different markets and unique solutions for unusual circumstances. It will fit any situation, anytime, anywhere. Its a road map for creative thinking-if you follow it, youll discover a never-ending stream of ideas.

The Rules of Creative Thinking

When you hear the word rules, whats the first thing that comes to your mind? Limitations? Boundaries? Do you think of your parents household laws, and the negative consequences of breaking them? For most of us, the word rules implies restriction. And restriction implies a lack of freedom. But in the case of the creative thinker, rules can actually set you free. Following a definite set of rules increases the odds of exceptional ideas, maximum productivity and outrageously unique inventions and solutions. How so? Well, first of all, learning the guidelines means that you can become an expert in your area quickly. Why not take

advantage of those that came before you and learn the time-tested rules

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of the game? And second of all, obeying the rules-at least in the beginning-can actually strengthen your sense of imagination and creativity. As the painter Pablo Picasso said, first you need to learn the rules, and then you can break them!

Your best ideas will flow when you no longer feel limited by boundaries or restrictions

In order to counteract all those years in which we have been taught to suppress our creative urges, you need a set of guidelines to live by. Instead of rules that show you how to be normal, you need rules that remind you how to think differently. Your creative instinct is innate; these guidelines are simply going to help you recapture it!

RULE #1: There are no rules!!

Say it with me: anything is possible. Your best ideas will flow when you no longer feel limited by boundaries or restrictions. Great ideas shake the world. They defy the ordinary and redefine what is possible. A unique idea should break rules-and if it doesnt, its been done before. So push yourself and explore new territory-no limitations, anything goes. There are NO rules!!

RULE #2: Play with the Play-doh!

Ideas dont just arrive in the world as polished, finished products. Like Play-doh, they are raw, cold and lumpy. Its extremely important to remember this, because all our lives we are trained to respond quickly to new ideas with phrases like that will never work, its not reasonable, or only in a million years. Negativity is like a toxin that poisons your

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creative environment. At the beginning of the creative process, no idea is a bad idea! That lump of Play-doh can easily be molded and shaped into a wonderful creation. It takes an open mind and patience.

If you want to create fresh, new, eye-opening ideas, you have to be willing to go farther then you have before

RULE #3: Go where no one has gone before

No, its not a sci-fi movie tagline, its another creative rule to live by! Lets face it, its easy to go numb to reality. If things are around us all the time, we eventually stop seeing them. So if you want to create fresh, new, eye-opening ideas, you have to be willing to go farther then you have before. Its time to start asking what if? Its time to explore places you never thought youd go. Its time to seriously consider ideas you might have dismissed as silly before. Blockbuster ideas almost always push the envelope, and creative geniuses are people who do what has never before been done.

RULE #4: Go big or go home

You might know that when Reggie Jackson ended his 21-year majorleague career, he had 563 homeruns-a number that landed him in 6th place on the all-time homerun hitter list. Pretty impressive, right? But did you know that Jackson was also high on another list-strikeouts?! Thats right, one of the greatest homerun hitters of all time had the most strikeouts (2,597) of any baseball player ever. And Reggie isnt alone. Many of the players on the top ten-homerun hitters list are also very high on the all-time strikeout list.

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What lesson can you take away from all this baseball trivia? You need to swing LOTS in order to achieve the best results. The secret to succeeding in the creative process is to generate as many ideas as humanly possible. 99% of all those ideas will probably never be used,

The secret to succeeding in the creative process is to generate as many ideas as humanly possible

but the remaining 1% will be pure gold. Swing for the fences and go big-quality will come naturally along with quantity.

RULE #5: Let loose

The best ideas are dreamed up by passionate people. But were so often encouraged to think of work as a chore that we dont usually have fun when were brainstorming and planning and implementing ideas. How can you feel passionate if you feel obligated? Let yourself have fun-after all, the creative process is all about getting back to that true creative state you were in as a child. Without fun, theres no enthusiasm. Without enthusiasm, theres no energy. Without energy, theres no way youll ever achieve blockbuster success. So let go of worries, inhibitions and timidity. Loosen up and enjoy the ride!

The Power of Stimuli

Its 10 a.m. You and five coworkers are crowded around a conference table, drinking instant coffee and stale donuts. Debbie, to your left, tells you about her daughters soccer match. Allen, to your right, wants to discuss his golf game. Then the chief creator walks into the room and everyone quiets down. The chief says its time to start brainstorming. He goes around the room and asks everyone to share the 5 ideas youve

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prepared before the meeting. Everyone has variations of the same ideas. There are no break-throughs, there are no truly exciting prospects. When everyones done sharing his or her five ideas, silence falls over the conference room. What next?

Interesting solutions and creative ideas dont just sit inside your body, waiting to be pulled out

The chief looks grim. These ideas arent going to change the way we do business. We want our competition to sweat and feel envious, not to laugh because were tagging a new name onto an old product. Uh-oh. The reality sets in: this is going to be a long and painful process. Sound familiar? Unfortunately, this common scenario is the

standard for business brainstorming. Its as conducive to creativity as someone putting a gun to your head and telling you to think of something new and innovative. In fact, it makes for such a negative environment for creative thinking that Doug Hall, in his book Jump Start Your Brain, calls it braindraining: ...people desperately try to suck solutions from their heads. They squint, grind their teeth, and sweat profusely, all in hopes of squeezing a few angry pellets of ideas from their straining craniums. In short they use their minds as a mere reference libraries. This SUCK method of creativity will shrivel your brain like a prune in the dessert sun. Its not good for you. Interesting solutions and creative ideas dont just sit inside your body, waiting to be pulled out. There isnt some golden answer waiting to be plucked out of thin air. Remember when I said that anyone could become a creative thinker-that creativity is not a gift or a birthright but

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rather a skill? Well, its true: all you need to do is learn how to tune your creative antenna to the world around you, and youll find that it supplies you with an amazing number of possible solutions! There is a fantastic proven method for generating a wealth of great ideas,

Stimuli can be considered the fuel for new ideas

and Im going to tell you what it is. Read on, and youll never have to drain your brain again! A man named Dr. Arthur VanGundy came up with an extraordinary brainstorming technique that guarantees a 1000% percent increase in new ideas versus the technique of braindraining. His method has also been proven to generate a 558% increase in super smart ideas- ideas that become a blockbuster hit in the marketplace. Think about it-558 times as many fantastic ideas as your competitors in the boardroom. Its like having five brains in your head! So whats the method? How does it work? Well, get ready to be floored, because this technique is not only vastly more effective than braindraining but its also much, much easier and more fun. Its all about flooding your brain with stimuli. Now, what do I mean by stimuli? The shortest answer is that stimuli can be considered the fuel for new ideas. You see, the creative process is like a game of dominos. Once youve lined up your dominos in a long line, all it takes is a little push to get the entire line of dominos to fall in one gigantic chain reaction. Similarly, your brain needs a nudge in order to start generating ideas.

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In Dr. VanGundys method, stimuli is that first nudge. They turn your brain into a smoothly-running computer, so that you can process input and crank out ideas. On the other hand, in the old

brainstorming method, braindraining, your brain is more like a

Brainstorming isnt like playing the lotterycoming up with great ideas is not a matter of luck

reference library: youre never really sure where to go to get the information youre looking for, and you have to do everything manually. Its like having to push over each individual domino with your finger one at a time. Which brain would you rather have-a yellowing, musty set of outdated books, or a supercomputer? Brainstorming isnt like playing the lottery-coming up with great ideas is not a matter of luck. There is a time-tested formula success, and this is it: Take a look at the chart below.

New Ideas Stimuli

NEW IDEAS = (STIMULI + LIFE GOGGLES) * FUN New, original idea or concept Anything you see, hear, smell, taste, or touch stimuli. Life Goggles are a function of your collective life experiences that you bring to every situation. Its the thing that makes you see the world the way you do.

Life Goggles The lens through which you filter, perceive, and react to

You are no longer a warehouse of mediocre ideas; you are now a factory that produces unlimited fantastic ideas! Instead of struggling to suck ideas from your poor brain, your mind gorges itself on stimuli, creating new associations and connections almost effortlessly!

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So what it all boils down to is paying attention to the world around you and letting stimuli do their work on your brain. But what exactly should you be on the lookout for? Stimuli can take many forms, including sights, sounds and scents. It can even take the form of competitors products, customer feedback and firsthand experiences. In fact, almost

Pay attention to the world around you and let stimuli do their work on your brain

everything around you can act as stimuli, triggering a reaction in your brain. The whole world is a virtual playground for the true creative thinker, and thats why some people always seem to be able to come up with great ideas, regardless of the circumstance. The following are some examples of stimuli. Things you might...

Family pictures Headphones Phone Deodorant Books Batteries Guitar Wheels Magnets BMW Mini Banana Tube Computer Mouse Digital Camera

SEE

Dogs Barking Phone Ringing TV Commercials Rock Music Guitar being played Toilet flushing Wind blowing Doors shutting Someone singing Someone snoring A conversation A video game Someone typing Microwave timer

HEAR

SMELL
Dirty laundry Apple pie Roast beef dinner Wet dog Perfume Dog poop Play-Doh Fresh air Burning leaves Roses Coffee Wet leaves Gas (car or human!) Fresh laundry

Peppermint gum Ketchup Milk Toothpaste Salt water Oranges Chocolate Peanuts Vanilla ice cream Bacon Syrup Fish Beer Sour candy

TASTE

TOUCH
Feathers Paper Play-Doh Ice Nets Water Egg shells Zippers Computer keyboard Pen Guitar strings Facial whiskers Basketball Chair cushion

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Youre probably thinking that most of the items on this list dont have anything to do with problems you are trying to solve-but thats okay! In fact, thats the point. Remember when I said that creative thinkers connect the unconnected? Well, thats what stimuli will allow your

You need to have lots of ideas mixed with concepts that push the envelope of whats never been done before

mind to do-your brain uses this input to associate, connect and piece together concepts, thoughts and ideas that on the surface seem totally unrelated. So when you feed your brain with lots of stimulation, you wont just wind up with new ideas-youll wind up with creative, unique ideas with roots in the real, practical world.
Number of Practical Ideas Invented 38.4 22.3 47.0

High Stimulus Low Stimulus

Medium Stimulus
Source: Jump Start Your Business Brain, Doug Hall

Stimuli are actually divided up into two categories: related and unrelated. As you can probably figure out, related stimuli have to do with the task at hand, and unrelated stimuli seemingly have nothing to do with it. But that doesnt mean that unrelated stimuli wont help you. The general rule of thumb is: the more related the stimuli to the creative challenge, the greater the quantity of ideas produced; the more unrelated the stimuli, the fewer the number of ideas but the higher the number of dramatically different ideas. What that means is that you cant just have one or the other: you need to blend both together in order to get the best possible result - lots of ideas mixed with concepts that push the envelope of whats never been done before.

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Youre probably wondering what this means in practical terms, so lets consider an example. Sally, a professional speaker, is trying to come up with new methods of delivering informational products. She starts with related stimuli by looking through some catalogues containing home

Set up an environment in which unique ideas will flourish

study courses of other people in her industry. She follows that up by also visiting several web sites of other speakers. Then she also opens herself up to unrelated stimuli. Sally sits down and starts watching the Home Shopping Network, the she visits a university lecture hall, and finishes her day by leafing through the latest edition of Womens Fitness. Its easy to see that relying on related stimuli alone might not yield a new and different idea. But when you watch the home-shopping channel with the intent to come up with a delivery method for information, youre setting up an environment in which unique ideas will flourish.

What Are Some Good Sources of Stimuli?

Catalogs Magazines Family pictures Web sites A mix of music Good questions Conversation Web sites Words Food Drinks Movies Commercials Paint chip display Play-Doh Infomercials Cable TV Competitors products Dr. Seuss books Cookbooks Seminars Shopping mall Best Buy Book store Carnivals

Okay, so now that we understand what stimuli can do for us in theory, how do we physically start making it work for us? Im going to show you the two basic ways to process stimuli and turn them into gold-standard ideas.

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Direct Connection
Direct connection involves a straight line from stimuli to idea, a single leap of imagination-a direct connection from Point A to Point B. In the simplest terms, you look at something, and a thought occurs.

Youll never set off the chain reaction if you just sit at home, waiting for inspiration to occur

For example, lets say our speaker, Sally, is trying to design a cover of a pamphlet, but shes not sure what she wants it to look like. So she goes to the bookstore and leafs through some magazines, looking at the glossy ads and layouts. As she flips through the magazines, she sees many possible color combinations and designs that trigger a response in her brain. Then she moves over to the bookshelves. Looking at the covers of various novels, she sees many possibilities for what her pamphlet could look like. Now, the purpose here is NOT to copy someone else-its simply to give those dominos the push they need in order to start falling! Youll never set off the chain reaction if you just sit at home, waiting for inspiration to occur. You need to get out there and flood your senses. Obviously, if youre using this method, you need to look at as many pieces of stimuli as possible in order to generate the most usable ideas. People often get stuck on one piece of stimuli, but the trick is to move fast. Once you cant think of any more ideas based on one piece of stimuli, move on! Keep a pen and paper handy so you can jot down all the ideas that occur to you. At the same time, be selective, because you only want those ideas that make sense given the task at hand.

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Indirect Connection
Direct connection is simple and effective. Indirect connection is

equally effective, but its a slower and more deliberate process. In this method, instead of using stimuli to make direct connections, you break

If you stick with indirect connection, you will end up with ideas that have never occurred to anyone else

a stimulus into its essential parts, then twist or tweak those traits to suit them to your task. This method is a bit more complicated than direct connection, but if you stick with it you will end up with ideas that have never occurred to anyone else. Start with a piece of stimulus, related or unrelated, it doesnt matter which. Write down all the aspects of that stimulus that you can think of. Examine it critically: what does it look like, feel like, sound like, taste like, or smell like? How does it make you feel? View it from close up, then move farther away, so you can see it from different angles. How does your stimulus work? Once you break it down into these component parts, the light bulbs will start flashing. Youll see how each individual characteristic can be applied to one of your own goals or ambitions. And youll have exciting, new products and ideas that are yours and yours alone! Lets illustrate this method with an example. Lets say that Sally wants to create some new products to sell after her presentations. She starts by thinking about what products that she has personally purchased from other speakers over the past year. Her favorite, most-used purchase is an educational package. She pulls it off the shelf and studies it. Its made up of several different elements: a binder, a booklet, and a bunch of CDs. A new CD arrives every month, and she adds it to the binder,

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which is also a CD holder. Sally enjoys the fact that she receives new content every month and she decides that this is something she would like to incorporate into her own product. She also loves that the binder does double-duty: it doesnt just hold paper, it also features

Be a firm believer in letting yourself be inspired by brilliant ideas, allowing them to trigger your own thoughts and creations

plastic sleeves that house the CDs. Again, this is a great feature to incorporate into her own product. Then she notices that the binder isnt the normal size-its a bit smaller. In fact, its size makes it stand out on her bookshelf, and it also feels nice in her hand. Because its a bit different, it seems special somehow. Sally decides that when she designs her own product, shes going to play with dimensions to make the size somewhat unexpected. The process can go on and on for as long as you feel like studying your piece of stimulus. If youre ever in doubt about the power of stimulus, just remember that one of the greatest inventors of all time-Thomas Edison-was a stimulus junkie!! He was a firm believer in letting himself be

inspired by brilliant ideas, allowing them to trigger his own thoughts and creations. So take it from Edison:

Make it a practice to keep on the lookout for novel and interesting ideas that others have used successfully. Your idea has to be an original only in its adaption to the problem you are working on. -Thomas Edison

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Opening the Floodgates of Your Mind

Changing your perspective on things and people you see every single day dramatically expands your creative possibilities. The world

around you hasnt changed-but now you see everything differently.

We need ideas to stay ahead in the fiercely competitive business world, where faster, faster! is the mantra

While others see, for example, a book as a book, you see it as the nudge to an idea reaction. Becoming attuned to stimuli is the key to unlocking your brains power and potential for productive creativity. It will make you more

valuable and resourceful to those around you. Who wouldnt want someone like that on their team? The world needs ideas-big ideas, small ideas; ideas that make money, solve problems, bring people closer together and keep relationships fun and exciting! We need ideas to stay ahead in the fiercely

competitive business world, where faster, faster! is the mantra. With the methods outlined above, not only will you be inundated with great ideas, but youll also be able to do in minutes what used to take days. No more sitting around waiting for that flash of insight. YOU have the power to set off that flash yourself.

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CHAPTER 4: The Basics of Brainstorming

Once you start to realize that everything around is related or unrelated stimuli, the potential for new ideas is virtually limitless

What is Brainstorming?
Weve already talked about what corporations seem to think brainstorming is-sitting around a conference table waiting for someone else to speak! The fact is, that kind of brainstorming doesnt do anyone any good. So what kind of brainstorming is good, productive, healthy brainstorming? Before we answer that question, lets start by talking about what brainstorming really is. At its most basic, brainstorming is a technique for coming up with new ideas. It generally involves a group of people all sharing their thoughts on a particular problem or issue, so that each person can play off the others. Or, you can brainstorm by yourself, using stimuli as described above. Once you start to realize that everything around is related or unrelated stimuli, the potential for new ideas is virtually limitless. Even better, the process works in a cycle: as different ideas collide, they give rise to even more new ideas. Unlike a presentation or a more formal meeting, a brainstorming session allows people to shout out new ideas as they occur, without criticism or judgment. All the ideas are written down so that they can be considered more carefully later on.

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Essentially, brainstorming is the freedom to let your mind roam wherever it wants to roam, using a central issue or problem as home base. Now, traditional brainstorming-the kind that makes you want to tear your hair out!-is what most of us are used to. Its when a group of adults

Nothing encourages you to come up with new ideas more than being in an environment where ALL ideas are accepted and considered

get together around a board room table and read their prepared ideas off a sheet of paper. Weve all been to at least one of these meetings, so you know the drill: everyone reads his or her list, and it inevitably turns out that most of the ideas the group has come up with are the same. And theres always at least one person who doesnt hesitate to tell you when he thinks your idea is silly or impractical. These kinds of meetings are full of tension and silent (and not-so-silent!) judgment, and thats not conducive to creativity at all! The worst is when you find yourself being judged-and youre not even in a group at all. You know the feeling: youre working on your own to solve a problem, but your internal critic keeps cutting you off before you can even have your say. Well listen up: that voice of inner judgment needs to hush up. The critic needs to leave the room! You wont get anywhere and you wont come up with anything new if you dont give yourself permission to think radical, strange, untested thoughts. So what should brainstorming be, ideally? Well, it should be a spontaneous, lively, uncensored, fun experience. Nothing gets the synapses in your brain firing like immediate mental and sensory stimulation, and nothing encourages you to come up with new ideas more than being in an environment where ALL ideas are accepted and considered. Read on for how to brainstorm, and how to make brainstorming work for you!

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The Uses of Brainstorming

Brainstorming can be used to solve just about any problem you can think of. You can brainstorm to come up with solutions to

professional problems, to create new products, or to help enrich your

Brainstorming teaches you new processes for coming up with ideas, and it trains you to feel less inhibited and selfcritical

personal life. You can brainstorm to get your own brain juiced up, or you can brainstorm with a group to get everyones mind going. Whatever you use it for, brainstorming is a powerful technique-the cornerstone of any creative process. These are just a few of the products and results of brainstorming sessions: ad campaigns, essays, articles, marketing strategies, new research procedures, government policies, patents, new technologies, new industries, investments, company infrastructure, more efficient machinery, better engineering components-the list is endless! And not only can brainstorming be used to obtain material results, it can also be used to effect psychological change! Brainstorming

teaches you new processes for coming up with ideas, and it trains you to feel less inhibited and self-critical. It opens up your mind to new ways of thinking-letting ideas collide and mingle and turn into new ideas. If you are one of those people who tends to hide behind others at meetings, agreeing with other ideas but not offering your own, you can use brainstorming to train yourself to become a better, more valuable member of the team! Give it a try-as youll soon see, the benefits are well worth the effort.

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The Benefits of Brainstorming

How can something as simple as writing down your uncensored thoughts on a piece of paper guarantee you a higher salary? Easy! Brainstorming helps you come up with great ideas for your company,

Brainstorming can enhance the freedom and productivity of a business overall

whether its a massive corporation or a one-person operation. Those great ideas translate into new products and services, and that, in turn, means an increase in market share. When the company profits, you profit-a great year for your business means a healthy salary for you, and maybe even a bonus or a promotion. People who dont contribute original, innovative ideas stagnate in the same position, year in and year out. They dont rise through the ranks, and they dont get hefty pay increases. Do you want to be one of these people? Of course not! You want to be the person everyone likes, who makes the meetings fun, who is full of high-level concepts and strategies. You want your

superiors to praise you for your successes. You want to improve your working environment by enabling coworkers to get along better. Brainstorming can accomplish all of these wants: not only will you shine at your brainstorming sessions, but youll also be responsible for a change in the way you and your peers work. The kinds of creative freedoms that are highly valued during a brainstorming session invariably trickle over into the rest of the working day. Brainstorming can enhance the

freedom and productivity of a business overall.

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If you are an entrepreneur, the importance of being able to come up with new ideas is even greater. Without developing the skill of generating ideas you are always at the mercy of others. Your future will depend on other people. People who

If you can learn how to consistently solve problems or challenges for your customers or prospects, youll always be in demand

create jobs, put business ideas together or create products or services.

Ideas Are Todays Currency

Whether you are looking for more customers, ideas for your marketing, or exciting press coverage, generating fresh, unique ideas are vital for every entrepreneur. The quality of these ideas will determine your success.

People Pay for Ideas and Solutions

If you can learn how to consistently solve problems or challenges for your customers or prospects, youll always be in demand. Unfortunately, if you do it in a way that others have already done it, you BORE your audience. People dont want the same old thing. They want fresh. They want unique. They want different. Thats why we have elections every 4 years. People want new ideas. Thats why toy companies scramble to create the next hot Christmas gift. Thats why TV companies constantly change up their

programming; people want new and exciting shows.

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However if your ideas look, sound and appear like everything else, it becomes a been done and the probability of success goes down. Your future depends on your ability to identify problems and then generate fresh, unique ideas to solve those problems.

You will always be full of cuttingedge concepts, and that means youll always have cash in your pocket and the respect of your peers

Brainstorming helps you as an individual as well as your entire business, whatever your business may be. If youre a freelance writer,

brainstorming will help you generate a treasure trove of article ideas. If youre a salesman, brainstorming will help you come up with better ways of pitching your product. If you work for an advertising company, brainstorming will help you devise new campaigns and slogans. If you work for a restaurant, brainstorming will help you create new dishes. If you are a stay-at-home mom or dad and you want to make some extra income, brainstorming will help you hit on a winning plan. Whatever your profession, whatever your endeavor, whatever your goal, brainstorming benefits you by guaranteeing that you never run on empty. You will always be full of cutting-edge concepts, and that means youll always have cash in your pocket and the respect of your peers. And who wouldnt want that? Heres a short list of just some of the benefits of brainstorming: G Having more ideas to choose from means an increased probability of hitting on a winning idea G Inviting a group of people with various backgrounds, interests and personalities to share ideas means that youll get a very broad range of possible solutions

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G Ideas that didnt look like they would work to begin with, can be huge successes after they are tinkered with in a brainstorming session G You can often create a great solution by putting together lots of little ideas from various sources

You can often create a great solution by putting together lots of little ideas from various sources

G By encouraging others to share their ideas without fear of criticism, you guarantee that others will listen to your ideas, too

Conducting a Brainstorming Session

Weve now defined a productive brainstorming session as what happens when a group of people get together, without inhibitions, to generate as many ideas as possible. Sounds great, but how does one actually go about accomplishing this? How do you set up an environment in which there are no inhibitions, and everyone feels free to say whatever he or she wants? How do you put people at their ease? How can you ensure that there is adequate stimulation in order to generate new ideas? In this section well go over the logistics of running a brainstorming session, from preparation to the session itself to what to do immediately afterward. Dont worry about things getting out of hand-as freeform as a brainstorming session should be, there ARE rules and guidelines to follow. And the great thing is that you can follow these steps whether youre working with a group of twenty people or youre alone in your room. This is a plan to ensure success, no matter how big or small your group, no matter how long or short the session.

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First, arrive early so you can prepare the room and get used to being in it. You may want to bring a poster which lists the rules of creative thinking-these are the rules which all the participants should follow. Stick the poster up on the wall where everyone can see it at any time.

Remind yourself to be supportive of everyone and their ideas

Take this pre-session time to go over the rules yourself. Remind yourself to be supportive of everyone and their ideas. Then, when the group members start to arrive, treat the occasion like a social gathering rather than a business meeting. Welcome each participant and chat a bit with everyone. This is all part of ensuring that the atmosphere in the room is relaxed and friendly. Make sure to introduce people who dont know each other, because its hard to feel uninhibited in a room full of strangers. Remember, the point of involving other people in the brainstorming session is so that you can bounce your thoughts off of one another, generating countless new ideas. When properly directed, dynamic interaction between team members results in other peoples thoughts becoming potent stimuli in their own right. When its time to get started, invite everyone to take a seat. Explain what the purpose of this session is going to be. Show them the rules and emphasize that at this early stage, all ideas are valuable-brainstorming is about generating ideas, not judging or dismissing them. Tell the group outright that you hope they come up with odd, offbeat ideas, because they are what lead to innovative practical solutions and products. Explain that they should all listen carefully to everyone else-what another person says may give you a brilliant idea that wouldnt have occurred to you on your own!

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You may wish to do a warm-up session to get people ready for the real session. To do this, think of an unrelated topic that doesnt have anything to do with work. For instance, ask the group to think up ideas for new movies or web sites. Then, after a few minutes, ease everyone back into the main issue at hand. Explain the topic and then invite

Thank people for their thoughts, remain supportive, and always keep things moving along

suggestions and concepts having to do with that topic. Write down each and every idea that someone shares with the group. Encourage your group members to jot down their own ideas on pieces of paper so that they dont forget them while others are talking. Then broaden out to unrelated ideas-let your group members share wild and outrageous ideas that may not be directly related to the main topic or problem. Write these ideas down on separate pieces of paper, and then tack them to the wall so everyone can see them. All the ideas you write down will serve throughout the rest of the session as stimuli, provoking new concepts and suggestions. If anyone criticizes an idea, make it clear that this is not the time or place. Say that youre interested in hearing all suggestions, both mundane and strange. Thank people for their thoughts, remain

supportive, and always keep things moving along. If an awkward silence falls over the group, use the ideas youve already written down as a springboard for conversation. Tweak and twist those ideas to come up with new ones. Encourage people to use other team members thoughts as a springboard for new ideas-even if a certain idea doesnt seem feasible, you can use bits and pieces of it to come up with something better. If you want to change things up, or if the group members seem to be inhibited, ask everyone to write some ideas down on a piece of paper. Collect the papers and then

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redistribute them, so that everyone has someone elses sheet of paper. Then ask everyone to read the ideas aloud. In order to increase the potency and productivity of your brainstorming session, you should consider providing sources of stimuli (both relate

Consider providing sources of stimuli to increase the potency and productivity of your brainstorming session

dan dunrelated) as discussed in the previous chapter. For example, if you are trying to brainstorm a new ad campaign, have magazines handy so that the team can flip through the advertisements. Tape up a big poster of a color wheel so that everyone can be thinking about color schemes. Pass around sheets of paper with various fonts printed on them, so that everyone can be thinking about typography. If youre trying to come up with a new jingle, bring a tape recorder and a variety of music tapes. Ask the team members to contribute their own stimulihave people sing their favorite jingles, or childhood songs or Christmas carols that stick in ones head so effectively. Remember that flooding yourself with stimuli is a surefire way to get the brains synapses firing! Continue brainstorming for as long as you feel things are fun and exciting. Take a break if you feel like it. But when everyone starts to get tired and ideas are running low, its time to bring the brainstorming to an end. Thank everyone and then send him or her on their way. After the session, immediately combine all the ideas into one list. Do it now, so everythings clear and fresh in your mind. If more ideas occur to you as you are doing this, write them down as well. The simplest, easiest way to store all these ideas is in a computer database or spreadsheet, so you can have fast access whenever you want. Now you should have a huge list of ideas to analyze, and a large number of probable solutions to choose from!

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CHAPTER 5: Creative Thinking Techniques

There are plenty of creative thinking techniques that you can use to generate lucrative and innovative new concepts

How Does Creative Thinking Work?

From having read about stimuli and brainstorming, youll know that creative thinking works by stimulating the brain and generating original ideas. It allows for new concepts to emerge under conditions that are equally conducive to offbeat and ordinary kinds of thoughts. And while its true that some great ideas occur accidentally, in an unexpected flash of insight, creative thinking is a way to create that flash of insight anywhere, any time. Sometimes making you aware of stimuli and setting up brainstorming sessions can produce amazing results. But at other times, these

techniques are not enough. You may be tired of the same old stimuli you see around you from day to day, and you may find that brainstorming with the same group of people does not produce as many diverse ideas as you had hoped. If youve given these methods a shot and theyre not working for you, dont give up! There are plenty more creative thinking techniques that you can use to generate lucrative and innovative new concepts. There are so many, in fact, that youre bound to find at least one-and probably more-which suit you perfectly.

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Remember that the way creative thinking works is to get your mind in contact with fresh, new thoughts, people and things. A new idea is born when two or more smaller ideas come together and form something bigger and better. For example, creative thinking is combining your

A new idea is born when two or more smaller ideas come together and form something bigger and better

design for a print ad campaign with your coworkers suggestion of getting a certain celebrity to appear in the ads. Its stirring a pot of jam on the stove and watching Martha Stewart making gift baskets on TV when, all of a sudden, you realize you should go into business selling gift baskets full of different jams and jellies. This collision of various stimuli and ideas makes for brand-new products and services, and theres always a market for things no one has ever dreamed up before. And if you practice creative thinking, youll never have to be without a fresh new idea ever again!

Making Creative Thinking Work for You

In this section well talk about some alternative creative thinking techniques to get your mind in gear and your solutions off the ground. But first its essential to isolate the matter at hand and to define our problem, so that we can understand exactly what it is we are trying to solve. Ive developed a plug-and-play formula that does just this, in a way thats both extremely useful and fun. Start by telling yourself, My problem is.... Then, continue this line of thought: So, I need ideas for.... Its a simple and efficient way to get your head into the game so that you can generate appropriate solutions.

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Lets take a look at some examples of this in action: My problem is... I have a TON of competition in my market So, I need ideas on... how to separate myself from my competition

Defining a problem is very important to the creative process because it forces you to zero in on precisely why you are generating ideas

My problem is... I have a lot of customer service calls and I cant handle them all on my low budget. So, I need ideas on... how to handle customer service on a low budget. My problem is... I dont have a web site, any technical knowledge or a BIG budget to pay a web designer So, I need ideas on... how I can create and manage a web site with no technical skills and a low budget. Defining a problem is very important to the creative process because it forces you to zero in on precisely why you are generating ideas. When you are able to state a problem in a clear way, the creative exercises that follow in this section become much easier. Now lets discuss some of those creative exercises:

1) Random Word
This technique is just what it sounds like. It involves picking a word at random-from a dictionary, for example-and using that word as the basis for making creative associations. You need to start by defining a problem or topic. What is it that youre trying to solve? Lets say you work in product development and you want to come up with exciting new toys for pets. Now put that to the side for one moment. Go get your dictionary (if you dont have a dictionary, any book will do) and

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flip it open to any page. Without looking, drop your index finger down onto the page. Now look down and see what word youre pointing to. For this example, lets suppose youve landed on the word computer. Using the random word technique, you need to build a bridge between

Let your imagination run wild

computer and pet toys. Think of ways-any ways that occur to you, no matter how seemingly silly-to connect those two things. The point is to force yourself to see a connection, because that means that youre making yourself think outside the box and potentially coming up with unprecedented ideas. Maybe you could come up with a toy that has an internal computer chip-for example, a ball for dogs that bounces around on its own. Or maybe you could appeal to cat-lovers who are also computer geeks by making a toy mouse for felines that actually looks like a computer mouse. Or, pushing yourself even farther, might there be a market for a computer game that has to do with domestic animalsmaybe a pet-centric version of the wildly popular The Sims? You can also apply these rules to any number of random things. For instance, go to a random web site and use its content and design as a springboard for your own ideas, no matter how unrelated this web site may seem. If its a commercial site, how are products being sold? Are there advertisements on this site? What kinds of links do they have, and how are they organized? Or select a random picture from a magazine, book, or web site and follow the same principles as outlined above for random words. Let your imagination run wild. Youll be surprised and pleased with how many innovative ideas occur to you when you practice this technique.

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2) SCAMPER
The SCAMPER technique is another method of forcing yourself to approach your problem from unusual angles. SCAMPER is an acronym that stands for: Substitute, Combine, Adapt, Modify, Put to Other

Ask yourself if there is any way your product or service could be recycled to serve some other purpose besides the one it was originally intended for

Purposes, Eliminate, Rearrange/Reverse. The point in this technique is to use these directions as the basis for a series of questions about the problem you are trying to solve. Begin by thinking about substitutions for parts of your product or service. What would happen if you switched materials, people, time or location? Could you better your product or service by substituting one element with something else? Often, people hit on brilliant ways to improve their ideas by forcing themselves to consider substitutes. Then think about combining two or more parts of your product or service. Can you decrease the time it takes to do something by doing two things at once? Can you use a single process to accomplish two end results? Can you make things more efficient by blending different elements? The next step is to think about adapting the product or service-what about it could you possibly change? Then, as a corollary to adaptation, consider what would happen if you warped a given feature, making it bigger or smaller, for example-this is modification. Next, ask yourself if there is any way your product or service could be recycled to serve some other purpose besides the one it was originally intended for. For example, a coffee bean grinder is not just useful for grinding whole coffee beans-it can also be used to grind up whole spices.

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Think of Arm and Hammer Baking Soda. That product is used for so many different things ranging from toothpaste all the way to an air freshener and baking ingredient. What else can your product do or be used for? The second-to-last step is to hypothetically eliminate part of the

Gain new perspective on your problem by looking at it from different angles

product or service. What would be the consequence of removing a step or section of it? How would you handle the situation? This will force you to consider alternative solutions. Finally, gain new perspective on your problem by looking at it from different angles. If its a service, reverse the order in which its

performed. If its a product, turn it around of upside down. Changing the way you look at something can enable you to see its hidden potential.

3) Analogy
An analogy is when you use the word is like to compare one thing to another. In the analogy technique, you use comparisons as a way to see your situation from new angles. For example, if you think your job, as a salesperson is similar to being an actor, you might say: Making a sales pitch is like playing a role in a theater production. Now step back and analyze why you feel this way. Consider both sides of the analogy and try to see why they might be related. In this example, perhaps the comparison is that both a salesman and an actor need to follow a script but also remain in the moment, ready to improvise if the situation calls for it. A good actor is one who feeds off and responds to his audience, and this is also what a salesperson must do. This analogy could lead to the creation of actual scripts for new sales people. And just like an actor in different scenes, you could have different scripts for different sales situations like on the phone, in person, or in an email.

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Making an analogy is a great way to approach your problem, because it helps you see how other related fields tackle similar issues. Then you can apply those solutions to your own situation.

The technique of provocation stimulates your brain to think about new ideas by shocking it with stupid assumptions

4) Brainwriting
This technique is very similar to brainstorming, but with an important difference. Brainwriting is a process in which a person writes down all of his own ideas, rather than sharing them out loud with a group. Then he passes his written ideas to the next person, who uses those ideas as stimulus to come up with even more ideas. This can be extremely helpful for people who are more visual than auditory, or for groups in which there is still some tension over sharing ideas out loud.

5) Free association
This is another technique that is quite similar, though not identical, to brainstorming. In a brainstorming session, participants come up with ideas related to a central problem or issue. In free association, however, participants start with a trigger, and then let their thoughts go in any direction, one thought generating the next, in a sort of stream of consciousness. This can result in extremely unusual and creative solutions.

6) Provocation
The technique of provocation stimulates your brain to think about new ideas by shocking it with stupid assumptions. In other words, youre provoking yourself into thinking in new and different ways by saying something that is patently untrue. The point is to say something so silly

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that you can then suspend all judgment and let your mind wander into new territory. For example, you could say, Bikes do not have wheels. A dumb sentence, but once you start considering it, your mind is free to explore the unknown. Perhaps it was a sentence like this that led to the

Freeing yourself up by assuming another identity can be an incredibly powerful way to generate new ideas

invention of the stationery exercise bike!!

7) Role-storming
This technique is similar to brainstorming, except that you try to find solutions by putting yourself into the mindset of another person. Freeing yourself up by assuming another identity can be an incredibly powerful way to generate new ideas. So think of someone you know or invent a new identity; then say to yourself, Hmm, I believe this person would suggest.... Dont censor yourself-thats the point of entering another persons headspace! If you get stuck, change roles. You can do this many different times, assuming several different identities.

8) Relaxation
It is virtually impossible to think effectively when you are stressed out or feeling harried. You tell yourself you have to come up with a solution, and the pressure causes you to have even more trouble solving your problem. The best ideas come out of a relaxed state in which your mind is open wide. So make sure to find time for activities that relax you. One of the best ways to do this is to meditate. Find a comfortable area, like a spot on the floor, and lay there with your back on the floor, arms outstretched, neck relaxed. Ensure that you wont be interrupted or disturbed. Starting with the top of your head, visualize each part of

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your body and focus on relaxing the muscles there. Relax your neck muscles, your shoulders, your back, your arms, your hips, your legs, your ankles, and your toes. For more creativity techniques than we have room for here, visit the

The wonderful thing about creative thinking techniques is that they dont just change the way you do business-they change the way you think and feel

web site www.CreativeThinkingOnline.com (which is also the source for the techniques weve discussed here).

Continuously Improving Your Creativity

The wonderful thing about creative thinking techniques is that they dont just change the way you do business-they change the way you think and feel. Once you start experimenting with these techniques, youll begin to realize all the ways youve been stifled. Youll recognize your own habits, and youll see how tempting it can be to have a routine instead of trying new things. Youll come to terms with your fear of making mistakes, and youll learn to question the beliefs and convictions of the status quo. Youll understand that work doesnt have to be boring-and that playing creative games like the ones above are actually a powerful tool for unlocking hidden creative talent. Youll overcome your self-doubt and open yourself up to experimentation. Doesnt this all sound great? But wait, it gets even better! Creative thinking doesnt just benefit you. It wont change your life alone. The effects of creative thinking have a way of getting into the air, and creating a new atmosphere, so that EVERYONE benefits and starts to see the world in new ways.

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Its so easy to stomp on a persons feelings, telling him, Thats an impractical idea or That will never work. This kind of criticism can create unwanted tension, and that makes EVERYONE in the area feel inhibited and self-defensive. Thats exactly what we DONT want,

Dont dismiss the effects of positive thinking and positive encouragement in the workplace and anywhere else

because it hinders the creative ability. In order for creativity to flourish, we need a sense of freedom and safety. And how can we ensure those things? By insisting on positive,

constructive language and interactions with others.

Positive vs. Negative Language

An Idea Critic Would Say:
No.

An Idea Supporter
Thats a good idea!

Would Say:

Its never going to happen.

No one will go for that.

Lets prove to the boss that we can do it! How can we get it to work?

Dont dismiss the effects of positive thinking and positive encouragement in the workplace (or anywhere, for that matter). You surely know how amazing it feels to be happy, productive, efficient, and proud of yourself. You also know that when even one person is in such a good mood, that good mood is infectious. creativity! Its the same with

When even one person starts to think creatively,

implementing creative thinking techniques and shifting the negatives to positives, the whole office benefits. But the best part of all is that all the positive energy you put out is going to come back to you in the end. When you listen to others and

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encourage their ideas, no matter how quirky, others will listen to you and indulge your ideas, too. If you express your appreciation for others participation in brainstorming sessions, participation is going to get more and more efficient and productive. If you make others feel

Creative thinking is a continuous process

valuable for contributing, theyll make you feel valuable for your contributions, too. If you create a fluid environment in which others feel they can suggest solutions to help you fix your problems, you can suggest solutions to them without causing animosity or defensiveness. If you give others the freedom to work out their solutions as they see fit, theyll give you the freedom to explore your ideas, too. If you dont constantly judge and criticize others, they wont judge and criticize you. And because creative thinking involves people from all levels of an organization, from all departments, from all backgrounds and interests, you will soon become very comfortable mingling with both your subordinates and your superiors. Creative thinking is a continuous process. As Ive said above, theres no end to the possibilities for improvement and invention, so theres no reason for you ever to stop being creative. When you help create an environment in which creativity is nurtured, appreciated, supported and encouraged, you guarantee yourself a place in which you can continue to grow as a creative thinker and to strive endlessly toward success.

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CHAPTER 6: Mind Mapping

Mind mapping is the secret weapon of creative thinkers

What is Mind Mapping?

When you brainstorm and do your creative thinking techniques, youll find yourself overflowing with ideas. Its exciting to have so many new thoughts and plans at your fingertips, but it can also be incredibly overwhelming! What on earth should you do with all that information? Mind mapping is the secret weapon of creative thinkers. Its a powerful tool for organizing your ideas and is also a form of visual brainstorming in and of itself. Developed in the 1960s by a man named Tony Buzan, mind maps are incredibly popular-used by millions of people all across the globe-because they are stunningly effective. Basically, a mind map starts off with a central point-a main subject, thought, worry, problem, idea, what have you. After writing this main point down in the center of a piece of paper, you simply let your mind go, allowing the momentum of your thought process carry you. New ideas are noted down, in two key words or less, as branches extending from the central idea, and then related ideas appear as offshoots of those initial branches. As you continue, the map will grow increasingly complex. As with brainstorming, you shouldnt let yourself judge or criticize any thought that occurs to you during this process! Just get your thoughts down on paper. You can go wherever your mind takes you, from the

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upper right-hand corner to the bottom left-hand corner, from one branch to another branch. Theres no path to follow; this is non-linear thinking in its very essence. In short, a mind map is an incredibly useful graphic technique that has

Use the power of mind mapping to unlock the power of your minds potential

the power to unlock your minds potential.

It uses words, colors,

numbers, images, and spatial relationships to gives your ideas a visual representation, and at the same time it allows you to delve deep into the corners of your brain. By starting with a focal point and moving

outward, a mind map can help you to illustrate thought pathways, to hold and arrange data, to present the details and the overview simultaneously, and to understand how you might want to plan a course of action. Mind maps are also very attractive to look at, much more so than a simple spreadsheet or a long, rambling list youve made on the fly. If youve never mind-mapped, get ready to become addicted!! Once you try it, youll never turn back!

Mind Mapping in 6 Easy Steps

Step 1) Armed with a large piece of blank paper and pens or pencils in several different colors, envision the problem or issue that you are going to consider in your mind map. Refer to your problem statement and place this issue in the middle of your blank page. The reason for putting it in the center of the page is so that your ideas and associations can spiral out in whatever direction they want to go. And try to use as few words as possible-you want to get to the core of the problem, so dont write paragraphs or even full sentences!!

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Step 2) Let loose and allow your mind to go wherever it wants. Start free-associating and dont censor yourself. Step 3) Once the ideas start to flow, begin to write them down on your sheet of paper, on lines that branch out from the central point.

Start freeassociating and dont censor yourself

Use one- or two-word descriptions. As those ideas start to spawn new ideas, create more branches and sub-branches. Its very

important to write down ALL of your ideas, because so many ideas can be lost during this process otherwise. Step 4) Its a fact that our brains like to go through 5- or 6-minute creative bursts, so take advantage of this explosion of ideas while it lasts! That means you should work as quickly as possible. You can use simple key words or phrases, pictures, symbols, or anything else you want to get your thoughts down on paper FAST. Step 5) Always keep your hand moving. If you cant think of any new ideas, draw a branch and leave it blank. Your mind will help you fill it in later. If youre really stuck, choose a different colored pen. And if you find that mind mapping on a smaller sheet of paper cramps your style, use an easel or something even bigger so that you can draw bigger branches and make bigger movements with your body. Step 6) If you see associations between different things youve written down, connect them with sub-branches. If an idea doesnt seem

related to anything youve written down yet, connect it to the central point with a main branch. Although mind maps are great for

organization, you can always reorganize things later on. Remember

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that the main goal of mind mapping is to get your thoughts down on paper before they leave your head!

Some additional tips:

Get your thoughts down on paper before they leave your head

G You dont have to use standard letter-sized paper if you dont want to. After all, youre not writing a letter or a typical business document. Use poster paper or an easel if you want! Use crayons or markers if you feel like it! Remember that this is a creative process-there are no boundaries! G There are different types of software that you can use to help you in the brainstorming process. They will actually create the mind map for you and some of them even enable you to export the information into other programs. The advantage of using some software is it helps to keep your ideas organized. The disadvantage is it sometimes slows down the creative process. For a full review of different types please visit www.CreativitySoftware.com. G Ive said it before and Ill say it again: dont censor yourself!! Write down anything and everything that occurs to you, even if it may not seem related at first. The mind works in mysterious ways-sometimes it comes up with connections that you wont recognize until later on. Also, if you ignore a thought because you think its unimportant, chances are your mind will keep going back to it at the expense of other potentially brilliant ideas! So just jot it down and move on. G Because bursts creativity can happen at any moment, keep an idea journal or idea binder where you can quickly write down

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ideas as they come to you.

This journal can also serve as a

reference or additional stimuli when you need ideas for another problem down the road.

Like a spiders web, these maps can expand outward in infinite circles

Uses for Mind Mapping

Mind mapping is a phenomenally useful tool, not just for visualizing the results of a brainstorming session but also for a number of other organizational tasks. Its particularly great for any activity that requires you to think quickly but still arrange your thoughts in some way. Here are some of the ways that creative thinkers put mind maps to good use:

1) Brainstorming
Mind maps are the ideal way to represent the information that comes out of a brainstorming or free association session because theyre nonlinear and can grow and grow and grow with no limit. Like a spiders web, these maps can expand outward in infinite circles. The central issue of the brainstorming session sits at the center of the mind map, and all the spontaneous ideas form the branches that shoot out from that center. It doesnt matter how quickly the stream of associations flowthe mind map will accommodate them all.

2) Writing
Many writers are huge fans of mind mapping because it is a way to make an incredibly arduous and often frustrating process-writing-a heck of a lot easier. If you just sit down to write an essay or an article from start

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to finish, youll probably wind up banging your head against the wall. Thats because the linear process of writing from introduction to conclusion is almost impossible to do well-the mind just doesnt naturally run in straight lines!

A mind map is a surefire cure for writers block

A mind map is a surefire cure for writers block. Starting with one central point and then working outward in branches frees up the mind and allows a writer to put down on paper ANY thoughts that occur, not just the thoughts that he or she believes should come next. Mind maps also enable writers to get material down quickly. Our minds often work faster than we can write-no sooner do you finish writing one sentence than the thought you intended to convey in the next sentence has vanished! Well, with mind maps-which include only one- or twoword descriptions of core ideas-a writer can put down every single thought and then go back later to flesh them all out.

3) Process organization
It can be incredibly frustrating to think about an entire process all at once. Its hard to keep the end in sight when youre working on the beginning, and its difficult to focus on what youre doing right now when its not separated from the next task. Mind maps are a great way to quickly chop up a process into manageable pieces. By separating a process into its components, each task becomes much easier to accomplish.

4) Presentations
Anyone whos in the position of giving a talk to an audience is faced with the dilemma of how to express ones ideas-not only orally, but

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visually, as well! Theres a lot of evidence to suggest that lectures accompanied by visual aids are more effective in keeping the audiences attention than lectures without any sort of visual aids. Mind maps are an excellent visual accompaniment to talks, because

Mind maps are an excellent visual accompaniment to talks

they present the kernel of each idea without distracting from the speaker him or herself. Its up there for the audience to see, but its not so elaborate or detailed that it draws attention away from the lecturer.

5) Note-taking
One of the challenges of being a student or attending a seminar is finding a note-taking system that works for you. Some people just scribble all over a page with no rhyme or reason. Others are incredibly neat, paying more attention to writing down an outline of the professor or speakers presentation than they do to the actual lecture itself! Still other people give up entirely and dont take any notes at all. Those who mind-map, however, know that mind mapping is the perfect way to organize notes on the fly. It allows you to write down a speakers key ideas without spending all your time with your head buried in your notebook. It also makes your notes visually interesting, which makes it easier when it comes time to study. Mind mapping just might be the ideal way for you to take notes! In a way, mind mapping is a perfect synthesis of everything weve been talking about in this book. It embodies the five rules of creative thinking, refuses to let us censor ourselves for fear of judgment, forces

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us to trust in the creative potential of our minds, and stimulates an ongoing cycle of even greater creativity. It incorporates images,

symbols and colors, because all these things can stimulate our senses in various ways and enable us to see new associations between

The creative mind has unlimited potential

seemingly different ideas. And it represents visually the unlimited potential of the creative mind: not stilted linear progression but rather an organic, endless expansion of ideas.

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CHAPTER 7: Creativity In Action

Mediocrity is easy-its being new and different thats hard

Short Stories on Creativity in Action

Okay, so its one thing to read about creative thinking techniques in theory, but how do you go about implementing them in your own life? Youve read the broad strokes, but what about the nitty-gritty, the essential details? How do you create an environment in which you are free to think your thoughts? How can you encourage others to follow your lead? What can you do if someones resistant to your attempts, or if youre not meeting with the success you expected? In this final section Im going to talk about a number of real-life scenarios that present challenges to the creative thinker. Youll learn how to prepare yourself for the difficult situations that will inevitably arise once you commit to a creative lifestyle. After all, as we said way back at the beginning of this book, mediocrity is easy-its being new and different thats hard. And thats what makes it worthwhile in the end.

1) How to Respond to New Ideas

Once youve started practicing creative thinking techniques, you and those you work with will be generating an enormous number of ideas. At the brainstorming stage, no idea is silly or irrelevant, but since were trained to be critical it can be quite difficult at times to keep this in

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mind. It is very easy to shoot down someones idea-all it takes is a No or a That wont work. But youve got to be careful not to be

dismissive. People are defensive creatures, and if our ideas meet with disapproval were likely to stop sharing them in the first place.

Remember that no one offers ideas that have absolutely no merit at all

Even if an idea seems like it might be impractical in the long run, youve got to give it its due consideration. Remember that no one offers ideas that have absolutely no merit at all. Try to think about the reasons why a person might make a particular suggestion. See if from their point of view. The more you consider it, the likelier it is that youll see some angle of the suggestion which is useful to you. Because were so used to letting negatives jump right out of our mouths, it may be useful to have on hand a number of responses to ideas that others have suggested to you. Here are few especially versatile ones: G That sounds interesting. Can you tell me a bit more? G How would you go about implementing this? G What are the advantages, and how can we eliminate or minimize the disadvantages? G How can we get the resources to accomplish this? G Lets take this idea apart and see if we can use small parts of it to fix the current situation. G Lets make time to see if this will work.

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If an idea really is just plain unworkable, its up to you to explain that in a rational, appreciative way. Of course, this is impossible to do unless you make a sincere effort to listen and understand it in the first place.

Brainstorming is an essential component of creative thinking

2) What to Do When Brainstorming Goes Bad

Brainstorming is an essential component of creative thinking, but it doesnt always run as smoothly as wed like it to-especially when were working in groups. Any time you have a number of people together in the same room youre inviting the potential for trouble. Not everyone has the same ability to let go of inhibitions-some participants in a brainstorming session might just naturally be quieter than others because they are intrinsically shy. People might be stuck in a rut and unable to think outside the box. Or some group members who are new to brainstorming might think the process is silly and be reluctant to get fully involved. There are a few steps you can and should take in order to get your brainstorming session back on track. First, explain the rules of creativity again. Make sure that everyone understands them and agrees to abide by them. Remind everyone that criticism-whether verbal or physical, as in facial expressions or body language-stifles creativity, and that all ideas can serve as stimulus for others. Second, consider breaking the group up into smaller sub-groups. This will encourage the quiet group members to do more talking and will make them feel less on display. It will allow people to get to know each other better and to relax a bit more.

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Third, if theres one person in the room who persists in being critical, get him or her to leave, or avoid inviting him or her to the next session. Consider bringing in new people from other departments-they might be able to offer fresh perspectives.

Change up techniques so that the group doesnt get stuck in a creative rut

Fourth, if the energy in the room seems to be sagging, ask everyone to get up and move around. Take a bit of a break. Play some relaxing music or tell a few jokes. Distract your mind for a couple of minutes. Get everyones mind off the problem for a few minutes, so that you can all come back to it refreshed. Finally, introduce some of the creative thinking techniques outlined above. Change up the techniques so that the group doesnt get stuck in a creative rut. If, at the end of all this, you still havent met with successful, do some hard thinking about whether it was the brainstorming session that failed or whether the solution youre already using is the best one and doesnt need improvement. Think about inviting different people next time, and eliminate any elements that did not seem to you to go well.

3) What to Do If You Are the Victim of Bad Brainstorming

The techniques for brainstorming seem fairly straightforward: open your mind, consider a set of stimuli, and let the ideas flow out without censorship. In practice, however, brainstorming-when done badlycan be an exhausting, frustrating experience. This is especially true when youre new to brainstorming and dont know quite what to expect. You may feel like youre on the spot, and you might not want

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to share all your ideas. You may still be hesitant to say things that seem silly to you. Or perhaps youre part of a brainstorming session that is badly run or that includes outspoken, critical participants. If you are feeling nervous, frustrated, agitated, persecuted or mocked, dont take it personally-just participate as much as you can and then

If you find yourself facing criticism, explain that even outlandish ideas can be worked into practical solutions

let the leader know how you feel. Here are some suggestions for making the best of an awkward situation: G If you feel uncomfortable sharing your ideas out loud, write them down on a piece of paper and give them to the leader, or pass the paper to someone else and ask him to read it for you. G If you want to speak up but are afraid of looking silly, preface your comments with a phrase like, This might sound a little foolish, but.... If you find yourself facing criticism, explain that even outlandish ideas can be worked into practical solutions. G Make a sign of approval whenever you hear or see someone following the creative rules. Likewise, murmur your disapproval whenever someone criticizes someone else or otherwise breaks the rules. This may help get the session back on track. Who knows? Even a terrible brainstorming session has the potential to produce a winning idea!

4) How to Build a Creative Environment

Even the most creative people feel stifled in environments that are not conducive to free thinking. You cant expect people to generate

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cutting-edge solutions to problems if they dont feel comfortable expressing themselves. And ideas cant be turned into practical solutions without explicit support. If you are in a place that inhibits creative thinking, here are some steps

Ideas cant be turned into practical solutions without explicit support

you can take to improve the atmosphere: G Dont criticize others, and stop others from being critical, too. Thank people for their suggestions and encourage them to share their thoughts with you often. G Dont just listen and nod-practice ACTIVE listening and ask thoughtful questions that show you understand what someone has just told you. For example, if you dont understand an idea completely, ask, Can you give more detail? If you want someone to elaborate on a process, say, How do you see that working? If a portion of an idea did not make total sense to you, ask, What did you mean by XYZ? G Ask others for their opinions and ideas. This will encourage them to come to you with suggestions in the future, and it will also create a sense of mutual confidence and respect between coworkers. G Organize, run and participate in your own brainstorming sessions. If you do a good job and your group generates lots of great concepts, others will hurry to follow your lead. G Make a list of problems and issues that need to be addressed. Post this list and invite people to share their thoughts and suggestions with the whole office.

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G When you come up with a great idea, explain that its the result of creative thinking techniques. When others hear this they will probably want you to tell them more about it. G Realize that you cant change corporate culture overnight. Lead by

When people start noticing your successes, theyll quickly follow

example and give it some time. When people start noticing your successes, theyll quickly follow. G Be an idea collector so that you always have a collection of GREAT ideas at your fingertips. Gather both related and unrelated stimuli and use them to nudge your mind during your next brainstorming session!!

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USEFUL WEB SITE LINKS

Visit these sites for great ideas
General creativity sites:
www.MyIdeaGuy.com www.CreativeThinkingOnline.com www.CreativitySoftware.com www.Ideas4Everything.com www.StimuliSessions.com

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DEFINITIONS
Brain Storming: An uncensored, organic process for generating new ideas.

For creative thinkers, problem is synonymous with opportunity!

Creative Thinking: Using various techniques to improve your ability to create new ideas. Creativity: The ability to implement innovative ideas. Life Goggles: The lens through which you filter, perceive, and react to stimuli. Life goggles are a function of your collective life

experiences that you bring to every situation. Its the thing that makes you see the world the way you do. Mind Mapping: A technique for representing ideas visually. New Ideas: Innovative, original thoughts or concepts. Problem: Something that presents difficulties and therefore demands to be improved upon or corrected. For creative thinkers, problem is synonymous with opportunity! Stimuli: Anything you see, hear, smell, taste, or touch. Provides an external nudge that feeds your brain and helps you crank out new ideas.

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INDEX

Accomplishment, 9, 11 Achieving, 12

Creative thinker, 7, 9, 14, 21, 23, 33, 37, 63, 72 Creative ways, 10

Action, 6, 9, 39, 42, 65 Ambition, 32, 35 Benefits, 47, 49, 61, 62 Big ideas, 30 Brainstorming, 19, 20, 21, 22, 35, 37, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 53, 54, 59, 60, 62, 64, 65, 68, 72, 74, 76, 77, 78, 80 Challenges, 4, 12, 13, 35, 37, 71, 72 Change, 5, 10, 20, 40, 42, 43, 47, 48, 52, 58, 60, 61, 79 Characteristics, 31, 34 Fear, 5, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 44, 50, 60, 71 Circumstance, 6, 23 Financial gains, 9 Comfort zones, 8 Freedom, 11, 12, 14, 35, 45, 48, 61, 62 Consider, 6, 18, 25, 35, 57, 58, 66, 73, 75, 76 Generate ideas, 16 Consistent results, 8 Great ideas, 14, 21, 22, 23, 30, 48, 54 Contentment, 9 Habits, 7, 60 Control, 2, 10 Harnessing, 32 Create, 6, 11, 18, 28, 33, 39, 43, 47, 49, 54, 61, 62, 63, 66, 72, 78, 81 Creative abilities, 16, 32 Creative beings, 15 Creative geniuses, 18, 31 Creative ideas, 4, 21 Creative instinct, 7, 17 Creative people, 31, 43, 77 Creative possibilities, 30, 43 Creative process, 17, 18, 19, 22, 39, 47, 67 Creative resources, 7 Creative talent, 61 Hurdles, 12 Ideas, 4, 6, 10, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 32, 33, 34, 37, 38, 39, 42, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 59, 60, 62, 64, 65, 66, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 75, 76, 77, 78, 81 Implementing, 19, 62, 72, 73 Improve, 38, 48, 57, 78, 81 Inhibitions, 19, 50, 74 Inspiration, 6, 7, 9, 27, 80 Inventions, 12, 14 Leadership, 10 Learning experiences, 12 Creativity, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 15, 20, 21, 30, 32, 41, 43, 44, 46, 60, 61, 62, 63, 71, 75, 80 Cultivated, 14 Discover, 14, 15, 36 Endeavors, 38 Exciting, 6, 8, 20, 28, 30, 36, 52, 55, 64 Explore, 17, 18, 34, 35, 36, 62 Exposure, 10 Failure, 5, 37, 39, 41

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INDEX

Maximum productivity, 14 Mind mapping, 67, 69, 71

Solutions, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 34, 38, 41, 42, 47, 49, 51, 53, 55, 58, 59, 60, 62, 77 Springboard, 52, 56

Money, 4, 9, 12, 13, 30, 41 New ideas, 9, 14, 17, 21, 22, 25, 41, 42, 45, 46, 47, 50, 66, 67, 81 Obstacles, 3, 11, 12 Opportunities, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 31, 32, 37 Original ideas, 9, 54 Perspective, 30, 58 Planning, 19 Positioning, 5 Positive energy, 62 Possibilities, 7, 15, 27, 35, 43, 62 Potential, 4, 5, 7, 15, 30, 33, 35, 36, 38, 40, 58, 65, 71, 74, 77 Preparation, 50 Problem, 4, 6, 12, 29, 44, 45, 46, 47, 52, 55, 57, 58, 59, 60, 64, 66, 75, 81 Process, 7, 20, 22, 26, 27, 29, 58, 59, 62, 64, 65, 69, 70, 74, 81 Profitable, 8 Rewards, 8, 9, 32 Risk, 32, 37, 40 Roadblocks, 12, 13 Rules, 5, 14, 15, 16, 17, 50, 51, 56, 71, 75, 77 Satisfaction, 9 Secret weapon, 64 Secure, 10 Self-reliant, 10 Skills, 11, 31 Small ideas, 30 Thinking, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 20, 24, 28, 32, 34, 35, 38, 44, 47, 50, 54, 55, 57, 60, 61, 62, 64, 65, 71, 72, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79 Think-tank, 12 Triumphs, 11 Wellbeing, 9 Stimuli, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 30, 45, 52, 54, 55, 76, 81 Success, 2, 5, 6, 7, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 19, 22, 31, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 41, 42, 43, 44, 50, 63, 72 Technique, 21, 45, 47, 55, 56, 57, 59, 60, 65, 81

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