Empowering you to lead a joyful and creative life

Sometimes all you need is a different perspective to get some good ideas.

Think Backwards

In the early 60’s the FCC was concerned that some of the quiz shows had supplied contestants the answers (remember the movie the Quiz Show?)

Julann and Merv Griffin were on a plane to New York and she suggested that they give the contestants the answers and they guess the questions.  They had their concept of the show by the time the plane landed.  Jeopardy has been on the air since 1962.

Begin with the End

Think about what you want to accomplish and write down the end result as if it has happened.

For example, let’s say you want to write a book.

Write a book from the end or write the back cover first with the kinds of quotes people would say about your book  which gives you insight into what you want to write.

What are you working on now?  How might you start at the end?

P.S. In case you are wondering, the photo was taken at a wonderful garden design show we went to when we were in France a couple years ago and it is an etched shovel.

Some Problems May Take More than One Pass to Solve

Do you ever find that you are so anxious to solve a problem that you take the first answer that comes to you or your group?

Sometimes that works beautifully. But sometimes you may need more than one approach and to be willing to experiment to find the best solutions.

The More the Merrier

One recommendation I have is to come up with several ideas instead of just one. You may still end up using that first idea but often you come up with even better solutions as you go deeper.

You may also end up combining ideas for a much more powerful solution.

What?’s Working and What?’s Not

One thing I?ve been tuned in to lately, though, is that sometimes you have a good solution to a challenge and once you implement it, you find that it can be tweaked and further refined for an even better solution.

Only you would not have come to that conclusion if you didn?t work through the first solution first. You don?t always understand enough until you start working through a problem to see things from a different perspective.

You can see what aspects of your solution work, what doesn?t, and what can be improved.

What does all this mean to you?

It means that your first attempts at solving a problem aren?t necessarily a failure if they don?t work out the way you hoped. They may be a stepping stone in the process.

Simply to be open to learning and experimenting until you are satisfied with the results.

Remember that old saying? If at first you don?t succeed, try, try again.

Do you have a problem or challenge that you are ready to make some adjustments to refine your initial solution?

P.S. If you need some help figuring things out, email me for an idea session or two.

Sometimes when you need a creative idea, you can use a
little help.

IdeaChampions.com has developed a fun way to play with your
challenge.  Free the Genie is a card deck for facilitating
problem solving and innovation.

You can sample it for free here
http://www.ideachampions.com/free_the_genie/

Roger Von Oech also has a card deck that I love called The
Creative Whack Pack with over 64 cards and strategies that
can help generate new ideas and allow you to come up with
some fresh ideas.

Check out the Creative Whack of the Day here

http://creativethink.com/1pu