7 Random Thoughts on Creativity

To start off a series of posts on creative thinking, here are seven random tips I find helpful when I need think more creatively.

1. WRITE THINGS DOWN > Nothing forces you to crystalize your thinking more than having to condense it to the written word. Write, write, write. Write down the problem to be solved. Write down ideas when they happen. Write down solutions to remember them later. One year after figuring out the best way wind up the Christmas tree lights, I wrote myself a note and put it in the box so I would remember it when I pulled them out again the next year. Worked.

2. GET BACK TO NATURE > There are solutions everywhere in nature. When we spend time in nature, we get to observe a wealth of analogies and metaphors we can use to solve our problems.

3. GO INTO THE SILENCE > Spend some time in solitude. Meditate, go for a walk, sit and do nothing. Just get silent.

4. COMBINE TWO UNLIKE THINGS > Did you know that the words to "Gilligan's Island" work to the tune of Amazing Grace? Try it. When you get stuck, go for the opposite. Open the dictionary to a random word and make it work with your idea. Ideas can come from far away places.

5. BORROW IDEAS > Not every idea has to be original, as long as you give appropriate credit. Fast food restaurants borrowed the drive-thru from banking. Or was it the other way around?

6. FEED ON CREATIVITY > The old adage, "Garbage in, garbage out" works with anything. "Creativity in, creativity out." Read creative books, hang out with creative people, go to creative places, attend creative workshops.

7. GET DISCIPLINED > Seems counter-intuitive, but the more disciplined you are the more creative you are. Being disciplined gives you more time and less stress to focus on creative thinking.

Watch for an upcoming interview with creative writer and artist, S. F. Varney. His latest book is "Karate Dottie and the Treacherous Treehouse."

A Man Said to the Universe…

One of my favorite poems is this one from Stephen Crane:

A man said to the universe:

"Sir I exist!"

"However," replied the universe,

"The fact has not created in me

A sense of obligation."

Today, I read a rather explicit version of that sentiment from a foul-mouthed 73-year-old man as shared by his son in this tweet. Same point made in two very different styles.

Win the Book Problogger by Darren Rowse and Chris Garrett

Here is a quick and simple way win a copy of the book Problogger by Darren Rowse and Chris Garrett.

1. HAVE A BLOG - If don't yet, they're pretty simple to set up.

2. EMBED THIS PRESENTATION into one of your blog post (yes, this is a blatant attempt to generate traffic to a presentation I created on slideshare.net, but it's a good presentation, so you should check it out anyway, and while you're there feel free to vote for it in The World's Best Presentation Contest 2009).

Bite-Sized Learning

View more presentations from Todd Chandler.

3. POST A COMMENT to this blog post with a link to your blog post (hey, it's not just the book that's in it for you) by Tuesday, September 15, 2009.

On Wednesday, September 16, I will print off all the comments, cut them into strips of paper, literally draw an entry out of a hat, contact the winner, and ship them a free copy of Darren and Chris's book. You may enter more than once as long as each comment has it's own unique blog posts. Good luck!