Creativity Information

7 Techniques to Supercharge your Creativity and Solve your Problems


Do you ever encounter problems, challenges or obstacles in your business? If you answered 'no,' then you can stop reading and continue to rake in the fortune you must be making. For the rest of us, the answer of course is 'yes.'

For the most troubling problems, the biggest challenge is in your inability to come up with new and innovative solutions. This is because when you try to solve a problem, you probably use the same approach every time ('let me sit here and think about it until I come up with something?'). The next time you try to solve a problem, try applying any (or all) of these approaches:

1) Be Obvious - Cances are, whatever your problem is, there is some conventional wisdom about how to solve it. Ask yourself why you are not following it, and evaluate for yourself whether your reasons are valid. Sometimes the easiest solution is the one right in front of us.

2) Be Contrarian - The opposite of being obvious, being contrarian means to consider doing the opposite of what conventional wisdom says. If the standard advice is to buy, think about selling. Instead of working more, work less. Note: This does not mean you should automatically DO what the opposite is; it just means to let your mind wander over the opposite to get it working in another direction.

3) Start Where you are - Sometimes we get so caught up in the long term goal that we lose sight of where we are. Think about your problem and what you might do right now to solve it. Usually this results in frustration because we don't have a fully formed solution. But just because an idea is not fully formed does not mean that it does not have some validity. Start with your current idea and watch as new ideas present themselves.

4) Chunk up - If you can't figure out how to achieve your goal, try looking at the bigger picture. If your goal is to earn $10,000 this month and you can't figure out how, think bigger - maybe you want $10K because you want to earn six figures this year. Then start to brainstorm ways of earning six figures. Don't get so caught up on your problem that you lose sight of the bigger picture.

5) Chunk down - The opposite of chunking up. Think in terms of smaller details. Continuing with the $10K example, if you can't think of how to earn $10,000 this month, can you think of ways to earn $333 per day? Maybe, but even if you can't it gets the mind working in a new way.

6) Take a REAL Break - Stop working on the problem for a bit and let your subconscious work on it. This requires two things. First, you need to actually give your mind a break and recharge. Switching from thinking about one problem to another will not do it. Get away from the problem an your work, even if for only five minutes. Second, make sure you are not dwelling on the problem. Taking a walk to get away from work is great, but if you continue to mull over the problem your not really giving your mind a break from it.

7) Move - Get the blood flowing! Exercise, walk, run, stretch, whatever. Be it from blood flow, endorphins, or a change in focus, physical movement enhances creativity. I do some of my best thinking while shooting baskets. Find out what works for you and do it.

There are many different techniques you can use to solve a problem. Try the few above to start, and then come up with your own. Use them well, and watch yourself create new and exciting solutions faster than ever.

Avish Parashar is a professional speaker who runs seminars on creativity, teamwork, productivity, leadership, and communication using the principles of improvisational comedy.
http://www.professional-speaker-avish-parashar.com

Creativity e-book:
http://www.supercharge-your-creativity.com

  


MORE RESOURCES:

Creative Kids, Not Kits
Wall Street Journal (blog)
They'll have plenty of years to color inside the lines; for now, I'd rather they be creative. Looking around your house, opportunities abound for such imperfect projects. Cooking is always a favorite; kids can do the measuring and the mixing.



CTV.ca

Designers in 1st Soweto Fashion Week inspired by South African township's ...
Minneapolis Star Tribune
Article by: DONNA BRYSON , AP JOHANNESBURG - Struggling but deserving designers will get a chance to show work inspired by the creativity and history of South Africa's most famous township in Soweto's first fashion week opening Thursday.
South Africa's Soweto Gets Its Fashion WeekABC News

all 177 news articles »


Hej, creativity! 4 bonkers Stockholm art projects
San Francisco Bay Guardian
What creative forms would you expect at the near-ends of the earth? My recent trip to Stockholm, Sweden was weird in the way that travel usually is, more just-like-home moments than alien fears realized of winding up cold and frozen because I forget to ...



PR Web

Chuck Cadle: Creativity key to effective leadership
Knoxville News Sentinel
However, there's a disconnect between the men and women being produced by our educational system and the creative talent corporate America requires to remain competitive in the global marketplace. Supply isn't meeting demand. n In a report, ...
Creativity runs wild during Destination ImaginationWVLT
Number Of Teams Earning Spot At Global Finals Up 10% From Last Year! Data Says ...MarketWatch (press release)
Kids will get creative in Destination Imagination finalsLexington Clipper Herald
WDEF News 12
all 25 news articles »


Creativity in the garden: Found objects, artworks can add whimsy, fun, beauty
Washington Post
SEATTLE — I feel like Alice in Wonderland. Sprinting past an alligator drinking a soda pop and a T-Rex playing guitar, I lean toward a family of colorful metal toadstools that come to my knee. “Aren't those great?” asks Jim Honold as he ushers me ...

and more »


How to Get Creative with your Company's Financing
NBC Chicago (blog)
To get the idea undocked, they had to get "creative" with their financing, as Silvia says. It's nothing illicit -- just another way of getting people to invest if the banks want. I gave Silvia a call while he was en route to Cincinnati to deliver a ...



DDB Worldwide Announces the Acquisition of London-based adam&eve
MarketWatch (press release)
The newly formed agency brings together two agencies with celebrated creative reputations. adam&eve, winner of Campaign and Marketing magazines' Agency of the Year awards in 2010, has quickly developed a reputation as one of the most successful ...

and more »


New Autodesk SketchBook Ink App Delivers Stunning Creative Tools for iPad
MarketWatch (press release)
The SketchBook Ink addition to the SketchBook family increases the number of choices available to artists to express their creative visions in a digital environment. Unlike traditional vector drawing apps, SketchBook Ink enables users to produce very ...

and more »


Creativity starts with a better education system
The Nation
The industry not only draws a large amount of foreign exchange but also enhances the creative environment. To remain competitive, countries like Malaysia and Singapore understand very well that they have to add value to their industries by adding ...

and more »


Creative Workshops to Highlight Innovative Heritage Summer Camp
Indo American News
This camp will present a unique blend of activities that will enable the participants to get a taste of India's rich, ancient culture and all-inclusive spirituality, while at the same time engaging their creativity through special workshops such as ...


Google News

Article List | Index | Site Map
All logos, trademarks and articles on this site are property and copyright of their respective owner(s).
The comments are property of their posters, all the rest is Copyright © 2006 CanadaSEEK.com - All Rights Reserved.