Unblock your creativity with this four-part structure
“Who's got the next killer idea?"
Are you ready to dive right in?
Or paralyzed: worried that your contributions aren't good enough?
Awkward silence fills the room.
The usual suspects confidently volunteer suggestions,
but not founded on anything solid.
You look around and wait for anyone else to speak up.
Some are inclined to share instantly. Others pause to contemplate. Both are necessary. If you feel hesitant to say what's on your mind, there's a way to improve.
Coming up with lots of ideas is a keystone skill that sets you apart from others. Defer judgment and dump it all out, like an messy collection of LEGO bricks.
Julian Shapiro shares the faucet analogy:
Visualize your creativity as a backed-up pipe of water. The first mile of piping is packed with wastewater. This wastewater must be emptied before the clear water arrives.
What if you can't turn the handle?
or the knob is rusted and impossible to open?
Here's a sequence of prompts to unlock your creative stream
One: describe your physical environment
Two: detail daily routines
Three: list personal likes and dislikes
Four: what pain points do you encounter? how might they be solved?
Usually, we start at the fourth level. If it's difficult to generate concepts, practice free association with the first three levels
Set a timer
Select a prompt
Fill the page with responses
Next round? Choose a different level. Over time, you'll improve in letting ideas flow, releasing thoughts from the shackles of your mind.
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