Need to develop a creative thinking habit? Nan Russell suspects the seeds for it already exist.
One idea a day is all it takes to develop a creative thinking habit with big paybacks. You have hundreds of ideas passing through your head on any given day. The key is to recognize them and note them down.
She describes her approach:
I keep online logs of ideas and add to them throughout the day, when something pops to mind or I come across something I find interesting. It may just be an idea snippet, but I still note it down. These lists are about all sorts of things: potential column topics, enhancements for my website, marketing ideas for my book, personal development areas, or even fun weekend get-aways.
Often I have no idea what I'm going to do with the idea, but I find if I note it down I can come back to the list and cherry pick the best ideas, or evolve a snippet of an idea into something bigger and better.
Curt Rosengren
Passion Catalyst SM
I grew up using the edges of my notebooks in school for this kind of practice. I finally gave up margins for a dedicated notebook. The notebook now shares the job with Outlook or secured post on LiveJournal or Plogs
My to-do lists are as much my thinking on some topic as they are actual to-do lists, plus they're organized and ready for a due date if I ever decide to actually put the thought into motion.
Great article!
Posted by: Rebecca Thomas | November 18, 2004 at 09:20 AM
I just recently decided to use www.blogger.com to draft quick ideas and "release them into the wild." I had so many little notes and sketches in so many places. Now, I can jot a quick idea on my sidekick and get it out there. No matter how simple or bizarre the idea, it's important for you to write it down somewhere in hopes it will snowball into something bigger (or something that makes sense!).
Posted by: Brett | November 18, 2004 at 06:42 PM
I use a PAA (personal analog assistant) just a stack of 3x5 cards held together with a binder clip, for recording ideas on the road.
I have been thinking about a voice recorder of some kind for times when I am driving the car and writing anything down while on the Interstate is not a good idea.
Posted by: Stephan F | November 19, 2004 at 08:43 AM
Ha! PAA. I love it! ;-)
Posted by: Curt Rosengren | November 19, 2004 at 08:58 AM