Ideas

"How do you come up with the ideas for you newsletter?"

I have been asked this question several times. People are interested in knowing how I come up with ideas for my newsletter every week. It isn't always easy. But at the same time, the process is simple.

I study creativity.

When I tell people that creativity is something that can be learned, their initial response is usually, "No, creativity is something you are born with. I have never been creative, but other people are. It's got to be something you are just gifted."

Fortunately creativity is not just a gift. It can be learned.

Over the past couple of years I have been studying ways to be more creative. I have read books and used creative models which have helped me create new ideas. However, the process is slow. Really slow.

Below is a list of steps I have taken to become more creative in the things I do. If you are wishing to increase your creativity ability, start with these.

1) Believe creativity is a learned trait. You can start learning anytime. You might not become the most creative person in the world, but you can learn how to become more creative than you are right now. However, you must first believe it is possible to improve.

2) Observe more. Instead of just looking at new ideas saying "that's a cool idea," think about where the idea came from. What process did the person that created the idea have to go through? Thinking about other peoples' ideas will jog your brain's creative thoughts. Writing your observations in a journal will help you preserve them for reflection at a later date.

3) Start collecting ideas. I am constantly thinking about new ideas. They can be spurred by anything that happens to me during the day. Ideas come from conversations with others, occurrences during the day, speeches from others, and lessons learned from other people. Unfortunately, they can come at any time, such as while I'm playing golf, driving in traffic, working, at church or a music concert. Because of this, you must prepare yourself to write down ideas immediately. Creative ideas come and go quickly. I have lost many good article ideas because I wasn't in the habit of writing them down when they came to mind. I figured the ideas were so good I would never forget. Ten minutes and a cell phone call later, I had completely forgotten what I was thinking about. Write down everything you think of and then copy it into a journal or computer file for use later.

4) Read books on creativity. There are many great books on creativity. Most are difficult to read and take a lot of time to understand. Pick a book and start reading a few pages at a time and try to implement the concepts before reading more. I use the concepts that I like and work for me and toss the other ones out.

5) Learn to use creative exercises. Many creative models and exercises exist to help you become more creative. They help train your creative thoughts. These exercises can be difficult at first, and you might think you are headed towards a dead end. However, the more you use them the easier it becomes to create new ideas with their help. Find a few creative exercises you like and start to use them on a regular basis.

Try the ideas above. The more you develop your mind, the easier creativity becomes. If you have any questions, email me and I'll be glad to help.

John

Quick 10: Ways to Improve Yourself!

1. Learn from people that have traveled your road already.
2. Ask questions, listen, and pay attention.
3. Get rid of worry.
4. Eat quality food in reasonable quantities.
5. Get plenty of rest.
6. Exercise for at least 30 minutes a day.
7. Read to improve yourself at least 30 minutes a day.
8. Learn to say "no."
9. Avoid people that tell you "you can't."
10. Invest money and decrease unnecessary expenses.

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