Looking for your next big idea?

[letric]

You probably have the germ of a creative idea, just waiting to be discovered.
There is a certain mythology about how ideas are born. The narrative thrill
about the so-called eureka! moment. We all like to believe that ideas come
suddenly, and that the person must be alone, in a deep contemplative state.
Yet if you look at the history of breakthrough inventions you'd be surprise.
Apart from the myth of the lone genius, the other misconception about
inspiration is that it happens instantly.

[letric]

One of the best ways tom get more inspired is to surround yourself with
people who have different skills and a different sphere of interest than
you. Inevitably you will get an exchange of new perspectives and in-
formation. This is why company brainstorming sessions rarely produce
anything of value - they get all the accountants together in a room for
a day and hope to come up with something new. It is a waste of time.

[letric]

Most of us love to plan. Whatever our goal - whether it is a work project or deciding where we'd like
to be in 10 years time. But perhaps we are going about things the wrong way. It appears to make
sense to plan everything before you start, but mostly you cannot. The nature of the problem keeps
shifting. The direct approach is impossible. Rather than making structured step-by-step plan, suggests
doing something vaguely related to your goal. Select a small component that appears revelant to the
tasks, and see where things go from there. Obliquity does not mean we should cease thinking about
objectives. It is about accepting that we do not have the know what the road looks like to make the
journey, and that the obvious, most direct route might not always the most successful.

[letric]

There are very many thoughts which have value for him who thinks them,
but only a few of them possess the power of engaging the interest of a
reader, after they have been written down. The true God, the mighty
God is the God of ideas.