Christine B.

What sets apart a person who comes up with great ideas, seemingly effortlessly, from a person who breaks his head and just cannot seem to be struck by any ideas? Who knows how many factors are involved, creativity for one, but there is a factor you can control.

Instead of sitting down and trying to ‘force’ good ideas to flow out of you, rather concentrate on grabbing onto great business ideas when they do strike. Ever thought of something only to forget it before you could write it down? It’s perhaps a more common problem for writers than in general business, as our ideas usually do not just revolve around concepts but are rather more specific formulations. Nevertheless, a successful business person always carries around a small notebook and pen.

While you carry around notebook and pencil, just let go and stop pressuring yourself for ‘good ideas’. They hardly ever come at moments you are looking for them the most. Instead, go out there, read, talk to people,… even set up a brainstorming session. Brainstorming with many people is one situation where ‘looking’ for great business ideas can be productive.

I started carrying around pen and paper, it allows me to jot down project ideas while on the road or while I am doing something else. The good news for my clients is that they basically do not pay me for the time I am being creatively detached from their project, which is necessary for some of those good ideas to pop up in my head. They get a better product, without spending more on it.

In your business, you could be creating new products and concepts without spending more time at the office. Just train yourself to be in a state of mind that is receptive to ideas that could relate to your business. For example; if you have been trying to come up with a new toy, sitting in your office researching existing toys will not do much for you. Instead visit a playground, or observe children play with their toys. Likely you’ll see how something could be made better, or you might come up with something completely new.