A Change to Save Guide

How To Unstick Yourself Inspiring ways to plan and move forward using creative thinking techniques

By Trudy Thompson Social Entrepreneur & Business Mentor

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and creative thinking workshops to inspire and support more people in following their ambitions.

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Welcome!

In this guide I share some of the creative thinking techniques I use to inspire and enable myself (and the people I mentor) to achieve things that were once just ideas. If you practise using these methods until it becomes part of your everyday thinking it will take you beyond where most people think and onto a level that will generate ground breaking and life changing ideas.

Creative thinking is far more than just a fun way to occasionally do a brainstorming session. I use creative thinking in my daily activities to decide what I really want to do, to plan how I will do it, to keep me motivated and in difficult times it helps me stay calm and solve problems.

I discovered creative thinking techniques over a decade ago when I was trying to make great changes happen in my life. At the time, I knew I needed to do something different but I just couldn’t see which direction to take. I had good ideas that would fill me with enthusiasm, but those thoughts were muffled by the louder voice of my fears which was questioning those ideas and letting me talk myself out of doing anything about them, leaving me completely stuck!

As an ambitious business woman the only way I knew how to plan and achieve my goals was by writing a standard formal business plan and to then rely on the desire to earn money to create enough incentive for me to make things happen. Yet neither of these methods let me truly explore what I really wanted to do and I knew I had to find another way to do this, which is what led me to find out about creative thinking.

When I first started creative thinking I used it to spark my imagination and inspire myself by doing something arty and brainstorm ideas at the same time, this made me feel happy and light hearted but I still held onto my belief that in order to make important, logical, life changing decisions it should feel more serious and be more difficult to do. So while my early attempts at creative thinking were enjoyable and it did give me a break from the ‘serious’ work and help me find an easier path through a challenging life change, it was a couple of years before I gave myself permission to use it every day for all decisions, no matter how serious they were!

The creative thinking methods I use are effective in a conscious way to make decisions, but are more valuable when I trust them to work in a subconscious way. It takes practise to achieve this level and it is easier to learn if you are taught and guided through the process by someone. I muddled through on my own, until I started to meet and surround myself with other people who used creative thinking techniques and then it really started to work for me.

Once I was sure that this simple yet powerful method worked and when I had the evidence of my own experiences to prove what can be achieved by using it, then I started to share it with other people, at first in free advice sessions, then when I saw it working for them too I started charging for my coaching and workshop sessions and donate the income to the Bricks and Bread Charitable Foundation to fund more free mentoring sessions.

I have shared my experiences and the creative thinking techniques I use with thousands of people and I’ve seen a lot of inspired people turn their ideas into reality too;

Five years later I still offer free advice sessions every Saturday to anyone of any age who wants to start a business or make a big change in their life can book in as many times as they want to get my mentoring.

To help the people I coach, I developed a creative thinking technique called Wow mentoring to create a list of what they loved doing, to discover their goals and make it more enjoyable to achieve them.

Then I created a programme called Change to Save, which teaches the creative thinking methods I used to create social enterprises and sustainable innovation ventures like Bricks and Bread.

The life I live now is deeply fulfilling, I truly live the life that I dreamt of ten years ago and it only became a reality when I fully engaged with creative thinking and was prepared to use it overcome any issues. Using my creative thinking methods, I have achieved incredible things that I am truly proud of (and still amazed) that I was able to do them. I have been able to live completely out of my comfort zone for prolonged periods of time and face huge obstacles that truly frighten me, yet thanks to creative thinking I feel very secure and sure I am doing the right thing, even when I don’t actually have the back-up of experience or knowledge in whatever I am trying to do.

This guide shares some useful techniques to get you started on unsticking yourself. If you come to one of my Change to Save creative thinking workshops or book into any of my mentoring advice sessions, you will get the practical support you need to use creative thinking techniques to train your brain to help you achieve your dreams too.

6 Things That Stop Us Making Change Happen Have Fun With Your Fears! My Wow Mentoring Technique Things That Make You Go Wow! Do This After Writing The First Wow List To Achieve Wow Things Take Tiny Steps More Tips On Taking Tiny Steps What Is Creative Thinking? A – Z Creative Thinking Activity Creativity Has No Excuses 29 Ways To Stay Creative Unconscious Problem Solving Mindfulness Reverse Your Statement To Look At It In A Different Way Ask Good Questions 6 Useful Questions To Help You Cover The Whole Story 44 Ways to Ask a Question Random Word Method Forced Analogy Game Brainstorming Ideas Tips On Brainstorming From A Really Useful Website Look At Your Creative Thinking Ideas From A Fresh Perspective Final Thoughts, Remember These Things Please Donate £1 To Help Us Provide More Free Mentoring

Contents

'Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway' Earl Nightingale

6 Things That Stop Us Making Change Happen

You may have great ideas and want to make them happen but then you find that for valid reasons there are things preventing you from taking the first steps.

In my initial mentoring sessions with clients they will say that things are holding them back and they want my help to resolve these issues. With a little guidance and

some creative thinking techniques most people are able overcome all of these things and unstick themselves without any of the issues changing.

In reality there is often one thing that prevents people from achieving their ambitions (I call them wow things) and it is simply the fear of failure. Fear was a life saving

reaction when mankind hunted or avoided being hunted for survival, but modern humans rarely need to use fear to survive, instead we seem to use it in a self-

destructive way, as fuel for our anxieties e.g. “I feel afraid that this thing may go wrong, so I need to find a good reason why I can’t do it.”

There are many reasons why people feel held back and stuck, but these are the most common ones and this is how I hear them explained;

1. Money

”I don’t have enough money to do what I want to do”

”I can’t leave my job in case I don’t have money to pay my bills”

2. Other People

”I don’t want to let down my children/other half/parents”

”If I fail people will think less of me”

”My … thinks I shouldn’t do this”

”My … says I never stick at anything”

”Other people are more successful than me”

3. Time

”I don’t have enough time”

”I will do it tomorrow”

4. Knowledge

”I don’t know how to do this or know anyone who can help me”

”I need to get a qualification first”

”I will need to know how to do it before I can start”

”Without qualifications/experience people will not take me seriously”

5. Skills

”I am not very good at … so I can’t start doing it without help”

”I can’t do this”

”I am not a creative thinker/practical/risk taker”

6. Health

”I’ve been ill/I am ill”

”I am too tired/old/unfit”

Have Fun With Your Fears!

Celebrate your mistakes! Instead of being afraid of making mistakes, try seeing failure as a useful way to learn different ways to do things. If you plan to fail rather than just plan to succeed, you are very likely to discover a new way of doing things that adapts your idea and reduces the likelihood of it going wrong!

This article is worth reading - http://www.creativitypost.com/create/there_is_no_such_thing_as_failure

Before making a plan to create a business or a major change in your life, ask yourself the following questions;

Name a big mistake you have made? (notice how you feel about this)

Did you listen to the right inner voice (fear or intuition) when you made that mistake?

What changed as a result of making this mistake?

What did you learn & was it a valuable lesson?

Are you now afraid of making that mistake again?

Have you made a similar mistake like that again?

Is it really a mistake? (are you ok with it but other people do not approve)

Ask yourself what might happen if the current thing you are trying to do goes wrong?

How would you deal with this?

What would you need to do to turn your project into a mistake? (planning to fail)

What would happen if you let go of the fear of it going wrong?

What would you do if you knew it could not fail? (notice how you feel about this)

Plan to fail

• List all the threats to your plans

• List all the ways you can avoid the threats

• List all the ways you can adapt/overcome them

“Courage is resistance to fear,

mastery of fear, not absence of fear.”

Mark Twain

My Wow Mentoring Technique

For more information see www.wowmentoring.com

I developed this creative thinking technique and use it in all my mentoring sessions. It helps people focus on what makes them feel good inside, it is easy to use and has

helped a lot of people of all ages to kick start a big change in their life, by noticing what things make them go WOW! This method was adapted from something I noticed

I was unconsciously doing to inspire myself whenever I needed reminding to be more self-reliant, confident and clear in my head what I really wanted to achieve.

How to create your first Wow list

Write a list of all the things that make you go Wow! (See the next page for ideas of wow things for your list)

Put this list in an envelope, write in your diary when you are going to open it - it can be in a week, a month or a year from now.

Before you seal this list in an envelope put these wow things on a second list to add to regularly (ideally every day)

The rules

Most important! Don’t show anyone your Wow list, if you think people will read it you may write what they want to see!

Don’t question, dismiss, edit or limit what you write, if it’s in your head, write it down even if it seems unrealistic or silly.

Don’t wait until the list is perfect, write your list in one session, when you can’t think of more things put it in an envelope.

The first list is never added to after it is sealed in the envelope - it’s a snapshot of where you are now.

Why do I need to write this first Wow list and open it at a later date?

This is where mentoring support comes in as most people will happily write a list and then after a while stop making steps towards achieving the wow things on the list.

Most people need support to allow those ‘wow’ things into their life, if you find yourself needing help to do this book a mentoring session to achieve something on your

list. Via Bricks and Bread I offer free sessions to young people (18-30’s) every evening and every Saturday I offer two free sessions for anyone who needs my help.

“When nothing is

sure, everything

is possible.”

Margaret Drabble

Things That Make You Go Wow!

Your Wow list will contain things you feel passionate about or that simply make you feel good, such as things that wake up your senses, from good

memories to future ambitions – i.e. what in your wildest dreams you can see yourself doing in business, in your home life, or just for fun!

For example;

• Everything that makes you have butterflies in your tummy when you think about it.

• Anything that would make you feel proud

• Things you have done that made you feel proud of yourself.

• Things that do make you feel happy and content with your life, or what would make you feel like that in the future.

• Anything that ignites your senses – sensory things such as favourite sounds, smells, things you like looking at, or touching.

• Doing things that you get an adrenalin buzz from doing.

• Things you have done that were easy but made a big difference to your life

• Things that took courage and made a big difference to your life.

• Good memories from your childhood.

• Places you have visited and would like to go again

• Where you would like to visit in the future.

• Simple things that make you feel good and that cost little or no money.

• Things you can see yourself achieving in the future

- like work, home life or personal goals

- Try to write down these things without restricting yourself from wanting them or deserving them.

• Silly things that just make you smile

Do This After Writing The First Wow List

Create a second list which starts with the items on your first list, add to it as often as you can (try to do it daily) when you remember something you forgot

to add to the first list, or when you notice you are feeling the Wow feeling then write in your list what it was that made you feel so good.

IMPORTANT - Notice and seek out more examples of things that make you go wow!

When you feel fed up or doubt yourself then give yourself permission to do three things on your second list;

1. Do an easy thing on the list – e.g. go for a walk if that is on your list.

2. Reflect upon and remember the feeling of one of the pride/achievement things you have done and use that feeling to have the courage to tackle

something you are finding difficult to do. Find something easy you can do now that will be a tiny step towards a big thing on your wow list

What if I get stuck or this wow technique doesn’t work for me?

Then you need a mentoring session to get some support, motivation or inspiration.

You can have a free mentoring session any Saturday with me, or if you are aged 18-30 you can book a chat with me any evening between 6-7pm

- more info about free mentoring sessions and the booking portal are on the Bricks and Bread website.

If you want to have regular mentoring sessions or spend a longer time talking than my free advice sessions offer, (or to get help in the next 24 hours) you

will need to book and pay for a mentoring session on the Change to Save website.

To Achieve the Wow Things Take Tiny Steps

Most people in my mentoring sessions are trying to overcome a big issue or to make a big change in their life. I help them to just take tiny steps and break

down each task into even smaller steps, for example writing an email can involve over ten steps including open the email programme, select the contact,

write the subject, write the main content, check the spelling etc.

You will find that by breaking down each task it is easier to see which part of the task you find most difficult, then use creative thinking techniques in this

guide to help you find a solution. Here are some tips to help you take tiny steps and get things done;

• Writing Lists - Whilst I love making lists when I am being

productive I can also find lists really daunting, especially if faced

with a big list of ‘things to do’ and no motivation to do them! So

instead I write a wow version of my ‘to do list’ to decide what each

thing will achieve and then I write what is putting me off doing

each of the things on the list. Or I write the whole list and just pick

one thing from the list that I want to do and write it on a new page

with ‘This is all I am going to achieve today’ at the top. It’s

amazing how many times I will get that one thing done and then

be more motivated to add another to the list.

• Tidy Up - I always feel better and more motivated to get things

done after I have had a tidy up (even if it is just my office desk)

• Do a manual task that doesn’t take much thinking! - Cut the

grass, sort lego into colours, pair up socks, do some ironing – it will

give your mind a break and help you come up with creative ideas.

• Go for a walk - Doesn’t matter if you live in a town or the country,

just go for a walk for no reason, take time to stop and stare at

things you would normally ignore or look past. Observe

everything in a much more considered way. I always see

something that gives me a great idea!

• Set an Alarm Clock - Give yourself a time limit to get tasks done.

Set an alarm. I find 15 minutes will be enough time to get most

tasks started, if not finished (remember you are taking tiny steps

towards big tasks, not trying to get the whole thing done). Then

when the alarm goes off, do something else for 5 minutes.

• Do one thing at a time - stop multi tasking, try to truly concentrate

and enjoy doing one thing (ignore texts, social media & emails)!

• Do the most important thing you need to do in the morning - give

yourself a time limit to achieve it of just 15-30 mins.

• Take pictures of tasks, ideas, images you like, paperwork you need to

get done!

More Tips On Taking Tiny Steps From One Of My Favourite Creative Websites

http://www.creativesomething.net

• • Carry a notepad with you. Get into the habit of carrying around a

notebook and a pen, or use your smart phone or other device to

record creative ideas when they hit you. Even if the idea seems

pointless at the time, having it written down may help you in the

future when you are struggling to come up with creative ideas.

• Give yourself a break. To fuel your creativity and effectiveness you

do need to take time to relax and find creativity in everyday parts

of your life. If you feel overwhelmed or stressed, your creative

juices will be running slowly; but if you feel relaxed and

comfortable, your mind will be more open to new, creative ideas.

• Jolt your thinking. Another great way to fuel your creativity is to

do what Chuck Green refers to as “jolt” thinking. It’s a technique

that allows you to draw creative ideas from everything else around

you by applying restrictions to your thinking. Here’s how you do it:

when you need an idea simply close your eyes, turn around or

change your perspective, open your eyes and then the first thing

you see when you open your eyes is going to be your topic; try to

come up with a creative idea related that incorporates the item -

or the purpose of the item. Jolted thinking is based on the simple

fact that freedom often hinders creativity.

• Exercise your brain. Your brain, just like your muscles, needs to be

worked out from time to time; exercising your brain allows your

creativity levels to be increased - like muscles growing bigger. The

best way to exercise your brain is to read or have strenuous

discussions. Letting your brain get lazy by watching a lot of TV or

sitting in front of the computer all day makes it weak, and your

creativity levels will take a bit hit. Working out your brain from

time to time will help you to come up with better, more original

and creative ideas when you need them most.

• Ask a lot of questions. Asking questions - even ones completely

unrelated to what you are doing - has been proven to fuel

creativity. You may not realize it, but when you ask yourself

questions you are creating a mindmap and sorting through

thousands of ideas with each question you ask. Asking a lot of

questions means a lot of mindmapping, and a lot of mindmapping

equals a lot of new creative ideas to work with. So don’t ever be

afraid to ask questions, in-fact: ask a lot of questions every chance

you get.

• Schedule it in. Some days you may not get any time to do work on

your craft, but there’s certainly a hole somewhere in your week

where you can squeeze in 30 or 10 or even 5 minutes. Find that

time and make it a priority to do the work.

• Make your own inspiration. If you think the reason you aren’t

working on your craft is because you don’t feel inspired, you’re

about to be disappointed. Inspiration often comes from feeling

energised, not necessarily from feeling creatively inspired. So make

your own inspiration by diving into the work that needs to be done

and stop spending time seeking out inspiration.

• Pay attention to what others are doing. A great way to fuel your

creativity is by finding inspiration in other’s work. That doesn’t

mean you sit, evaluate, and duplicate other people’s work; it

simply means that you need to pay attention to what others are

doing with their work, and watch the changes they make. Often

you will be able to find patterns in other’s creativity that will really

fuel your own. A great example is the change in web design: web

pages use to be full of animated images and tons of text and sound

effects, now simpler, cleaner web pages are the trendy thing.

Don’t copy other’s creativity, but do pay attention to what other’s

are doing and try to find ways to improve on their work.

• Don’t settle for one idea. Another great way to fuel your creativity

is to not settle for just one idea when it strikes you. Instead, mull

over multiple ideas, write them down in your notepad, ask

questions about each idea, and expand each idea as much as you

possibly can. By having a lot of creative ideas, your solution is

bound to be a great one.

• Be random. Creativity is best fuelled when it is controlled by

random inhibitions - which is why there is a big misconception

about drugs fuelling creativity. The way you can place random

inhibitions on your creativity - other than by jolting your thinking,

as mentioned on point 8 - is by using a random idea generator.

Either flipping through a dictionary to find random words, or using

this neat online idea generator, and then trying to come up with as

many ideas linked to the random topic. By limiting your creativity

slightly to something completely random, you are really fuelling it.

• Be confident. One of the biggest struggles people have when

trying to fuel their creativity - and one issue I have had big

problems with as a creative professional - is being confident in

your creative abilities. Confidence is necessary to creating

remarkable ideas. If you don’t think you can do it, you won’t.

Having confidence in you creative abilities will allow you to really

think outside the box, and accept ideas that may originally seem

too risky (remember, if you aren’t willing to take creative risks,

you’re not really being creative).

• Quit worrying about risks. While having confidence is necessary to

creating really great ideas, using that confidence to jump right into

new ideas is just as important. Creating unbelievably remarkable

ideas can only be achieved by being confident in your abilities,

taking risks, and jumping right in. Don’t worry about the risks too

much, any creative idea is almost always worth any repercussions.

What is Creative Thinking?

Creative thinking is possible for anyone to do, it is not just for creative people. For me it is when I find a solution to something by looking at it from

another perspective. This can be achieved consciously by brainstorming ideas or unconsciously by using lateral thinking.

If you ask most people when or where they have their best ideas it is unlikely to be at work while trying to have good ideas! (unless of course your work

positively encourages creative thinking), instead the most creative thinking ideas will most likely to occur during these situations;

In the Shower/bath

Just before going to sleep/in a dream/just waking up

On a dog walk or walking a familiar route

(such as on the way to work, to the local shop)

Driving a familiar route or on a long motorway journey

Or on a train/bus/tube journey

In a busy café/pub

While bored, especially when your thoughts drift off

in a meeting/conference/training course

When exercising, mowing, ironing, washing up, hovering etc

After you have tidied up the house/office/car

After or during a repetitive task such as

putting things into size, colour or height order

When there is nothing to write/capture the idea!

When you are most likely to forget the idea!

When doing a practical task or creative activity

On holiday – or away from the thing that needs solving

In all the situations above the most common thing you will notice is your mind will be relaxed and mostly not thinking direct ly about the thing you need to

solve. It is likely that you have been previously been trying to think hard about solving something. During the activities above your mind will usually switch

off from the issue. Then when your mind goes quieter a solution may suddenly pop into your head, or a random thought/visual clue will trigger an idea

that makes a connection and solves the problem for you.

Trudy Thompson with a group of young entrepreneurs doing the A-Z activity in a

Change to Save creative thinking workshop

A – Z Creative Thinking Activity

I find this creative thinking method so useful that I use it very often and in many different ways. I found out about this technique in a creative thinking workshop hosted

by my friend Martin Charter a great creative thinker who runs the Centre for Sustainable Design, he uses this activity to brainstorm ideas around a subject.

What is it useful for?

It will force you to think beyond the half a dozen words you associate with that subject.

It stops you thinking in sentences.

Going from A-Z gives you some structure to keep your creative thinking on track.

Here are some of my favourite ways to use it;

When I need some words to describe what I want to say on a press release or website. After doing this

several times for a business idea I end up with a very useful dictionary of words for that enterprise.

In a creative thinking workshop with a group of people it is a fun activity that gives everyone the

opportunity to contribute, as all they need to do is come up with a single word.

This activity will often ignite a creative thought process that links up the words to create a new idea.

At night when I can’t sleep because I keep churning over thoughts, I use the A-Z technique to order my

thoughts into a list of words (I don’t write anything down) and I usually fall asleep by the time I get to K!

This is how;

Write on a white board, a big sheet of paper (I use a roll of wallpaper), or just a note book.

Start at the letter A and work through to the letter Z (I told you it was easy and obvious!)

The Rules

Move as fast as you can onto the next letter.

Add random words if they pop into your head during the activity even if it’s nothing to do with the subject you are thinking about.

You can go back and add a word when you think of it, but do not jump ahead of the letter you are on.

Creativity Takes No Excuses

This image came from a great website for creative inspiration

http://www.creativesomething.net

29 Ways to Stay Creative

Inspiring infographic by @islamabudaoud

Click here for a version you can print off

Unconscious Problem Solving

This description of unconscious problem solving comes from a great site for creative thinking techniques

http://members.optusnet.com.au/charles57/Creative/Techniques/

This method relies on the unconscious mind to be continually processing the various sensory inputs stored in short-term and long-term

memory. Using your unconscious to solve problems is a process of listening and a readiness to record ideas as they percolate into your

conscious mind.

Some of the greatest thinkers were great relaxers. Einstein was a daydreamer and spent much of his relaxation time sailing on a lake. Ralph Waldo Emerson enjoyed fishing.

It's all very well to work hard on a problem under the stressful pressure of deadlines, but the opposite condition of relaxation and not working on a problem is very valuable.

A practical application of this technique is to saturate yourself in the problem and then take a break. Write down the problem on a writing pad and leave it by your bedside. The next morning, take that pad and start writing down your ideas. Aim to write three full pages of anything that comes to mind and explore your dreams.

We all dream, and we all dream a lot more than we think we do. As you get into bed, say out loud: "Tonight I am going to dream about ....". When you wake up, think some more about it.

The important thing is not to try too hard. Go with the flow. Incubate your thoughts.

Mindfulness

Use this technique to help you empty your mind, it is especially useful before a brainstorming session.

Set an alarm for a few minutes

Try 2 mins at first, build up to 5, 10, then 15 minutes or beyond this if you can

Sitting upright in a chair with your feet planted flat on the floor

If you close your eyes it is easier not to get distracted by visual stimulation

Take slow deep breaths, inhale and exhale gently

Listen to your breath and focus on the sound

Try to clear your mind of any other thoughts

If your mind wonders off or thinks about something you are trying to solve, notice the thought and let it go, bring you’re your

focus to listen to your breathing

After the alarm goes off just sit for a few seconds and notice how relaxed and clear your mind has become

Now try to do a creative thinking activity, or try solving a problem you have been avoiding

Reverse Your Statement To Look At It In A Different Way

This type of technique is best described by looking at ‘The Work by Bryon Katie’ - http://www.thework.com/thework.php

These are the four questions that Byron Katie suggests you ask yourself

It is especially useful when you have a big problem to solve and find yourself repeating a statement that is holding you back.

1. Is it true? (Yes or no. If no, move to 3.)

2. Can you absolutely know that it's true? (Yes or no.)

3. How do you react, what happens, when you believe that thought?

Does that thought bring peace or stress into your life?

What images do you see, past and future, and what physical sensations arise as you witness those images?

What emotions arise when you believe that thought? (Refer to the Emotions List, available on thework.com.)

Do any obsessions or addictions begin to appear when you believe that thought?

How do you treat the person in this situation when you believe the thought? How do you treat other people and

yourself?

4. Who would you be without the thought?

Ask Good Questions

The most important thing is to listen to what people say in response, if you get a negative answer try asking more people this

question to ensure you haven’t asked someone with ‘hidden’ issues or the same fears as you.

When you ask yourself questions you are creating a mind map and sorting through thousands of ideas with each question you ask.

Asking questions is a great way to fuel creativity and it has the potential to find someone with a solution.

Questions help you network and connect to the people you need to speak to.

Questions help you to do research, qualify sales leads and best of all to have interesting conversations, make new connections and

build trust in people.

To make things simple and clear

To create better relationships

To inspire, reframe ideas to see things in unexpected ways

They encourage breakthrough thinking

To challenge beliefs

6 Useful Questions To Help You Cover The Whole Story

When you need to write text for a website, business plan, press release or trying to solve a problem

try answering - who, what, where, why, how and when questions. Here are a few examples;

Who? - who is involved, who do I need to speak to?

What? - what do we do, what do I need to do next?

Where? - where are we based, where do I need to go?

Why? - why do we do this, why do I need this answer?

How? - how do we do this, how will this change things?

When? - when are we doing this, when is this happening?

44 Ways To Ask A Question When asking yourself or anyone else one of these questions try preceding the question with the thing you are trying

to achieve (one of your wow things or a tiny step you are trying to take) and then ask a question.

1. Who is good at doing this?

2. Has anyone seen …

3. Do you know how to…

4. What do you think about …

5. Can you help me …

6. Why did this work for you

7. What would (famous person you admire) do?

8. I’m looking for …

9. Is there anyone …

10. Does anyone know how to …

11. Can you put me in touch with …

12. Will you tell me how …

13. Are you going …

14. Would you …

15. How would you …

16. Did anyone see …

17. What are you doing …

18. What is the best …

19. How will you …

20. Can anyone suggest …

21. Have you …

22. I need to find …

23. Is there anyone who can …

24. Who is going …

25. Why do we …

26. Where are the …

27. When is the …

28. Who should I ask

29. Anyone notice how …

30. Who is the most interesting …

31. How do I …

32. Why are there …

33. What do you want …

34. Have you ever …

35. Which would you choose …

36. Please help me spread the word about …

37. When do you …

38. Where can I go to find …

39. What tips can you share?

40. When did you?

41. Do you need …

42. Who is able to help me?

43. Has this been done before?

44. Who inspires me?

Random Word Method

This is from a fab creative thinking techniques website http://members.optusnet.com.au/charles57/Creative/Techniques/random.htm

The random-word method is a powerful lateral-thinking technique that is very easy to use. It is by far the simplest of all creative techniques and is widely used by people who need to create new ideas (for example, for new products).

Chance events allow us to enter the existing patterns of our thinking at a different point. The associations of a word applied to the new out of context situation generates new connections in our mind, often producing an instant Eureka effect, insight or intuition.

It is said that Newton got the idea of gravity when he was hit on the head with an apple while sitting under an apple tree. It is not necessary to sit under trees and wait for an apple to fall - we can get up and shake the tree. We can produce our own chance events.

Random inputs can be words or images. Some techniques for getting random words (and the words should be nouns) are:

• Have a bag full of thousands of words written on small pieces of paper, cardboard, poker chips, etc. Close your eyes, put in your hand and pull out a word.

• Open the dictionary (or newspaper) at a random page and choose a word.

• Use a computer program to give you a random word.

• Make up your own list of 60 words. Look at your watch and take note of the seconds. Use this number to get the word.

It is important to use the first word you find.

Once you have chosen the word, list its attributions or associations with the word. Then apply each of the items on your list and see how it applies to the problem at hand.

How does it work? Because the brain is a self-organising system, and very good at making conections. Almost any random word will stimulate ideas on the subject. Follow the associations and functions of the stimulus word, as well as using aspects of the word as a metaphor. You may want to mind-map the random word.

Forced Analogy Game

Rather like the random word method this activity jolts your thinking to see things differently.

I use a pack of picture cards that teach children about words and how to identify things, the cards I use have objects and creatures

such as binoculars, waterfalls, spiders, puffins etc (you can buy them in most toy shops) or you can cut out pictures from magazines.

You can play this on your own but it works best with a group of people.

Shuffle the pack and pick a random card

First describe out loud the item pictured on the card, name all the attributes

of the thing

Then compare the item to your enterprise or the project you are trying to

achieve

It is amazing how often people can find a similarity between a random object

and their business!

This activity is likely to trigger great ideas, even if they don’t happen at the time I find it often happens to me days later!

Brainstorming Ideas

Brainstorming is a process of creating ideas that works best with a group of people, but it is easily done by yourself too.

How to have a brainstorming session

Have a well-defined and clearly stated problem

Have someone assigned to write down all the ideas as they occur - I find it helpful to use a white board or a large sheet of paper (a roll of wallpaper or lining paper works well)

Have someone in charge to help enforce the following guidelines:

1. Suspend judgment

2. Every idea is accepted and recorded

3. Encourage people to build on the ideas of others

4. Encourage way-out and odd ideas

When you have explored all your ideas take a look at the words on the pages ‘Look At Your Creative Thinking Ideas From A Fresh Perspective’

Tips On Brainstorming From A Really Useful Website http://www.brainstorming.co.uk

Postpone and withhold your judgment of ideas

Do not pass judgment on ideas until the completion of the brainstorming session. Do not suggest that an idea won't work or that it has negative side-effects. All ideas are

potentially good so don't judge them until afterwards. At this stage, avoid discussing the ideas at all, as this will inevitably involve either criticising or complimenting

them. Ideas should be put forward both as solutions and also as a basis to spark off solutions. Even seemingly foolish ideas can spark off better ones. Therefore do not

judge the ideas until after the brainstorming process. Note down all ideas. There is no such thing as a bad idea. The evaluation of ideas takes up valuable brain power

which should be devoted to the creation of ideas. Maximise your brainstorming session by only spending time generating new ideas.

Encourage wild and exaggerated ideas

It's much easier to tame a wild idea than it is to think of an immediately valid one in the first place. The 'wilder' the idea the better. Shout out bizarre and unworkable

ideas to see what they spark off. No idea is too ridiculous. State any outlandish ideas. Exaggerate ideas to the extreme. Use creative thinking techniques and tools to

start your thinking from a fresh direction. Use specialist software such as Brainstorming Toolbox (http://www.brainstorming.co.uk/toolbox/brainstormingtoolbox.html)

to stimulate new ideas more easily.

Quantity counts at this stage, not quality

Go for quantity of ideas at this point; narrow down the list later. All activities should be geared towards extracting as many ideas as possible in a given period. The more

creative ideas a person or a group has to choose from, the better. If the number of ideas at the end of the session is very large, there is a greater chance of finding a

really good idea. Keep each idea short, do not describe it in detail - just capture its essence. Brief clarifications can be requested. Think fast, reflect later.

Build on the ideas put forward by others

Build and expand on the ideas of others. Try and add extra thoughts to each idea. Use other people's ideas as inspiration for your own. Creative people are also good

listeners. Combine several of the suggested ideas to explore new possibilities. It's just as valuable to be able to adapt and improve other people's ideas as it is to

generate the initial idea that sets off new trains of thought.

Every person and every idea has equal worth

Every person has a valid viewpoint and a unique perspective on the situation and solution. We want to know yours. In a brainstorming session you can always put

forward ideas purely to spark off other people and not just as a final solution. Please participate, even if you need to write your ideas on a piece of paper and hand it out.

Encourage participation from everyone. Each idea presented belongs to the group, not to the person who said it. It is the group's responsibility and an indication of its

ability to brainstorm if all participants feel able to contribute freely and confidently.

Look At Your Creative Thinking Ideas From A Fresh Perspective

When you have done a brainstorming session use these words on the following pages to prompt your thinking to see your ideas by another perspective.

I forget where I found these words, I think they were originally intended to be used to help artists look at their creative ideas, but they are great for helping

people look at their business ideas in a different way too. In my creative thinking workshops I have these tips written down on cards and after a

brainstorming session I hand them out to help people positively appraise their ideas.

SUBTRACT

Remove certain parts or elements

Make it smaller

What can be reduced or disposed of?

What rules can you break?

How to simplify?

How to abstract, stylise or abbreviate?

ADD

Extend or expand

Develop your reference subject

Magnify, make it bigger

What can be added to your idea, image, object,

material?

TRANSFER

Move subject into a new situation

Adapt, transpose, relocate, dislocate

Adapt subject to a different frame of reference

Move subject out of its normal environment

Move to a different historical, social, geographical setting

How idea can be converted, translated, transfigured?

EMPATHISE

Sympathise with subject

Put yourself in its shoes

What if subject has human qualities?

Relate to subject emotionally, subjectively

ANIMATE

Mobilise the visual and psychological tensions

Control the pictorial movements and forces

Apply factors of repetition and progression

What human qualities subject has?

SUPERIMPOSE

Overlap, place over, cover, overlay

Superimpose dissimilar images or ideas

Overlay elements to produce new images, ideas,

meanings

Superimpose elements from different perspectives,

disciplines, time

Combine sensory perceptions such as sound and colour

Superimpose several views to show different moments in

time

CHANGE SCALE

Make subject bigger or smaller

Change time scale - seconds, minutes, hours, days,

weeks, months, years

Change proportion, relative size, ratios, dimensions

SUBSTITUTE

Exchange, switch or replace

What other idea, image, or material can you substitute?

What alternate or supplementary plan can be employed?

FRAGMENT

Separate, divide, split, dissect

Take your subject or idea apart

Chop up, disassemble it

What devices can divide it into smaller increments?

How to make it appear discontinuous?

ISOLATE

Separate, set apart, crop, detach

Take only part of your subject

"Crop" your ideas with a "mental" viewfinder

What element can you detach or focus on?

Look At Your Creative Thinking Ideas From A Fresh Perspective

DISTORT

Twist subject out of its true shape, proportion or

meaning

Make imagined or actual distortions

Misshape it

Make it longer, wider, fatter, narrower

DISGUISE

Camouflage, conceal, deceive, encrypt

Hide, mask, "implant" subject into another frame of

reference

Conceal by mimicry, like chameleons and moths

CONTRADICT

Contradict the subject's original function

Contradict visually and intellectually, yet remain

structurally integrated

Contradict laws of nature such as gravity, time etc

Contradict normal procedures, social conventions, rituals

Contradict optical and perceptual harmony (eg. illusions)

Deny, reverse

PREVARICATE

Fictionalise, "bend" the truth, falsify, fantasise

Interpret information differently to mislead or confuse

SYMBOLISE

Design an icon for your idea

Turn your subject into a symbol

MYTHOLOGISE

Build a myth around your subject

Transform your subject into an iconic object

PARODY

Ridicule, mimic, mock or caricature

Make fun of your subject

Transform it into a joke, limerick or pun

Make zany, ludicrous or comic references

Make a humorous cartoon drawing of the problem

ANALOGISE

Draw associations

Seek similarities between things that are different

What can I compare my subject to?

Make logical or illogical associations

HYBRIDISE

Cross-fertilise - wed subject with an improbable mate

What would you get if you crossed a _____ with a

______?

Cross-fertilise colour, form and structure

Cross-fertilise organic and inorganic elements

Cross-fertilise ideas and perceptions

REPEAT

Repeat a shape, colour, form, image, or idea

Reiterate, echo, restate or duplicate

METAMORPHOSE

Transform or convert

Depict your subject in a state of change

Change colour, configuration

Make structural progressions

Make aging (cocoon-to-butterfly) transformation

Make "Jekyll and Hyde" transmutations

FANTASISE

Fantasise your subject, trigger surreal, preposterous,

outlandish, bizarre thoughts

Topple mental and sensory expectations

How far out can you extend your imagination?

COMBINE

Bring things together

Connect, arrange, link, unify, mix, merge, rearrange

Combine ideas, materials and techniques

What else can you connect to your subject?

Connect different sensory modes, frames of reference

Final Thoughts, Remember These Things

Become aware when you blame any of these things They may be real issues, but they are not stopping you, you are stopping yourself and letting your fears destroy your ambitions.

Money

Other people

Lack of skills

Lack of knowledge

Heath Issues

Lack of Time

Unstick yourself with creative thinking instead!

Do things that make you go wow

(create a wow list, or look at one you’ve made)

Take tiny steps

Ask good questions of yourself & others

Be assured that you are only 1 or 2 people

away from who you need to speak to

Go for a walk and connect with nature

Book a mentoring session with me

or my creative thinking workshops

I offer free mentoring & workshops on the

Bricks and Bread website

Please donate £1

To Bricks and Bread Charitable Foundation, so we can provide more free mentoring sessions

and creative thinking workshops to inspire and support people in following their ambitions.

To donate send a text to 70070 from any mobile saying - BBHB33 £1

Or go to the website www.bricksandbread.org.uk