Make Yourself Creative: Two Easy Idea-Generating Methods

Here are a couple of exercises to force yourself to come up with some brand new ideas. These methods can be used to give your business an edge, to overcome creative blocks, or just for fun - to prove to yourself that you can have some great ideas.

Method 1: "It's X meets Y"

Many movie critics use the "It's X meets Y" formula to help them quickly and accurately describe what a movie is all about. For example, the film Open Water was described by one critic as "It's Jaws meets Blair Witch". Anyone can now guess that the film involves sharks (or other water-dwelling monsters), and is a horror film filmed in a realistic way.

You can also use this formula to create brand new products, which can be easily understood by the potential market.

Choose 2 products from your industry (or choose 2 at random), with different features and audiences. Combine the two and consider the result. This is your brand new product. Do this a few times to create 5 different new products and then evaluate them to see which to go with. For example "It's Pop Tarts meets AllBran" could give you the idea to make a toastable breakfast health snack, or mini-Poptarts that you pour into a bowl and eat as a cereal.

Funnily enough, this method works really well with new movie-script ideas.

Method 2: "Redesign This"

This method allows a product to be developed very quickly. Consider an existing everyday item and improve it. Write down the item's main essential features - no more than the essentials. Then write down all the extra features you would personally like to see in the perfect version of this item. Then sketch out some ideas which have all the features you have though of.

If we consider a Kettle, what essentials features does it need? The ability to heat liquid, to be safe, easy to pour, easy to fill. If we think of it like this we could design a kettle that can have variable settings for different liquids - one to boil water, one to heat baby's milk, one to make hot chocolate (though it would have to be easy to clean!). Or we could make a more traditional style kettle, but with an extra wide spout to allow it to be filled without having to remove the lid.

These new ideas appear only when we strip an item down to its absolute essentials and start again from scratch.

Is your business as targeted as it could be, or are you providing unwanted features? Could you bring out some new redesigned products to complement existing ones?

It is very satisfying to improve an old classic.

Profile: You can be a Saint - right now - at the author's web business. Become a Saint at http://www.yousaint.com for a modest donation of £35.

---

Ebooks, Scripts, Websites, and more...

Adsense websites

Internet Business: 10 Important Creative Ways To Get New Product Ideas

Creativity is one of the most important keys to success... Read More

Get your Creative Juices Flowing

Copyright 2005 Cherry Communications/Be Heard SolutionsThe creative arts enhance our... Read More

3 Simple Steps To Solving Problems

You can move beyond your stuck states by contemplating all... Read More

Drawing On Creativity: How To Trick Your Brain

Can you draw?Your answer to that question reveals a surprising... Read More

Being Creative is Essential for Online Success

Do you have a strategy that ensures your online business... Read More

The Power Of Your Intuition

We all have enormous reserves of mental capacity that we... Read More

I Want To Create...

What would you like to create? A peaceful life, a... Read More

Finding A Little Adventure

I have had more than my share of exciting times... Read More

What Open Stage is Teaching Me About Life

After many years of performing as a vocalist, I switched... Read More

The Optimal Mind State

Let's begin by defining the optimal mind state and the... Read More

Learn A Life Skill TODAY!

Did you ever watch your grandma knitting?Wasn't it boring? Didn't... Read More

Mindfulness and Teaching: Lessons From Dynamic English

Back in 1983, I was hired to teach English in... Read More

Mindfulness and Independence: Observing Fireworks

"It's a free country," they say. "Celebrate our independence," I... Read More

Creativity Management ? Working From Real Life

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More

How to be More Creative and Enhance Your Creativity

efore thinking about how to be more creative, let me... Read More

Its Time to Get Out of the Box

"It is never too late to be what you might... Read More

Top Ten Brainstorming Techniques for Business Success

We experience creativity every time a fresh idea pops into... Read More

Shyness - Another View

We are all born shy, aren't we? When we see... Read More

Overcoming Artists Block (Part 1)

How many times does an artist stare down at that... Read More

Forget Thinking Outside The Box....GET Outside The Box

I happened to overhear a conversation the other day between... Read More

Creativity Management ? Synergy of Craft and Art

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More

Story and Screenplay Structure

Structure is beneficial to creative output in a number of... Read More

True Power Series Part I. Visualization: Image Production and Verbal Thought

(5 minutes a day) There is no limit to what... Read More

Mindfulness and Creativity: The Wow of Wonder

You are so creative.Don't deny it. Whether or not you... Read More

Creativity

Creativity is the gift to mankind. This is not the... Read More