Seth Godin gave us some advice last week on where you find good ideas. I think he’s right. You don’t find them from structured company brainstorming sessions where the leader writes ideas on a flipchart. It’s too contrived, boxed-in and constricting. Yet how many of us have been to sessions just like that where breakthroughs just don’t happen.
The trouble is, the best ideas come from inspiration. Inspired moments when a great idea hits you out-of-the-blue. But moments like this are so ethereal, they are almost spiritual. And certainly never repeatable on demand. And it really is the best ideas you want and need. I think the reason they elude us is they don’t come from the concious part of our brains, so we can’t just think of the solution in a logical, structured fashion.
So, is it possible to be inspired on demand and get the best ideas to solve your business problems when you want? I think it’s almost possible. You need to practice getting into a state where you can tap inspiration easily. It’s a state of mind and emotions. You need both for it to work. Think of the times you received an inspired thought. What were you doing? How were you feeling. I will bet you were doing something enjoyable, thinking positively and you were feeling good. This is the state of body, mind and emotions you need to attain to be inspired.
In order to do this you probably need to take your self away from a business setting. Organise some activity you really enjoy, with people you like where you can have fun, be playful, laugh and joke or just relax. This is why mediatation can work too. But only if you are comfortable with meditating. You can have a fun time, call it work and put it on expenses; that should make you smile (unless it’s your own money). And when you and your brainstorming buddies are enjoying the moment both mentally and emotionally, watch the inspired ideas come.
Business brainstorming can be fun and more rewarding.
