| A lot of great ideas happen when two or more other | | | | brain food. |
| ideas collide to form something completely new. | | | | When you travel, you open yourself up to lots of new |
| Think of this like those old chemistry movies we used | | | | and exciting experiences. New sights, new sounds, |
| to watch in school. You had all of those atoms floating | | | | new smells, new tastes, new textures. And they all |
| around and when two collided -- bam! A chemical | | | | have the ability to form a reaction with something else. |
| reaction. Maybe something new was created. Maybe | | | | Don't have time to hop on a plane to India? Take a |
| something exploded. Or maybe it all fizzled out and | | | | day trip to a town you've never visited. Or, if you can |
| nothing happened. | | | | only spare a few hours, seek out a park you've never |
| Well, a similar reaction is going on inside your brain or | | | | been to or a museum you've been meaning to see or |
| muse. Except instead of atoms floating around they're | | | | even that new cute little shop that just opened. You |
| pieces of information or other ideas. As they drift | | | | can always find somewhere new to visit no matter |
| about, they occasionally bump into each other. When | | | | how long you've lived in the same city. And if you're |
| that happens, you may get a new, third idea. Or a big | | | | truly desperate, try walking around your neighborhood |
| explosion. Or absolutely nothing at all. | | | | on the opposite side of the street in the opposite |
| Now, if you have lots of atoms, or information and | | | | direction you normally walk. (It can help jolt you out of |
| ideas, you're going to get lots of reactions. Some will | | | | rut.) |
| fail. Some will be so-so. And some will be hot -- so hot, | | | | 3. Open yourself up to new things. Of all of these, this |
| so full of energy, they'll have the power to change the | | | | one is probably the scariest. But, it also has the |
| trajectory of a business. Or even a life. | | | | potential to be the most powerful. |
| The problem occurs when you don't have lots of | | | | Take the time to try new things. Meet people outside |
| random information and ideas. Fewer atoms mean | | | | your normal circle of friends. Attend associations, |
| fewer reactions. On top of that, you still have to weed | | | | nonprofits, hobby groups outside of the ones you |
| through the invariable duds. So the odds of landing that | | | | usually go to. Listen to speakers on topics you know |
| one amazing idea drop considerably. | | | | nothing about. Take a class at a community college |
| But not to worry -- there's good news. You can | | | | about something outside your scope of knowledge. Or |
| increase your odds of getting those great ideas. Better | | | | even have dinner at an ethnic restaurant you've never |
| yet, it's fairly easy and painless. Below are three ways | | | | tried. |
| to get started. | | | | Now I'm not just talking about "typical" creative things, |
| 1. Read, read and read some more. I know, I know, I | | | | like taking an art class or learning to belly dance. If |
| can hear the groans already. "But I already have too | | | | you're a creative professional, take a class on doing |
| much to read. How can I fit more reading in?" Never | | | | your own taxes or budgeting your finances or repairing |
| fear, there are ways to do this. (Remember I did say | | | | your car. (Oooh, I bet all you creative folk felt a chill |
| this was painless.) | | | | when I mentioned that.) The point is to really stretch |
| The key is to keep it wide and shallow. What does | | | | yourself past your comfort zone. Make yourself |
| that mean? Well, read lots and lots of different things, | | | | uncomfortable. It's not only a great way to grow, but |
| but keep it general. Read about sheep farming, | | | | it's a fabulous way to keep your muse fat and happy. |
| finances, yoga, cooking, traveling, dog training, etc. But | | | | And that helps keep the ideas flowing. |
| keep it general -- don't read deeply. You can even | | | | Creativity Exercises -- Prepare the banquet |
| skim if that's all you have time for. | | | | Over the next month, I want you do to at least one |
| Start by subscribing to a couple of different magazines | | | | tactic from each of the above three techniques. |
| and e-zines. General interest magazines are really | | | | 1. Read something you know nothing about. Even if |
| good for this -- Walt Disney used to read Reader's | | | | you only spend five minutes skimming an article about |
| Digest. Scatter them around the house -- by the bed, | | | | quilting when the last time you tried to sew a button on |
| the couch, even the bathroom. I'd put a few in your car | | | | a shirt you stabbed yourself with the needle and got |
| as well for those times when you have to wait for an | | | | blood all over the material. |
| appointment. | | | | 2. Travel somewhere you've never been before. Even |
| When you have a few moments, flip through them. | | | | if it's an antique shop and the most antique piece of |
| Skim a few paragraphs. See what catches your eye. | | | | furniture in your house is a bookshelf your parents |
| You can also buy or rent audio books and CDs and | | | | bought from Sears when you were a little kid. |
| listen while you exercise, drive, do the dishes, etc. | | | | 3. Stretch yourself in a different and potentially scary |
| Whatever you do, DON'T read publications related to | | | | way. Even if it's attending one of those Home Depot |
| your industry. That's for another time. This is | | | | gardening workshops despite every plant you've tried |
| brain-feeding time, not keeping up in your profession | | | | to grow didn't and if your thumb was any blacker it |
| time. | | | | would fall off. |
| 2. Travel the world. Traveling has so many fabulous | | | | You know how you work better when you're not |
| benefits for your creative soul I could write an article | | | | hungry, see how well your muse starts churning out |
| just about that, but for now I'll limit my comments to | | | | ideas after a good meal. |