💭How to Generate an Idea? (NOT BRAINSTORMING)
A tale about the faucet drying up and a warning about Brainstorming
It is 23:10 on Monday, I’m writing this email 10 hours before it reaches you.
When it was Thursday, I sat down with myself thinking of what to write about in this newsletter… and nothing came out.
Thought after thought, I found myself filtering or putting ideas into other projects. “This idea works better as a blog article" I said. “This other idea should be a podcast episode” I added.
For 3 days straight, I’ve pondered deeply about this newsletter’s subject. It was only when I sat down to write (approx. 15 mins ago at 22:40), I thought to myself:
I will write about finding an idea.
Using the internet and the human experience, We will share various tips or aspects to consider when coming up with an idea.
Brainstorm Until The Storm Clears
Let’s get the most obvious answer out of the way first.
Brainstorming is one of the most ideal methods when it comes to coming up with an idea.
In a quiet environment, allow yourself to suggest any idea without judgment and write it down. After 20-30 minutes, you should have an arsenal of ideas ready at your disposal.
Except.. it is not.
Brainstorming is flawed because it assumes your brain can seamlessly be creative on the spot for prolonged periods. Similarly, the ideas generated from brainstorming are often dry, generic, or ideal solutions for current problems.
The brain rarely goes below the iceberg because Brainstorming tests our creative muscles on the spot.
While it can work for some (Often within groups), it is a miserable act for solo idea generation.
Touch Grass
Instead, you should touch grass.
No really. Turn off Netflix, close Youtube, log out of League of Legends, and go touch some grass.
The best ideas do not plop on a desk, they descend as enlightenment when going outside.
Sitting in a park or going on a stroll can help the mind wander. In turn, it latches much more creative ideas.
Just make sure that you’re aware of your thoughts and aren’t ignoring them.
Talk to Friends
My Moroccan sports betting article was inspired after I vented my frustrations with the sports betting system in Morocco. If it wasn’t for his presence, the investigation would have never come out.
There is power in finding ideas by bouncing them off someone. Not only can they give you feedback, but also helps you think of a better to express the idea to make it clearer.
At the same time, listening to a friend can help you get inspired by the contents of their speech. You either get a free new idea or find a breakthrough of thought on hold.
The “Not Like Others” Rule (Devil’s Advocate)
Finally, my favorite way of generating ideas is to play devil’s advocate. Or in other words, how would a “not like others” person react to this idea.
It is unavoidable that most of the ideas we think of will lack depth and clarity. They are generic, basic, and simple and it can be frustrating to think that our brains can only come up with these creative ideas.
Which is why I recommend seeing it from another perspective.
If I am stuck on a thought or want to delve deeper into a subject, I will first put myself in the other side’s shoes to understand where they are coming from. This helps me identify both sides and breathe complexity and conflict into an idea.
If that doesn’t yield results, then I try to imagine myself as someone who fully believes in the idea and wants to convince others to believe it as well.
If ALL FAILS, then I apply the “not like others” rule and try to against the grain in terms of public consensus and see where that leads.
If you’ve tried all and still can’t expand on an idea then maybe it is not worth chasing.
What I’ve been up to
I feel like more than a week has passed by but according to the sun and earth rotation, it has not.
It has been a hectic job for me (for many reasons) so my productivity has been down the dumps.
Nonetheless, here’s what I’ve been up to:
Reading MHA and JJK Manga
Finalizing some client articles
Researching the next article
What have you been up to?