| The purpose of this article, is to explain to you how I | | | | seen some people who are so dis-organized, I don't |
| get my ideas, and maybe it will help you with your own | | | | know how they survive! One of my sisters is like that. |
| ideas, etc.Attitude: Attitude is everything! "I never win | | | | Her and her husband are always late for |
| anything!" "I can never get ideas!" People who think this | | | | everything...they were even late for their own wedding. |
| way, probably never will win anything and never get | | | | They fight all the time, probably because of the |
| much in the way of ideas, because they have already | | | | dis-organization in their lives!Stop and smell the roses: |
| convinced themselves that they can't. The glass is half | | | | Today (2006), we live in a hurry-up society! If we all |
| empty...or the glass is half full...take your choice. I've | | | | had 48 hours in a day, there would still not be enough |
| always been a positive thinker, and that's probably one | | | | time. Since 1986, I stop and smell the roses, by jogging |
| reason why I get my share of ideas. (knock on | | | | 15 miles a week, and get out by myself so I can think. |
| wood)The Kiss Principle: Keep It Simple, Stupid: | | | | No cell phone; no lap top; no head phones; no black |
| Whether it's carving a piece of wood, or coaching a | | | | berries; strawberries or blue berries, either. I don't want |
| Little League baseball team, I've always subscribed to | | | | anything to interfere with my quiet time...this is my time. |
| the KISS Principle, and I think this one of the most | | | | And, I think my quiet time produces for me in the way |
| important things in idea development. I've always been | | | | of more ideas. Plus, it keeps my in shape, too. I think |
| amazed at how complex and technical some people | | | | everyone should have a little quiet time for |
| can make things. A couple of years ago, I bought a | | | | themselves.Be observant; Have you ever noticed that |
| book though a book club, and if I could have looked at | | | | some people are in their own little world, and never |
| the book, I would have never bought it. The book was | | | | notice much of anything around them? Because I've |
| on ideas and creativity, and it was written by a "Ph.D" | | | | been in the humor business most of my life, I've been |
| at Stanford University. The book was too technical | | | | asked if there is a difference between ordinary people |
| and complex for me, containing forty and fifty dollar | | | | and comedians. And, the answer is YES...there is a |
| words I couldn't understand. I tossed it!Those of us, | | | | difference. Ever wonder where a comedian get his or |
| who have followed sports over the years, know that | | | | her material? Observation of the things around him or |
| when a team is losing, it could be because the game | | | | her. Comedians are always looking for new material to |
| plan of the team has gotten too technical...and the | | | | keep their act fresh, and this requires paying attention |
| game plan has to be simplified. And, over the years, | | | | to detail.Small spiral notebook: My meat and potatoes. I |
| I've heard coaches say when they're losing..."We have | | | | carry a small notebook with me at all times, so I can |
| to get back to the basics!" If this is done, in my view, | | | | write down ideas, before they get away. My memory |
| the team will probably start winning again. There's no | | | | is terrible, and sometimes I don't remember where I live. |
| difference in the idea business...keep things simple and | | | | I just need one word for an idea; or maybe a phrase I |
| you'll get more ideas than you can shake a stick at. | | | | overheard in a conversation at work, etc.Clipboard: |
| And, that's why I tossed the book mentioned earlier...it | | | | One of my best companions for years. At home, I |
| was too complicated.Stress: Most of us have heard | | | | always keep a clip-board handy, so if an idea comes |
| the term "writer's block," right? For the over-all look at | | | | up in my mind I can catch it and elaborate on it. I keep |
| ideas, I've always preferred to use the term, "creative | | | | one by my bedside, as I get many of my ideas while |
| block," because all people are creative in their own | | | | sleeping, and I wake up and jot the ideas down before |
| way. And, everybody gets blocked...some more than | | | | I forget. If I go out and work or wash the car, I will |
| others. I don't think anyone can work at their best | | | | place a clipboard on the front seat just in case. Ideas |
| under stressful conditions. So, to do my best to | | | | don't make appointments...they just come in when they |
| remove the stress in my life as much as possible. In | | | | want.Glance board: Probably the most important thing I |
| my view, stress is the greatest block to creativity! If I'm | | | | do to get ideas, is something I call a "glance board." I |
| not coming up with ideas, I have to start thinking about | | | | made it out of Masonite and it's about 6 feet by 3 feet |
| the stress in my life. Or, if there's a good chance I will | | | | and it is similar to a bulletin board. I covered it with |
| be blocked, until I can reduce or eliminate the | | | | decorative contact paper and trimmed it with nice |
| stress.Open mind: My father had a closed mind during | | | | molding. I attached the glanced board to the wall in my |
| his life. Difficult to deal with, as it was like talking to a | | | | work place, and I keep most of my ideas on the board. |
| wall. I think one of the best qualities a person can have, | | | | I work on about 8-10 ideas at a time, and this is a good |
| is to have an open mind to have change for the better. | | | | way for me to keep my ideas in the forefront of my |
| "My way...or the highway." We've all heard that term, | | | | mind.When I wake up in the morning, I go and glance at |
| and people who practice this type of behavior, have | | | | the board; once or twice during the day (if I'm home); |
| closed minds and a person can not get any place with | | | | before I go out; and before I go to bed I glance at the |
| this type of person.Being a good listener: There are | | | | board. This way, my mind is always working on the |
| probably not many people who know why Bill Gates | | | | ideas as they are kept in the forefront of mind. It only |
| of Microsoft is so successful and wealthy, except Bill | | | | takes about a minute. I never bury my ideas in a folder |
| Gates himself. But, all of us can take a guess. Bill | | | | or in a filing cabinet. Even if it's just a single word, it |
| Gates has said many times in public, that he likes to | | | | goes up on the glance board.The idea business is not |
| surround himself with smart and creative people. And, | | | | easy! Ideas don't grow on trees. You'll get good ideas |
| since ideas cannot be copyrighted, he has LISTENED | | | | if you want to work for them. Everything in my world |
| to all the fabulous ideas of all those smart and creative | | | | revolves around simplicity, and all the things I outlined in |
| people he has hired...and, the rest is history! Bill Gates | | | | this piece are as simple as they can get. Why make |
| and Paul Allen could have not put the Microsoft giant | | | | things more complex than they already are? You get |
| together by themselves, at such a young age, without | | | | yourself all stressed out...and that leads to getting |
| the help of others. And, that help came in the form of | | | | blocked...and you find yourself coming up empty when |
| great ideas from his staff.Get organized: | | | | it comes to getting ideas. I hope these tips have helped |
| Dis-organization in a person's life can cause stress! I've | | | | you...Good luck! |