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ARE YOUR PERSONAL &
BUSINESS IDEAS AS STRONG AS BRICKS AND MORTAR?
Written By: Darren Roberts
Copyright © 1999, All Rights Reserved
Ideas! Without ideas, well not a lot seems to happen. How often do you
hear yourself saying "That gives me an idea" or "Hey, I just thought of
something"? It happens more often than we care to admit.
This can be the birthplace of many concepts and thoughts that if correctly
watered will germinate therefore spreading and gaining momentum to
potentially become mountain movers. If you don't put an adequate amount of
fertiliser and water into your ideas then they will just shrivel up and
die.
During the forthcoming four weeks "AAvenues 2 Your Success" will be
capitalising on the true value of ideas. Ideas are spawned by leaders; by
those looking to take control of their situation. It is a natural process
for anyone who operates their own business, be it online or conventionally
offline to be an ideas person.
The four parts to this theme will comprise:
Today:
Understanding The Problem. Why We Need Ideas For Success!
Before an idea can be sprung it is essential to understand what the
problem is. Ideas will eventually become ways and techniques to develop
solutions to the problem. But without understanding why something needs to
be solved then it matters not how good you think they are as they'll never
get off the
ground.
Part II - Friday 12th February 1999
Understanding Your Mind Capacity & Building Creativity
Part III - Friday 19th February 1999
Generating Ideas & Developing Solutions
Part IV - Friday 26th February 1999
Measuring The Success of Your Ideas! Why Do/Don't They Work???
PART ONE: UNDERSTANDING THE PROBLEM! WHY WE NEED IDEAS 4 SUCCESS
Can you imagine how difficult it is to reach your goal when you don't even
know we you are??? It's not at all possible! If you want to drive from
point "A" to point "B" but you're not even at point "A" then you need to
find out exactly where you are before you go anywhere.
I've seen it time and time again in large bureaucracies (both public and
private) where the managers were dead set certain they had solved their
problem. They were jumping up and down, doing cartwheels, the Mexican Wave
and all that jazz only to discover that their problem had now become a
dilemma. They hadn't even bothered to identify their current position
beforehand.
For the small businessperson this is vital!!! It's essential that this is
done accurately and adequately from the start. Many of us don't have
oversized budgets that can afford to be wasted away by negligence and
misappropriation.
Just to harp on this point further let's take this a little deeper. In
your endeavour to ascertain what your problem in fact is you'll want to do
a handful of things to bring out the most accurate outcome. You'll find
there are perhaps many things that are contributing to your problem but
are really
only playing a minor role. You need to route out the core problem. One
excellent method to do this is by the simple and old "Process of
Elimination".
Write up a list of areas where the core of the problem may be hiding and
indicate as to whether there is, in fact a problem there. If there are
more than one of you in your organisation then get a few colleagues to do
this as well. It's almost like brainstorming however it is done
individually and then the results are compared. As you analyse each
possibility you can eliminate those that don't seem as relevant as the
next until you arrive at the core of the problem.
Problems are basically the things that aren't functioning according to
your plan. Why they aren't functioning shows flaws in your system and
requires a change.
The word problem itself is somewhat of a misnomer. It sounds so negative,
drastic, alarming and disconcerting when really it is nothing more than a
simple wrong turn that has recently been taken. All we need do is back up
a few steps and create new and alternative paths utilising our new found
knowledge of our current problem as a guide. Before you do take the next
turn be very sure to study the path from which you just came to enable you
to take the best path possible.
Problems, if not identified and controlled can become a formidable enemy.
If grasped and understood early enough then the power you can harness from
identifying each problem will work for you rather than against you.
Next week I would like to talk in more detail about our mind abilities and
its capacity to optimise creativity. Then we'll start developing ideas the
week after.
Any comments to make: mailto:reader-review@topliving.com
Part II - Friday 12th February 1999
Understanding Your Mind Capacity & Building Creativity.
Think Successfully
Darren
(E) Feature Article!!! Part II of IV
ARE YOUR PERSONAL & BUSINESS IDEAS
AS STRONG AS BRICKS AND MORTAR?
Written By: Darren Roberts
Part I is available for you to read online at this URL:
http://topliving.com/previous_success_series/feb_1.htm
Ideas! Without ideas, well not a lot seems to happen. How often do you
hear yourself saying "That gives me an idea" or "Hey, I just thought of
something"? It happens more often than we care to admit.
This can be the birthplace of many concepts and thoughts that if correctly
watered will germinate therefore spreading and gaining momentum to
potentially become mountain movers. If you don't put an adequate amount of
fertiliser and water into your ideas then they will just shrivel up and
die.
During the forthcoming three weeks "AAvenues 2 Your Success" we'll be
capitalising on the true value of ideas. Ideas are spawned by leaders; by
those looking to take control of their situation. It is a natural process
for anyone who operates their own business, be it online or conventionally
offline to be an ideas person.
The four parts to this theme will comprise:
Last Week:
Understanding The Problem. Why We Need Ideas For Success!
http://topliving.com/previous_success_series/feb_1.htm
Part II - Today
Understanding Your Mind Capacity & Building Creativity:
The problem has been determined and understood. Before you go
jumping about trying to solve the problem it will assist you
incredibly if you spend some time understanding your mind
capacity and your creative ability.
Part III - Friday 19th February 1999
Generating Ideas & Developing Solutions
Part IV - Friday 26th February 1999
Measuring The Success of Your Ideas! Why Do/Don't They Work???
Part II
UNDERSTANDING YOUR MIND CAPACITY & BUILDING CREATIVITY.
Our mind capacity is something limited only by the amount of
care and attention it receives (like anything - if you don't
look after it - it won't work). Working 9 to 5 for 20 years for
the same employer doing pretty much well the same thing not
allowing "newness" into your life is a very good way to put a
cap on your mind capacity.
What exactly do you mean by "mind capacity" Darren?
In a nutshell I'm talking about your;
1) receptability to new concepts/ideas and ability to work with
them making them viable and;
2) ability to avoid the "logic trap" and look to unconventional
solutions through a lateral thought process
You will probably find if you mix up your routine, play sport,
or participate in a wide variety of clubs or organisations on a
regular basis, travel a lot, meet many new faces etc. then you
are really keeping your mind active and alert.
Your very nature is outgoing more than not. Therefore you soak
more in from your environment as would someone who fits the
above "20 years with the same employer" example. As you put
more into your life you will get more back. It's a natural
by-product to be more open as a person taking in new concepts
and ideas as you do.
The lethargic "vertical thinking" or otherwise known as the
"logic trap" is an aspect - although helpful at times uses far
less of your capacity than lateral thought ever will. Thinking
unconventionally will always separate you from the crowd. This
makes some nervous and presents itself as a challenge for
others.
As you uncover your potential you will begin to become more
creative. My dictionary defines creative as: "requiring
intelligence and imagination, not merely mechanical skill".
Your ideas are only as good as you make them so it is important
to optimise your creative ability. A perfect example of this
is the very well known brainstorming. When participating in a
brainstorming session you will probably notice that no judgement
is made during the half hour/hour session at all. The sole
point of it is to let your creative mind wander putting your
thoughts on paper as they come into your mind. We all know our
mind races off at a speed our little writing fingers find
almost impossible to keep up with so make sure the main points
as a bare minimum are transcribed from your mind to paper!!!
Later, when the session is finished can you then start to
look at their potential by fine tooth combing the details. All
ideas need a starting point. Be creative and start from the
most advantageous position that you feasibly can.
I found with my last job it was very helpful having a simple
notebook inside my shirt pocket with a pen beside it. From time
to time something would pop into mind almost sub-consciously. I
was in a position to capture this idea right there and then and
develop it further later. On one occasion I was sitting in the
pub waiting for a friend to turn up. I came across an idea
during the short time I was there alone. I have now built my
business around this one concept alone that I came up with at
this time. It is, in part, responsible for my success to date.
When you really go to work on yourself you will train your
sub-conscious to continue the path and occasionally come up with
ideas that can be very beneficial to your cause. If you don't
capture these ideas as they happen then they may never pop back
into your mind. Every idea is priceless as it has the potential
to solve your problem. With such a powerful tool working for
you around the clock it makes perfect sense to capture every
idea as it happens.
If you're in bed and you think of something for heaven's sake
don't turn the light out and say "I'll write it down in the
morning". You may lose it! If you don't use it you lose it!
It's so simple. Train yourself to be creative and reap the
rewards...
Part III - Friday 19th February 1999 (Next Week)
Generating Ideas & Developing Solutions
Part IV - Friday 26th February 1999
Measuring The Success of Your Ideas! Why Do/Don't They Work???
Think Successfully. Your partner in success.
Darren
Any comments: mailto:darren@topliving.com
(E) Feature Article!!! Part III & IV of IV
ARE YOUR PERSONAL & BUSINESS IDEAS
AS STRONG AS BRICKS AND MORTAR?
(Generating Ideas & Developing Solutions)
Written By: Darren Roberts
Part I is available for you to read online at this URL:
http://topliving.com/previous_success_series/feb_1.htm
Part II is available for you to read online at this URL:
http://topliving.com/previous_success_series/feb_2.htm
Ideas! Without ideas, well not a lot seems to happen. How often
do you hear yourself saying "That gives me an idea" or "Hey, I
just thought of something"? It happens more often than we care
to admit.
This can be the birthplace of many concepts and thoughts that
if correctly watered will germinate therefore spreading and
gaining momentum to potentially become mountain movers. If you
don't put an adequate amount of fertiliser and water into your
ideas then they will just shrivel up and die.
This week in "AAvenues 2 Your Success" we will be concluding on
the last two editions by capitalising on the true value of
ideas. Ideas are spawned by leaders; by those looking to take
control of their situation. It is a natural process for anyone
who operates their own business, be it online or conventionally
offline to be an ideas person.
The four parts to this theme comprise:
Week One:
Understanding The Problem. Why We Need Ideas For Success!
http://topliving.com/previous_success_series/feb_1.htm
Part II - Last Week:
Understanding Your Mind Capacity & Building Creativity:
http://topliving.com/previous_success_series/feb_2.htm
Part III - Today
Generating Ideas & Developing Solutions
Part IV - Today (2 in 1 Edition)
Measuring The Success of Your Ideas! Why Do/Don't They Work???
Part III
GENERATING IDEAS & DEVELOPING SOLUTIONS
Over the last two weeks we have been discussing how important
it is to fully understand the problem so that you don't go about
trying to solve something different. We also tapped into the
power of our mind and its ability to be creative. As a natural
consequence today we're finally going to get on with getting
some ideas down on paper in the endeavour to solve those things
requiring to be solved.
For those of you who have been subscribing to "AAvenues" for a
while may be familiar with a popular article I wrote entitled
"Top Ten Ways To Generate Brilliant Ideas". It was printed by
many publishers and it received many great reviews. I'm asking
you now to call this article as it's vitally important that you
read and understand its principles to this weeks chapter on
generating ideas and developing solutions. You may call it by
autoresponder here now at:
mailto:greatideas@topliving.com
The main point I want to concentrate on today is "Look At
Parallel Problems & Solutions" (from the afore-mentioned
article).
Relate your current problem to one that you had in the past and
check for parallels between the two. The way(s) earlier
problems were solved can assist you greatly in generating ideas
to solve subsequent situations that present themselves.
Commonly known as experience. We are products today based
on our decisions from yesterday. Through our own experiences
we have ended up here together today. If you can relate
your problem of today with that of earlier times and establish
a nexus between them then you have given yourself a wicked
headstart that you never would have had otherwise.
When I want to come up with an idea to potentially solve my
situation I'll sit down and work backwards for a start. I find
having a solution in my head with a vivid vision brings life
and animation to the task. All that needs to be done now is
to bridge the gaps that must clearly be filled between the
two points.
Developing a solution is not so hard when the task at hand is
broken up into several sub-tasks. Headings such as who/what/
when/where/why are probably ample to get you into overdrive
here. For example:
Who will be effected?
What is the most desired outcome?
When is our deadline?
Where can it be done cost efficiently?
Why does it need to be done? (This is in part I of IV)
Think laterally, think vertically, think logically. The
best ideas will always come from groups working
for the common goal. Give your group as much
opportunity to be creative by listening twice as much
as speaking. Do this as informally as possible and
get past situations into the open.
You can then draw on the past successes and take them a step
further with the challenge of today.
Why try to re-invent the wheel when it's already been done?
You've already invented your own wheel now for heaven's sake
make a couple of small adjustments and make your coach go
faster instead of building a brand new one.
Part IV
Measuring The Success of Your Ideas! Why Do/Don't They Work???
Now that you've spent time developing solutions we need to find
out how successful they are. i.e. do they work? Measuring the
success of our ideas is vital. If something isn't working it
needs to be altered or everything's for nought and goes down
the tube.
As a follow-up to "Top Ten Ways To Generate Brilliant Ideas" I
wrote "Ten Great Ways To Measure Valuable Ideas" which amazed
me with its positive response. Both articles were written as a
practical guide to exercising creativity and objectivity to
critique ones results. You may call the second of the two
articles here at: mailto:sendideas@topliving.com
Next week we are going to get back to the earlier style of
one article per week. As opposed to continuations lasting
an entire month.
Think Successfully. Your partner in success.
Darren
_______________________________________________
Written By: Darren Roberts
Publisher - "AAvenues 2 Your Success"
Marketing Consultant - Topliving Consultancy
URL: http://topliving.com
Email: mailto:darren@topliving.com
Subscribe to Darren's popular "Success and Self-Motivation"
Weekly publication, "AAvenues 2 Your Success". It's packed
with this sort of material each week:
Email:
mailto:join-aavenues-2-your-success@lists.dundee.net
Online: http://topliving.com |