Cedric Crumbley's Blog - Posts Tagged "ideas"

Want to get better ideas? Then think like a detective.

Imagine you’re driving to a crime scene looking for clues. You arrive and spot one clue. Then after digging around you spot another. Before you know it, you have a solid lead to solve the case.

Well, that’s how Sherlock Holmes built a creative process we can all emulate for coming up with big ideas.

I just finished a wonderful book called A Technique for Producing Ideas by James Webb Young. I highly recommend the book.

Some Helpful Insights

Idea - - > Idea - - > Idea

Producing ideas is as definite a process as the production of cars on an assembly line.

A new idea is the result of combining knowledge ranging from specific to general.

Essential Steps to Idea Production and Problem Solving
1. Gather as much information as possible to develop a solution.
2. Work over the information you have gathered.
3. Take time to think.
4. Do something to get your mind off the problem.
5. Give birth to the idea.
6. Return to the problem.
7. Shape the idea to practical use.