Create Change in your life

OK so you have your idea and you are confident that it is a good one, so you decide to share it with others, however much to your disappointment they aren’t as enthusiastic as you, in fact they criticize it, so how do you handle that?

Well here are some tips:

Think about who is criticizing your idea.

Is it someone whose opinion you value, if it isn’t then don’t be too concerned as they are probably jealous that they didn’t come up with the idea themselves.
If it is from someone whose opinion might be worthwhile then think about how the criticism can help you. Maybe even ask the person to give you more information.

Is the criticism fair?

Don’t feel too offended or defensive when you if you get criticized. Instead take some time to think it through calmly and fairly and consider what if anything you can learn from it.

How should you react?

The most useful and gracious reaction to criticism is to listen and thank the person for it. That doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to accept it, or follow it up, but it gives the criticizer the benefit of the doubt – the criticism may have been well meant.

If the person who is criticizing you is somebody who is always critical of things and never sees the whole picture then don’t worry too much. Most people never come up with new ideas and so when they see somebody else do it they instantly dismiss it as worthless just to satisfy their own egos.

Have you seen the whole picture?

Something may be given a reason for rejection or given criticism but there is another unspoken agenda that you may not be aware of. You might need to dig a bit deeper to get to the true reason why your idea was rejected.

admin New Ideas (creative thinking) creative thinking, New ideas

One of the great ways you can come up with ideas is to make connections. Many new ideas have been born from this concept.

How do you make connections?

Well there are a variety of ways you can make connections but one way is simply to do it when you are out and about every day.

Take a look around you, what do you see? A tree, a car, a poster, some writing on the wall, a bird, a bright color, the clouds in the sky, people, shop Windows, signs.

Once you have identified different objects or whatever, make a connection between them.

When you do this have a problem in mind you want to solve.

For example

• A name for your new business
• A new idea for a business

You never know just what sort of idea may come of an exercise like this. Give it a go and see how you get on.

admin New Ideas (creative thinking) New ideas, The mind

Are you a person who thinks that all the great products or ideas came from people who were experts in their chosen field of work? Well carry on reading as this post may change your mind.

• The cash register was invented by Jake Ritty, a restaurant bar owner

• The Kodak camera was invented by George Eastman, a bank clerk

• The first ballpoint pen was invented by Laszlo Biro, a Hungarian Journalist.

• The first car indicator signal lights were invented by Hollywood starlet, Florence Lawrence, who also invented the full stop signal light activated by applying the footbrake.

• The first workable fountain pen was invented by L E Waterman, an insurance salesman.

• The electro-magnet was invented by Thomas Davenport, a blacksmith.

• The first frequency hopping anti-jamming submarine communication system was invented by Hedwig Kiesler Markey, an actress.

• The first disposable razor blade was invented by a travelling salesman.

So, what is the next great thing that YOU are going to invent?

admin New Ideas (creative thinking) creative thinking, New ideas

Exercise 1

Think of a problem that you currently have.

Now find a random picture, either a photo or a picture in a magazine.

Look at the picture. Write down random words related to the picture. What do you see, objects, people, colors etc?

Now relate those words to your current problem, see what new ideas you can come up with in relation to the problem

What new ideas have emerged?

Exercise 2

OK so you have a problem and you need to generate some new ideas, ask yourself ‘how’ questions in relation to your problem?

How can I …?
How do I ….?

For example:

How can I come up with an idea for a business?
How do I go about coming up with a new idea for a business?

admin New Ideas (creative thinking) creative thinking, New ideas

Here is a simple exercise you can use when you are looking to come up with a new idea or for a solution to an existing problem.

• Write a headline of the problem or opportunity you currently have.

• Go for a walk and wait for something to attract your attention. Look at it in great detail. Listen to the voice in your ear and see what it begins to suggest in terms of ideas and concepts or new images about the problem. Make some notes.

• Write down your detailed observations. What are some suggested or beginning thoughts?

• Write down the outcome of this and any further ideas you have.

admin New Ideas (creative thinking) creative thinking, New ideas

Are you creative?

… Creative? Me?

Are you a person who simply does not believe they are creative? Well I have some news for you, everybody is creative, don’t believe me. OK have you ever done any of the following?

1. Have you ever recounted to friends something strange or amusing that happened to you or someone you know?

2. Have you ever mixed and matched colors and fabrics to wear?

3. Have you ever chosen flowers for a bouquet?

4. Have you ever thrown ingredients together for a dish or soup?

5. Have you ever changed the design of a garden or room at home?

6. Have you ever contrived an excuse why you can’t go somewhere or do something?

7. Have you ever day dreamed?

8. Have you ever had sexual fantasies?

9. Have you ever doodled?

10. Have you ever gazed at a cloud and saw faces or pictures in the patterns?

11. Have you ever explained something to a child?

12. Have you ever wondered how things might be different if you had taken a different career path?

13. Have you ever imagined what you would do if you won the national lottery?

14. Have you ever questioned the usual way something is done and put forward an alternative?

15. Are you alive?

Still not convinced? … Trust me, you ARE creative, everyone is.

admin New Ideas (creative thinking) creative thinking, New ideas