Take a gander at Mike Ditkoff's article, "14 Ways to Get Breakthrough Ideas."
The article attempts to contemplate the ideas behind innovation. He suggests that there is more to thinking up big ideas then we might think. He then goes on to list 14 suggestions that all of us should consider if we'd like to encourage our own innovative thinking. Many of these suggestions have to do with altering one's environment and their general outlook on life.
For example, Ditkoff says that you should "Follow Your Fascination." He suggests that we dismiss new fascinations as trivial far too often. We need to wake up and realize that there is a reason we feel fascination. There is probably something meaningful behind this idea that you've become so enthralled by. So, why not pursue it?
I strongly agree with this assumption. I think that if you want to be an innovative person you're going to have to pursue things that fascinate you. That's exactly what I'm trying to do with my own life. Recently, I've been trying to figure out what kind of a video I want to make through my friends production website. I want to use the opportunity to gain experience and beef up my portfolio. I finally realized that I should try and do a short film that focuses on The Blue Eagle music shop on Court Street. Instruments and music are something I'm very interested in, and the aspect of selling and repairing instruments is a very fascinating. It's always easier to get motivated about things that your fascinated by so I think this could be a great focus for a video.
This kind of outside-the-box thinking is what Ditkoff recommends throughout the article. He also points to the environment around all of us as being very influential for innovative thinking. This is another point where I agree with Mr. Ditkoff. You're only as good as the people you surround yourself with. This is a lesson you can learn by looking all around you. When you hang out with diverse groups of people you're able to get a wider perspective on things, and this can open your mind up to a whole new realm of ideas you hadn't thought possible before. Also, being able to bounce your ideas off of other people is always vital in the creative process. I like to be very vocal about what I'm thinking about, and feedback is always able to give me a fresh look at an idea I might be turning over in my head.
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