3 Simple Hacks For Having Seriously Good Ideas (& More Of Them)
Not clickbait.
So excuse the title. Because I promise you, these are practical techniques to consider and use. As most of us – for better and worse – are in the business of ideas.
And coming up with new ideas daily (particularly good ones) is the currency of modern business. And no AI, machine or algorithm can ever replace the real thing.
Entrepreneurs and marketers have long understood the power of this approach. But in the current age of content marketing and the ever-growing need to stay nimble and resourceful – no matter what industry you're in – practicing and applying high-level creative thinking is a valuable skill. And a downright asset.
But you don't wake up one day and become innovative. It takes consistency. And tenacity.
Ok, enough small talk. Keen to kick off generating more good ideas pronto?
How To Have More Good Ideas:
1. Forget trying to be original. It's impossible.
Whatever your idea, there will always be some form of inherent comparison or bias or analysis paralysis that creeps in. And that's the way it is. Because completely "new" things – "original" things – don't exist.
Oasis copied The Beatles. The Beatles copied Buddy Holly. Buddy Holly copied the coloured R&B radio stations he'd listen to late at night... you get the gist.
So if you're chasing that newest, shiniest nugget and striving to claim complete originality? Well, that's really a waste of your energy and a disservice to your creativity and goals.
Sure, be influenced. Have taste. Have opinions. Seek out what you like and don't like. Even borrow or steal elements from what appeals to you – but seriously – take the pressure off in pushing to declare that what you're creating has never been done before.
It has. And that's ok.
It just hasn't been done your way. With your slant. With your edge. And with – hopefully – your mark of brilliance.
2. Don't simply create. Connect.
The late copywriting genius Eugene Schwartz said it best when he said – "A better word for creativity is connectivity."
Essentially, "new" ideas are born when you combine multiple concepts together – when you make mashups out of things.
And sure, it's not rocket science – but it does require some level of experimentation. And some skill in seeing how things can cross-pollinate or come to life in a completely new setting. And the knack for making those connections fit together, making it seem like it was always that way.
That's why staying curious and drawing inspiration from outside your immediate industry is so beneficial.
Which brings us along to the next point...
3. Feed your brain. With substance.
Influence is everywhere. And the more you expose yourself to interesting stuff – people, experiences, culture, knowledge – the more connections your brain will begin to make.
And the more connections your brain makes, consciously or otherwise, the more ideas you'll have.
More input = better output
So get curious. Read more books, blogs and articles. Go to galleries, see a theatre show – and not only what you usually watch on TV – change it up.
This can also be as simple as asking more questions. Or better questions. Try to delve deeper when talking to people or even strike up conversations with strangers.
Some creative types even force themselves to try new weekly hobbies to encourage new neural pathways. So get weird, think whacky. It's all in the name of having more ideas, and sometimes, all that extra-curricular stuff is even tax-deductible if it leads to *researching* an idea. Win-win.
So eat up. It's all food for thought. Legitimately.
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FAQS: Having More Good Ideas
1. How can you differentiate an idea when everything has been done before? Look, the trick isn't about inventing something brand new but about mixing things up in a way no one else has thought of. It's like cooking: the same ingredients can make countless dishes. Your unique perspective, experiences, and knowledge are what will set your idea apart. Think remix, not reinvention. Find two things you love, smash 'em together, and see what unique concoction comes out.
2. Can you give examples of successful ideas that were the result of connecting existing concepts? Take the smartphone, for instance. It wasn't the first phone or the first computer, but it combined the two in a way that revolutionised how we live. Or look at Spotify. Music and streaming existed separately, but Spotify combined them, transforming how we listen to music. These aren't new elements—they're just smartly recombined.
3. What specific methods or strategies do you recommend for effectively feeding one's brain with substance?Get curious and diversify what you feed your brain. Read books outside your comfort zone. Listen to podcasts on topics you know nothing about. Travel, if you can, or dive into documentaries about different cultures. The goal is to expose yourself to as many different ideas, viewpoints, and experiences as possible. This diverse input is like adding more colors to your palette; it gives you more to work with when you're cooking up your next big idea.
