You may be thinking, why do I need ideas? Or, who even has time to think these days? The answer to both questions is that we all do. It just depends whether or not you put your mind to it!

No matter if you are a Sales Manager or an Engineer, everyone needs ideas. Not every idea needs to be earth shattering or ingenious. Rather, most ideas according to Jack Foster in his book "How to get Ideas" are simple and ordinary. In the first few pages, Foster defines what he considers an idea, "An idea is nothing more nor less than a new combination of old elements."

I agree with him. If you actually stop and think, you do realize that everyone is constantly coming up with different ideas to repair something, make dinner, save money, teach their kids, make things better or easier, etc. I'm sure you've heard the old saying, there is no such thing as "new ideas" only recycled ones. That's ok! Because the best ideas seem to come from a combination of facts and thoughts you already know. The light bulb goes off when you figure out how to combine those old thoughts in a new way.

Here's another interesting thought. Where do you do your best thinking? I'll bet you did not say at work. The top 3 responses to that question are usually: in the bathroom, in the car, or on vacation. Looks like those work-a-holics really are not doing themselves any favors!

Since the title of the book is "How to get Ideas" Foster devotes numerous chapters to just that. Here are some of the highlights:

Have Fun

Foster points out that the best ideas usually come from people that are having FUN! That usually serious people have few ideas. With humor as the basis for creativity, you are more open to the unexpected. When we are having fun, we are more open to new, unanticipated things. Think of a joke. Most put a spin on something that seems illogical. Yet, after you hear the joke, then it actually can sound plausible or obvious. The same is true of ideas. Just think:

• Someone put fire and wood together and got cooking
• Newton put the tides and the fall of an apple together and got gravity

Become Idea Prone

Foster believes that "the ones who come up with ideas know that ideas exist and know that they will find those ideas; the ones who don't come up with ideas don't know that ideas exist and don't know that they will find ideas. Or in other terms, think it will be easy to get ideas and they will probably come.

One way to make it easy to get ideas is to believe that there are many of them. If you believe there are many solutions to something, finding one or two should not be that difficult, right? Let's look at it another way. When you are not sure an answer or idea or solution exists, it is the same as starting from scratch. If you know that an answer, idea, or solution exists, than you are almost 50% closer to the end result.

So what does Foster say is the most critical factor to be "Idea Prone"? Attitude.

Set Your Mind on Goals

Fosters gives numerous examples and a wonder "steel beam" story that really hit home the point that if you set your mind to get ideas, your mind will figure out a way to get them. Or in other words, imagine already having gotten the idea and that will help you get it.

Be More Like a Child

Who wouldn't love to shred some of the daily adult worries? Foster actually points out that this is every adult's problem. We think too much! Adults have too many boundaries, too many rules, preconceptions, assumptions, and restrictions. A child on the other hand, is innocent and free. They do not know what they cannot or should not do. Every situation is looked at with fresh eyes.

Why are fresh eyes important? Because they help you to see new relationships among seemingly unrelated things. Fresh eyes also mean that their will be questions. Lot's of questions. Questions help you to find room for improvement.

So, the reason to be more like a child is to forget what was done before. Break the rules. Be illogical. Be silly. Be free. Then watch out, because the ideas that will flow.

Rethink your Thinking

Have you even limited yourself to solving a problem with only the tools that you were given? I guarantee you have. It's our nature. Foster gives an example of a piece of pipe that is about 18 inches long and slightly larger in diameter than a ping-pong ball. One end of the pipe is welded tight to the floor. Picture dropping the ball into the pipe with the goal of getting it back out. You will be given the following tools: last Sunday's newspaper, a pair of leather gloves, a book of matches, an eight-inch screwdriver, a fourteen inch shoelace, four toothpicks, a pack of gum, and a straight edge razor blade.

Of all the solutions you could come up with and the hundreds that Foster's students did, no one ever suggested pouring water into the pipe. Why? Because you put restrictions on yourself not because you were specifically told not to. Keep this in mind next time you need to solve a problem. Make sure to ask the questions, "What assumptions am I making that I don't have to? What unnecessary limitations am I putting on myself?

Put the Idea into Action

Once you get the idea or if you are finally ready to go search for the idea, don't forget to act on it. Make a commitment because commitment creates action.

This book not only is a quick and easy read, but also highlights many simple concepts we tend to forget in the day to day rush. The book is great for those people that only have a few minutes here or there to read a book. Foster even recommends not to read the chapters in order. Instead, to read the ones that seem the most appropriate to you. Now there's a time saving idea!

Summary

This review provided by Samantha Rufo, a principal in nxtConcepts. nxtConcepts is a next generation company using innovative ideas, proven marketing programs, and cutting edge technology to help build business. nxtConcepts is also the exclusive distributor of "Wonder", marketing enriched technology that is the equivalent of sliced bread for your business. For more information call 888-215-0820 or 740-815-6925 or email

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