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1 " Creativity is a natural resource. It comes as standard equipment with being human. But our creativity becomes dull and nonresponsive without constant care and feeding. "
― Sam Harrison
2 " Watch what you say to yourself and to others when brainstorming ideas. Wrong words at the wrong time bring ideas to a screeching halt. "
3 " Idea generation is about quantity, not quality. Multiplication, not subtraction. Editing comes later. The goal of brainstorming is to walk out with buckets of ideas, not one precious idea perched on a pillow. "
4 " When brainstorming encourage wild and crazy ideas. Nonsense often leads to ideas that make perfect sense. "
5 " When deciding between giving a longer or shorter presentation, pick shorter. 'I wish you had talked longer' are six words you'll seldom hear from audiences. "
6 " Ideas seldom sell themselves. In fact, the bolder the idea, the more it needs selling. Fresh ideas challenge people to let go of old ideas in order to embrace the new ideas. Selling helps that happen. "
7 " To connect with decision makers, we need to present ideas in their language, not ours. Know their business. Talk with them, not at them. Otherwise, they can't hear us when we speak. "
8 " Creativity isn't for sissies. It takes guts to hold up ideas for people to criticize, reject or ignore. But the possible pain is worth the potential payoff. "
9 " When presenting ideas, help decision makers get past their myopia. It's easy for clients to say no to an idea right in front of them. But if they can visualize your idea's future value, they'll have an easier time saying yes. "
10 " Decision makers aren't interested in our pain. They're interested in their pain. They accept or reject ideas based on whether or not they think we understand their painful problems and have the ability to solve them. "
11 " What we call ourselves can sometimes be more negative than what we're called by others. Pay close attention to names you call yourself, the words that follow 'I am...' See if those words are fear-filled and destructive. If so, write them down, undertake any needed self-improvements and then cast aside those self-imposed negative names. "
12 " If you're bored, maybe you're a boring person. With all there is to see and do, there's no excuse for boredom. Get up. Get going. Start a project. Finish a project. Call a friend. Call an enemy. Write something down. Tear something up. Spin something around. Find something true. "
13 " With all there is to experience and create in this world, if I'm bored, then I'm a boring person. "
14 " Sometimes we just need to put down our phones, close our eyes and take a few deep breaths. Ideas are often in flight patterns around our brains, just waiting for clearance to land. "
15 " The best idea tools are pen, paper and imagination. "
16 " Bold ideas are often called nonsense until they make sense to the masses. That's why it's important to present ideas, even when we fear they might be called stupid or silly. What they laugh at today, may be what they laud tomorrow. "
17 " Questions loosen ligaments of cramped minds. Spirited inquiry releases us from trying to solve a problem with the same thinking that caused the problem. "
18 " Little questions can sometimes solve big problems. "
19 " If we know what we don't want to do, it's easier to focus on what we want to do. So before starting a new project, make a Don't Do list. "
20 " In childhood when I would whine to my mother that I was bored, she would say, 'Wonderful! That means you get to invent something fun and interesting to do.' I find the same refrain applies in adulthood. "
