Kick start your creativity

"just one good idea could make all the difference in the world"

Every now and them I get stuck for answers to some project I'm working on. I've learned a lot of techniques like brain storming, mind mapping and of course I use the magic cards to great success. However, sometimes the right idea seems to elude me...what then?

Here is a very simple technique to access your right brain (creative side). This technique is very simple, and you know I do simple really well. So try this and have a fun with it:

Write out the question you need an answer for, but do it with your opposite hand. Now continue writing down any potential answers, again with your opposite hand. If you are like me, this really slows down your writing speed and your effort produces some mighty sloppy penmanship.

I'm not bright enough to understand what this exercise does to your neural connections, but it does help you access your creativity. Somehow it reverses your thinking from your logical left side of the brain to the creative right side. I can't say I had any great answers in the first couple of minutes but as I perserved it did seem to bring unexpected results. Sometimes it took several days of this exercise to produce results, so stay with it.

I've been playing (yes, I'm always playing) with doing other functions with my left hand to stir up creativity. Try shaving, using your computer mouse or brushing your teeth with your opposite hand...it's not easy.

Eduardo

P.S. Just for fun, when I met a client this morning and went to shake his hand, I put out my left hand. This put him into instant confusion. In a few seconds, he recovered started laughing and said...you are one weird guy! So I guess you could say my technique caused him to see me in an entirely new way.