Finding creative solutions

For the most inspired solutions you need to get your brain looking in new directions. One of the most efficient ways to do this is with a list of words, mainly adjectives, to generate "what if?" scenarios. The course of action starts with the query, "what if it was..." and then you put in a word from the list. 

Let me explain the procedure with some example.

Suppose you have is an unpleasant co-worker and you aren't sure how to deal with him.  So you ask about the problem, "What if it was..." and insert from the list "less significant." How could you make the problem less significant? Spend less time with that person? 

"What if it was...  cool?" makes you wonder if being annoying yourself might keep the other person away from you. "Closer" makes you wonder if this person might be nicer to you if they knew you better. You continue to pick up a word from the list and work with each word a bit to get new perspective, which you can look at more critically, systematically and logically later.

Now take another example.  Suppose your house is too crowded because you're running your business from it. You ask, "What if it was..." and insert from the word list, "smaller." Your house is already too small, but could the business be smaller? The word "separated" might give you the idea to keep the business in just one part of the house.

Since most words on the list won't help, you can go through the inappropriate ones rapidly. But don't robotically dismiss them without a few seconds contemplation. "What if it was hopeless?" may seem like a futile question, or it may make you recognize that you just can't keep the business in the house any longer. Moving into a rented office might be the most lucrative of your creative solutions.

The Creative Solutions Word List

Create your own list of words. You'll want to use adjectives, descriptive phrases, and any words that can change your point of view. 

This is a short list which you may find helpful to get you started:

What if it was... newer, boring, casual, farther away, closer, easier, more difficult, sooner, later, higher, short, black, certain, hopeless, subtracted from, fat, rich, cheaper, common, divided, more interesting, extravagant, larger, smaller, subtle, or fun?

Just as with most problem solving techniques, it's important to allow the thoughts and ideas to run without judging them in the beginning. You don't want to suffocate the creative process. Take notes, and then evaluate your ideas when you feel that you have a page full of creative solutions.