Business Idea Brainstorm-o-rama!
In preparation for the release of the Market Testing Kit, I’m running a short series for those of you without a business or looking to do business in a new market.
To kick things off we spoke about our tendency to put good business ideas on a pedestal, and how that can stop us getting started in business.
Today we’re going to roll up our sleeves and come up with loads of ideas for your future business. We’re going to do some brainstorming.
Hence the silly title.
But first, let’s get one thing out of the way.
Many people believe they are no good at coming up with ideas.
“Just not creative”, eh?
If you think this describes you then here’s what I’d like you to do…
- Go to the kitchen and find a fish. A trout would be perfect.
- Holding the fish by its tail, wave it laterally back and forth.
- Move fish towards face. Or face towards fish. Doesn’t really matter.
- Slap face with wet fish.
- Return to the article.
Good. How was that for compassionate support and understanding from your favorite business coach?
Fine. I’ll try a bit harder…
Lots of people come up with idea after idea on a daily basis.
Are they different from you?
Probably not. I doubt that these people have any special powers that you don’t possess. I doubt that you’re missing some kind of creativity gene.
My guess would be that the reason you think you “can’t come up with ideas” is one or all of the following:
- You lack of confidence in your creative powers.
- You lack confidence in the ideas you actually do come up with.
- You haven’t had consistent practice in the art of coming up with ideas.
In our ongoing brainstorming process, we’re going to systematically shoot each one of these three lame ducks.
(No real ducks will be harmed. We’re hippies ’round here, remember?)
Ready?
Oh yeah! Let’s go…
The Brainstorming Mindset
You know that guy (yes, it is usually a guy) who can always identify exactly why something isn’t a good idea, what it’s flaws are and exactly how it’s going to fail?
(They’re usually pretty easy to find because they tend to enjoy sharing their analysis.)
These people are great to have around when you’re planning the implementation of your projects. But you want them well out of the way when you’re brainstorming.
Slap this part of you with the fish for a little while and then lock it in the closet until later.
Brainstorming is all about possibilities.
The result we’re after is to come up with a load of good ideas, but that’s not the process.
The process is to come up with as many ideas as we can. On analysis, they might turn out to be terrible, but we’re quieting the critical part of our mind for now.
Crazy ideas are encouraged. If you think about selling jewelry to seahorses then write it down. Seahorses like to look good too, you know…
If you have a family, a job, or opposable thumbs then I know that you successfully come up with creative answers to problems all the time. Your “business” life is no different from the rest of your life. You bring the same person to the table.
The difference is your belief. Believe that you CAN come up with great ideas.
Because you totally can.
Hey Ho, Let’s Go!
I want to challenge you to come up with LOTS of ideas.
It’s through stretching ourselves that our most interesting ideas will be born.
So pick a number. 50? 100? And challenge yourself to come up with that many ideas.
Write numbers down the left hand side of a piece of paper (or two or four.)
Write down what comes to you until you’ve completed that list.
Don’t censor.
Don’t over think.
Don’t worry if your ideas suck. Lots of them will. It’s fine. We all have sucky ideas all the time.
Some of them are gonna be great though!
I’m struggling, JJ. I can’t fill my page.
It can be hard. But in flexing your creative muscles like this, you’re making it much easier to do this in the future.
If you’re struggling then take a walk away from your paper. Tell yourself that you need some ideas, and then put your mind somewhere else for a while. Go for a walk. Go paint the seahorse’s nails. Go for a nap.
Naps are great creativity fodder, by the way.
I guarantee that ideas will come. Don’t judge them too much – write them down!
Cool. I have a ton of ideas. What’s next?
Great job. Well done.
Now it’s time to get a bit more critical. Stay tuned!
JJ Jalopy.
Comment by Steve Chambers
14 September 2009
One, who has a fish in the Kitchen? Certainly not moi!
Secondly, this was a great article. People should keep a creativity and idea journal They would be amazed at the ideas they come up with.
Steve Chambers
Business to Business Sales Training Expert
Comment by Anthony Lemme
14 September 2009
What a great article! The other day, my business partner and set time aside for a brainstorming session and the results were astonishing. We tapped into something highly creative and exciting that blew us away. Next comes structured time to clarify, organize and implement.
Anthony
http://www.anthonylemme.com
Anthony Lemme´s last blog ..Got Milk? Well You Probably Shouldn’t Unless You Are a Baby Cow?
Comment by Darryl Pace
14 September 2009
JJ,
Very nice post on idea generation. Coming up with 50 or more ideas for a business or to solve a problem would be quite a challenge. That seems that it would definitely exercise the creativity muscles.
Health, Fitness for Working People — Darryl Pace
Darryl Pace´s last blog ..Some Thoughts on Weight Loss and Muscle Gain
Comment by Lisa McLellan
14 September 2009
Loved the article. Actually felt my head start to nod up and down to the beat going on inside my head even as I just read the words “Hey Ho, Lets Go!” I am a big Ramones fan!
Lisa McLellan
Babysitting Services – Babysitters and Nannies
Comment by Rob Northrup
14 September 2009
JJ, Great post and a lot to think about. There is a balance between having good ideas and having too many good ideas, at the end of the day you need to pick one and work on it until you are done and then on to the next one. Too many can be paralyzing.
check me out at my new blog: http://www.buggingin.com/blog
Seize the Day,
Rob
Emergency Preparedness For the 21st Century Family
Comment by Lynn Lane
15 September 2009
JJ,
Great article to remind us that we are unlimited. I have a journal that I keep my ideas in. I don’t have a problem with ideas, it is the follow through.
Like Rob. If I don’t stop and work on one until I finish I have several ideas out and half complete.
Lynn Lane
http://www.Warriorofsuccess.com
Lynn Lane´s last blog ..The Power Of Books
Comment by John Ho
15 September 2009
JJ,
The suggested ways you ask us to to treat a rout reminds me a TV here in Australia few years back from a major Health Insurance provider talking about their coverage for alternative health treatments – “including” a bizzaze treatment with a fish like what you’ve described
)
John Ho
Numerology Expert Birthday Numeroscope
John Ho´s last blog .."Numerology Expert Says Expressively Wise & Witty for Those Born on 13th September"
Comment by Single Baby Boomer Dating Success Coach
15 September 2009
I LOVED your supportive coach side shining through with the trout! Preferably 3 days old….
Indeed it started with #3. Previously I had not been in the habit of stimulating the right side of my brain and coming up with business ideas. Now, I do this all the time, and like The Warrior of Success, Lynn, I now keep a list by different categories.
Certain things when they are new because my brain is lazy, I take one look at it and go, “Uhghh? huh?” No clue. So the fact that I have been interviewing and asking OTHERS and then modeling them, reading (have you seen Lynn’s latest blog post? Fantastic!), CD listening, DVD watching (like Kevin Hogan’s Influence BootCamp which is out on DVD). NOW I am really good at that and even coach small business owners as well as singles.
Keep up the great bloggin’ JJ!
Happy Dating and Relationships,
April Braswell
Single Baby Boomer Dating Success Expert
Comment by Magicman
22 September 2009
Give me my market testing kit already JJ!