Idea Hunting
Ideas drive creation. But you must know how to handle them.
“Ideas are like rabbits. You get a couple and learn how to handle them, and pretty soon you have a dozen.” — John Steinbeck
What is the secret to being a prolific creator?
Ideas... lots of them! The creative spark within you feeds on ideas. It requires a constant diet of them from external sources. The more they challenge your current thinking, the better.
Experiences are the best source of ideas.
They are the currency of the mind. You mint our own through the acts you perform. You trade in them via storytelling. And each new experience throws off ideas like sparks from arc welding.
Experiences come in many forms:
A person or place of interest
A principle, law or effect
A transformational book
An enlightening podcast
An amazing TED talk
A simple observation
An inspiring story
A great quote
Social media
Every experience is like drinking from a fire hose. You are awash in ideas, so much so that it is possible to go through life in constant wonder.
Why do you have such difficulty remembering ideas?
The mind excels at solving problems, answering questions and creating. It does a terrible job of cataloging things. It does not appreciate being put on the spot. It will respond when ready, often when least expected.
If you want to create consistently, capture ideas in the moment. Write them down in the form of small notes in your own words. Make idea capture simple, accessible and always available. A simple notebook or notes app will do.
When you sit down to create, thumb through all of those interesting notes instead of staring at an empty canvas. This simple act will prime the mind. Something will jump out and resonate in the moment. Go with it.
You become a prolific creator, because you...
Constantly seek out new experiences
Capture ideas of interest in your own words
Never start with a blank canvas when creating
Allow your mind to choose what resonates in the moment
You now know the secret of Leonardo da Vinci, Benjamin Franklin and other legendary polymaths.
Don’t try to be a creator.
Position yourself such that creation is inevitable.
🤔 Food for Thought:
How do you capture ideas?
Are they accessible?
Do you ever face a blank canvas?
⚙️ One Small Step:
When consuming content online, write a small note in your own words when something peaks your interest. Generate at least a dozen such notes. Now refer to these notes the next time you sit down to create something. What resonates in the moment?