Do you want to know the secret to creativity? It’s focus. Most people remember that it’s important to defer judgment and look for unique combinations but until you focus, creativity rarely happens. And the narrower you make your focus, the greater the likelihood that you will achieve a breakthrough idea. In other words, if you shrink the size of the box, it’s easier to think outside the box!
Alex Osborne produced a list of “idea spurring questions” to narrow focus in order to produce more creative ideas. Focus on these questions to find the next creative solution to a problem that is plaguing your organization:
◾ Reverse? – By reversing the process of pouring a beer, a manufacturer produced the world’s fastest beer dispenser.
◾ Rearrange? – By rearranging the layout, Honda and Chrysler first created the four-door minivan. Then Toyota figured out how to make a minivan cool.
◾ Minify? – By focusing on ways to minify their product, Apple’s iPod Shuffle has become the smallest useable MP3 player.
◾ Magnify? – As television screens continue to get larger, glass companies like Corning are imagining the future of glass.
◾ Substitute? – WD-40 can be used as a substitute for so many things, it has people asking what it CAN’T do.
◾ Combine? – Incandescent bulbs are on their way out and are being replaced by LED. See how GE has combined LED and jet engines to produce a breakthrough solution.
◾ Adapt? – Consider the inspiring story of Nick Vujicic as he figured out ways to adapt to his physical limitations of being born without arms and legs and still lives a full life.
Ask yourself the questions listed above as you focus on ways to overcome your biggest obstacles. Narrow your focus and expand your results…it may seem counter-intuitive, but it works.
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