Tag Archives: Brainstorm

Are You Using These Simple Questions to Bust Up Your Blocked Creativity?

Blog 4914Does this ever happen to you?  You have a great idea.  You know it’s going to change the way you do business or live your life.  You know it’s going to be great.

But—and this is a big BUT—you are stuck.  How do I start?  And how do I deliver on this great new idea?  All of us have been there.

Well, here’s a tip to get you moving.  Ask yourself these questions: What is my purpose? What are my three intentions in achieving my purpose?  Write out your purpose and three intentions for the project.  If you know both the purpose and intentions, the planning to execute it will come naturally.

Of course, you do have to do some critical thinking.  It sounds easy at first, but at second glance maybe not so easy.  The best way to go about it is to brainstorm the purpose.  I doubt seriously if your first purpose is the one.

Here’s an actual example from one of my clients.  She said to me that she was stuck in her email campaign for LinkedIn contacts.  She didn’t know where to begin the email after “Dear”.  She knew she wanted the contacts to know about a new program she had created; she wanted them to know how this program would enrich and enhance their lives, and she knew she wanted them to buy the program.  But what could she say that would communicate what she wanted to say?  The more she talked to me about it, the more upset and stuck she got.  She was stuck in a loop of thinking about it, getting more upset (therefore even less able to think clearly) and thinking about it some more.

I suggested that she brainstorm with me about the purpose.  She immediately said well, to make more money from having sales in the new program.  Really?  Is that the purpose or the end result?  “Oh,” she said, “That would be the end result.”  So, then let’s look at the purpose.  Suddenly, it was as if the creative gates opened up.  She said the purpose of the email was to introduce the new program to her list of leads, to tell them the about the availability and the benefits of the new program.  That was it.  That was the purpose.  After landing on her clear purpose, the beginning of the email started to flow.  The intentions were also clear.  Her intentions were to build trust and relationship, to inform, and to create interest in her program.  If she accomplished those three intentions it was a sure bet that they would contact her, and from there she would be able to enroll people in her program.

When you are stuck, please use this simple tip: Ask yourself “what is my purpose and what three intentions do I have?”  You will find that this action will move you toward your goal with ease.

I look forward to reading your comments.