Initially, the first post on your blog will be read by less than ten people. But over time, if your blog gets a following, this post becomes very important to the fans who take the effort to dig through your archives. So to you—you hypothetical audience—I say, "Hello! I'm glad you're enjoying this site."
I asked my dad today, "How many hours do you actually work in a week?" He was taken aback by the question and replied, "Well, do you count the time I spend thinking about new ideas for my clients or being on the lookout for opportunities?" I replied, "No, I'm talking about work work."
But he persisted, "But while I'm driving, I'm planning how I want to negotiate a certain deal. Or when I go to Barnes & Noble after dinner, I'm reading The Economist to get ideas on where things are going."
I let my dad off the hook, but his response reminded me much of myself. I use everything in my day to instruct my thinking and ideas. I have a way of ascribing a "will to succeed" to everything. If I see a copy of the New York Times, I see a company fighting for a role in a world that no longer needs them. When I fumble with the three remote controls needed to operate my TV, I see a problem in search of a product. Everywhere I go, my mind sees a conflict between actualization and reality in areas ranging from politics, to religion, to evolution.
Most of the time this is just an entertaining exercise for a daydreamer, but often it leads to ideas in design, marketing, and business.
This blog is for those ideas.
Great first post.
I think the ability to relax and be thoughtful is the second best way to be creative. Starvation, time pressure and a change in perspective is probably best (but most painful) See Dave Snowden's "Culture and Innovation" at http://www.cognitive-edge.com/blogs/dave/2006/10/culture_and_innovation.php or his video on the topic at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlmesbbPqtU
I like your idea of "collecting problems."
That's a great video Sean, thanks for that. Innovation seems to associate in my mind heavily with angst and a desire to overcome. When you're hungry for success (i.e. starved), you start to see opportunities everywhere.
I think it cuts both ways. I believe a certain amount of detachment and relaxed perspective also allows you to see things you might otherwise overlook. Meditation is as much about detecting self-deception as relaxing. I think it's often things we know that are wrong that prevent us from innovating as things we don't know.
Somehow I get the feeling that more than 10 people have read your first post already. Good luck.
Hehe, thanks Maintenance Man!