Inventing Practice

One of the most creative and interesting creative problem solving techniques is combining concepts to get new ideas. It is a great way to invent new products and services. It is also a good exercise for tapping into the power of your subconscious mind.

The process is simple. You just randomly choose two different things, processes, ideas, or words, and see what connections you can find between them that lead to a new idea. For example, combining the concepts of "subliminal affirmations" and "television show" could lead to an idea for a cable channel that flashes helpful subliminal affirmations on the screen while you watch regular programming.

Most connections will not be that direct, so you have to work with the ideas and let them wander. For example, thinking about poker and advertising may not immediately lead to a good idea, so you ask things like, what is poker played with? Cards. Put advertising on playing cards? Now that might be a great idea. Advertisers pay for the ads there, and you give away the playing cards with 52 paid ads on them - one on the face of each. Since they may be used for years, this could be valuable advertising.

Now, here are some random pairs of words or concepts to work with until you find at least one interesting new idea for each:

Headphones - Cats

Table - Car

Free Trade - Martian Psychology

Road - Water

Coins - Business Cards

Creativity Practice - Radio

Love Poems - Lawn Care