Where do ideas come from?

Often they're from the goo. That jumbled morass of unfinished unarticulated thought that lies in a heap somewhere in the subconscious. Sometimes ideas find us in our sleep, but most of these go unremembered. Other times ideas get so close they could pinch us but choose to lurk in the shadows, just out of sight. Once in awhile they catch us totally off guard and pop into our minds with a bang! When we least expect them. When we're not even trying.

Some ideas seem to have an attitude and show up cloaked in mystery, unwilling to reveal their secrets. Like solving a riddle, they make us jump through hoops. It’s like they want to trick us. Yet more often than not ideas are smack dab right in front of our faces and we refuse to accept that fact and move right on by them like we're playing some weird version of a Where is Waldo game. “No that can’t be you, I know the better idea is around here somewhere. I’ll just keep looking, thanks.”

Brainstorming an idea session with my friend and co-worker Cindy Slettevold.

No matter how they show up I love brainstorming. It’s like making music. It’s play because you can’t do it by yourself. Like freeform jazz or chance music, it’s unpredictable. I’m so blessed to have people in my life that love to play the brainstorm game. It’s a talent, a craft, an art form, a gift.

Brainstorming at its best happens when we leave our egos and judgement at the door. Like any creative process, shut the editor off until you’re done. You can’t create and edit at the same time. Trust is a must, that means everyone in the room including yourself. Be vulnerable, listen, and don’t overthink, just contribute. Remember, there’s no such thing as a bad idea. Most of the great ones were born there.

In music we have a saying...

“You gotta be bad before you can be good.”

So play! You'll find it along the way.

Brainstorming an idea session with my friend and co-worker Barbie Van Horn.

I love these collaborations and live for the points and perspectives others will bring that would never come from my little box if left alone. What a gift it is to show up and throw them into the room, to my fellow brainstormers. Let the dance begin!

All of a sudden that goo I mentioned earlier, that unarticulated unfinished blob of thought lying dormant in the dusty bin yards of your mind has a great big ol’ spotlight shining on it.

“Ah Hah!”

"Where there's conversation, there's opportunity."

Please Note - The views expressed herein reflect only the individual’s personal views
and are not the views of the author’s employer.

Let's hook up on Twitter... Linkedin.com/in/renefabre Facebook.com Let's Yelp together. Catch my videos on YouTube. The Blackberry Chronicles.
René Fabre

René Fabre
cell: 425-749-9296
rfabre@firstam.com

 First American Title

First American Title
24722 104th Ave SE
Suite 100
Kent, WA 98030

  
 
Posted by René Fabre on 06/25/2012 08:14 PM   Comments (27)   Business Strategies in the Sales Strategies / Tactics Channel   brainstorming  
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27 Comments on Where do ideas come from?

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JUN
26
356,510 Points 27 Featured Posts Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Hi Jack... Indeed that's true and I'm fortunate to have a very large pool of talent to pull from. Thanks!
8:17am • #8
356,510 Points 27 Featured Posts Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Good morning John... Agreed. If you don't play with it and work with it, it dries out and goes stale. Enjoy the day!

Victoria: It is like meditation exactly. Also, I think, like tending a garden. Good ideas take as long as they take. Parctice and patience is what it takes for sure. 
8:20am • #9
707,770 Points 47 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Rene' I loved this post you like brainstorming, I love scribbling, I talk better with a pen and piece of paper and when I saw the picture of your board it reminded me of my scribbling")))
7:00pm • #10
356,510 Points 27 Featured Posts Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Hi Endre: Me too! I love a pen (in fact a few of them, different colors preferred) and I love to doodle and kind of stream of conciousness right words down that'll jog my memory later.
7:06pm • #11
JUN
27
152,188 Points 14 Featured Posts

Brainstorming is that child-like ability to think of things without the inevitable "but" that adults allow into their mind. Great post Rene.
6:21am • #12
356,510 Points 27 Featured Posts Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Bill: That's a great way to think of it. Keep the "buts" out of it! Thanks.
7:25am • #13
937,140 Points 51 Featured Posts Called Shot Master

Rene' - This is a great topic.  I am one of those people who has many vivid dreams, and I remember them!  I often wonder where all those ideas, dreams, thoughts come from, because they are so much more imaginative than my conscious thoughts.  They are like little gifts, from out there, somewhere:-)  However, I enjoy brainstorming, because we are able to tap the thoughts of others, and form a collective knowledge!
8:24am • #14

Love it Rene'! Thanks for sharing!
9:07am • #15
356,510 Points 27 Featured Posts Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Myrl: As an artist I'm always fascinated by this topic. Often I just play around with stuff and have little perceptions along the way then at some point, ta da!, a context reveals itself and I'm off on a journey. Me too, often the ideas that propel things forward come in my sleep. I love that time about an hour before you wake up, but you're not fully asleep. That's when the good one's come to me!
9:15am • #16
356,510 Points 27 Featured Posts Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Hi Leslie.... thanks! And, thanks for stopping by!
9:16am • #17

My best coagulation of ideas often happen in the shower! Something about water and brain matter gets it flowing into productive ideas.  Then you have to jump out and write it down suds and all! or use soap on the shower door!
Doris Barnett
3:26pm • #18
356,510 Points 27 Featured Posts Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Doris: Love the shower! I get a lot of my music ideas that way. Marketing, writing, blogging, etc., I love driving down the road especially uninterrupted with a view. There's something about being in motion for me gets the creative juices flowing. 
4:50pm • #19
1,023,536 Points 15 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Called Shot Master

There is wisdom in a multitude of counselors - people trying to think out of the box together can come up with amazing things.
4:53pm • #20
JUN
28
356,510 Points 27 Featured Posts Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Hi Gene: Agreed... I think there's also a new found trust and bonding that occurs also. 
8:59am • #21
497,860 Points 13 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Hi Rene! "jumbled morass of unfinished unarticulated thought that lies in a heap somewhere in the subconscious. Sometimes ideas find us in our sleep"  Is that why I wake so exhausted?
10:48am • #22
356,510 Points 27 Featured Posts Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Hi Bob... Yep!
1:34pm • #23
586,100 Points 106 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

I'm jealous - I need to find some other copywriters, marketers to brainstorm with. None in my immediate vicinity, so would have to be phone conversations. In the meantime, I try to write down ideas when they happen because they float away so quickly!
3:15pm • #24
JUN
29
356,510 Points 27 Featured Posts Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Marte: Writing them down quickly!, couldn't have said it better! You could do a Google Hangout. It's still best in person though. For me, it's never quite worked on the phone, except for one on one.
8:28am • #25
JUN
30
1,929,066 Points 155 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

I love brainstorming sessions. We actually have a mastermind group that gets together every week just for the purpose of coming up with ideas. 
9:42am • #26
356,510 Points 27 Featured Posts Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Hi Todd... What day of the week? Maybe I could attend when I get down your way. Hoping to get to Portland towards the end of July! You and your family have an awesome 4th of July. Need to call you, it's been a while.
10:58am • #27

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René Fabre

Seattle, WA

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First American Title

Address: 24722 104th Ave SE, Suite 100, Kent, WA, 98030

Office Phone: (253) 850-5230

Cell Phone: (425) 749-9296

Email Me

René Fabre is a blogger, teacher, artist, and speaker living in the Pacific Northwest. His passion is the evolving social media environment and how it impacts every level of our lives.

A certified clock hour instructor, René teaches new media marketing for the First American Title Real Estate School of Washington.

He also teaches social media for entrepreneurs and small business in the continuing education department at Bellevue College.

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