Ways of Thinking Outside the Box
There are dozens of good ways to think outside the box for
better solutions and problems. Three of them follow. Of course,
we don't always find a better solution through more creative
or non-conventional thinking, but we sometimes do. That may not
sound inspiring, so let me explain a bit further.
Let's assume for the sake of example that you get in the habit
of thinking in new ways and you have many interesting, creative,
but mostly unusable ideas. As a result, you often fall back on
conventional solutions to your problems, whether at home or in
business or at work. Still, once in a while you have an inspiration
that increases your income or changes your life for the better.
More rarely you might have a new idea or invention that the world
hasn't seen. That's more interesting, isn't it?
It isn't necessary nor reasonable to expect that you'll have
great new ideas every day, you see. On the other hand one good
idea here and there can make all the difference. In fact, it
can repay you for all the time spent brainstorming silly concepts
that didn't work out. But how do you have that occasional flash
of creative inspiration or profitable idea? Try one of the following
ways.
1. Get Silly
I imagine that some readers will be annoyed by this suggestion.
They don't want to start coming up with nonsense that makes them
look silly. Even by yourself you may feel uncomfortable imagining
eyes on shoes or talking to wheelchairs. Of course you don't
have to do that to get seriously creative. Certainly there are
other ways of thinking outside the box that don't require such
silliness.
On the other hand, the innovation of reflective strips on
running shoes actually came from a brainstorming session in which
one participant imagined eyes on shoes looking out for cars and
other dangers. Such silly ideas often morph into practical inventions
if given the chance to exist. And in case you're wondering, there
are not only wheelchairs that respond to the user's voice, but
now one there is also one that can be controlled by the user's
thinking.
2. Find New Definitions
The way you express or define problems affects the potential
solutions you can come up with. The usual ways of stating a problem
can be considered the "box" that you want to get out
of. To do that try stating the problem in new ways, essentially
redefining it.
In your business, for example, the issue may be how to get
customers to buy more of your products. But this typical definition
might just lead to price cuts or other common solutions. When
you redefine the problem as how to help customers see the value
you offer and so accept a higher price, you get new ideas. Or
you might ask how to find customers who already appreciate what
you have to offer and will pay the high price as soon as they
know what you have. This approach takes you from the more stressful
task of trying to sell more to just making more money from fewer
happier customers.
3. Try Cross-Breeding
Suppose you need to make a house that is more energy efficient
and so has lower bills. Rather than looking at other houses and
what has been tried, look at a whole different area. Let's use
animals as an example. Consider what do they do to heat and cool
themselves, and how can you apply that to the design of your
house. This kind of mixing or "cross breeding" of ideas
form different areas of knowledge is one of the more interesting
ways to get your thinking out of the box, and can provide some
radical new concepts.
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