Some people are natural-born brainstormers, and some people are not. If you’re one of those who are not, I know how you feel. It can be tough. Luckily I have some tips that have been given to me over the years to make for more productive brainstorming.

  1. Start by throwing out the craziest, most far-fetched ideas. They may not be as crazy as you think.
  2. Talk your business issues through with people who know little or nothing about your business. You’ll get a fresh perspective.
  3. When brainstorming with others, emphasize the notion that no idea is a bad idea.
  4. Try Googling random/weird words or phrases that may only be slightly relevant. It will help get the juices flowing.
  5. If you’re stuck in the middle of a brainstorming session, walk away and do something completely unrelated. It will allow you to free your mind and come back refreshed.
  6. Don’t just stop when you think you’ve come up with the right idea/solution. Keep going until you’ve exhausted every avenue. The best may be yet to come.
  7. Don’t worry about evaluating a single idea until later. Brainstorming time is just for throwing out ideas.

Have a great weekend!

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