Fluency – the ability to generate numerous ideas or solutions quickly; Flexibility – the ability to think about different ways to solve a problem at the same time; Originality – the ability to generate ideas that most people don’t consider; Elaboration – the ability to not only think through the fine points of an idea but to carry it out as well.
What would they expect to see on that table? What would disappoint them if not included? Is there anything laying on the table that’s absurd, like a blow dryer? How can you make the arrangement more appetizing, and what can you add to make it unappealing? By challenging your imagination, your brain gets used to new thinking patterns, and creating fresh ideas will become easier.
The more you formulate specific questions that delve into the differences, the better your chance of succeeding. Simplify complicated matter by breaking it down into pieces. Then expose each one by asking, “What if?”
No idea is criticized, and all ideas are recorded. After a long list of ideas is generated, one can go back and review the ideas to critique their value or merit.
Write “Start a Business” in the middle of a piece of paper and draw a circle around it. Let’s say you have come up with four subtopics that include products/services, funding, market, and employees. Therefore, draw four lines, one for each subtopic, from the circle that contains your main topic. Your drawing will now look like a child’s drawing of the sun. At the end of each of those four lines, draw a circle. Write one of the four subtopics (products/services, funding, market, and employees) in each of those smaller circles. Next, let’s say that within each of those subtopics, you have generated two sub-subtopics. For instance, with “products/services,” you thought of “dresses” and “shoes,” and with “funding,” you came up with “loan” and “savings. " So draw two lines from each of the subtopic circles, creating what looks like mini suns with two rays. At the end of each line (or “ray”), draw a smaller circle and write those sub-subtopics in each. For example, from the “products/services” subtopic, write “dresses” in one sub-sub topic circles and “shoes” in the other. From the “funding” subtopic, write “loan” in one sub-subtopic circle and “savings” in the other circle. Once completed, this map can be used to further develop the topic. This includes both divergent and convergent thinking.
