Creativity Challenge 2002

Alan's Creativity Challenges 2003-50

Look Until You See New

Each week I attempt to create a new challenge that I
believe will help expand and/or spark creative
thinking on the spot. Just signing on to write this
week's sparked it.

I am sitting in the dining room/area of my house
facing towards the sliding glass door that leads to my
deck and my backyard and the other faces towards
another section of my backyard. Though similar the
views are actually different because they capture
different areas.

This week use the windows and doorways of your life to
help you discover images, analogies, symbols,
metaphors you can use to generate new ideas.

MONDAY
Today sit in a room that has 2 or more windows in it
providing different views or perspectives. Make a
list of what you see. Then choose 6 of those things
to describe in detail. Then ask yourself how might
those things relate to a challenge you are working on.

i.e.: I see the following my sliding glass door:
1. metal, squirrel resistant bird feeder, 2. a small
forest of trees: pine and hardwoods, 3. the hardwoods
have very few leaves left, 4. green needles, 5.
colorful maple, oak, elm leaves, 6. a few different
birds, 7. the stillness of the afternoon air, 8. clear
blue sky, 9. low shadows.

Now the challenge is to use these to help me generate
ideas about a book I am writing.

TUESDAY
Today go to a room early in the morning in your house.

WEDNESDAY
This afternoon go to a room high in a building that
will provide you views of a skyline.

THURSDAY
Go to a shopping center and look through several
entrance doors to shops. What do you see?

FRIDAY
Walk through a neighborhood and from the sidewalk or
from the curb into the windows of several houses (no
peeping Tom-ing). What types of things do you see?

The key is to find random things that you would not
normally think of or necessarily expect to see and
then to use them to help generate unique ideas or
perspectives for you.

Have a Happy Holiday Season,

Alan

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