5 Ways to Create Ideas From Nothing
No doubt, a big part of our freelance careers involves coming up with creative solutions to problems. How do I effectively convey a client’s message? How do I meet the project requirements in an effective and skillfully? For us to do this, we need to be able to come up with ideas, even if you literally have nothing to work with.
- Have a clear sense of what you have to do. Before you even begin, you must know what you’re trying to do in the first place. Reviewing the objectives of a project lets you formulate a sound plan, and provides a solid foundation for the eventual brainstorming session.
- Get other opinions. There’s a reason why two heads are better than one. What may be nothing for you might actually be full of opportunities for someone else. It’s all a matter of perspective, and sometimes you need a different view to see something else.
- Don’t limit your thinking. Maybe you’ve become used to a pattern, and patterns (or “paradigms” in business speak) have a way of limiting how we think and what we do. Again, you may need help to break your patterns, and it’s sure to be difficult, but the new ideas this activity may generate may be well worth it.
- Do, do, and do. If you can’t just work on the project yet, trying doing something else first. Even mindless activites such as chores and repetitive tasks may suddenly present eureka moments that you can convert into ideas.
- Browse through your old projects. When you accomplished previous work, you had to come up with ideas to execute them. What worked before may work now, and your portfolio is literally a gold mine of ideas you can reapply.
I now have nothing left, so if you have any ideas to share fellow freelancers, feel free to do so by leaving a comment. :)
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POSTED IN: Creativity Drivers
4 opinions for 5 Ways to Create Ideas From Nothing
Jeremy
Feb 15, 2008 at 12:00 pm
Find 2-3 resources to read, watch or listen-to that spark thoughts or ideas. Sustainability of new ideas and inspiration is tough, and it takes discipline for freelancers to establish good work habits to get them through motivational or creative dry spells. Good suggestions all around - thanks!
Evan Meagher
Feb 15, 2008 at 12:32 pm
Getting ideas from something is usually a lot easier than getting them from nothing, so taking a step back from your work will generally help. Take a walk, play a game, spend time with friends/significant others.. the possibilities are endless.
Rico
Feb 17, 2008 at 10:53 am
Jeremy: No prob Jeremy, I like your focus on building a routine! I’d say that’s harder to do due to the freelancing nature of… freelancing. Wouldn’t you agree?
And I’m sure that the possibilities reach infinity the more interesting your life is. :)
Great Places to Network
Feb 21, 2008 at 2:59 am
[…] Visit the article titled 50 Professional Networks for Freelancers and you’ll see what I mean. Socializing with people from the same field allows freelancers to learn new techniques, expand their current knowledge and acquire new perspectives. Interactions are always a gold mine for ideas. […]
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