Stuck on coming up with ideas? Take time out to do a warm-up brainstorm. Pick a simple “everyday use” item, like the Paper Clip. Brainstorm 50 uses of it. If you get to 50, brainstorm more. Hit a wall of silence? Perfect. Keep going. Your brain has dumped the most obvious ideas first. Relax. You’ll be surprised by the way you can get your brain to think creatively about something routine, mundane or simple. After the warm-up, engage in your next brainstorm. Suspend your certainty about the outcome of the brainstormed ideas. Allow the brain to do its thing. Be open to all of the possibilities.

What are you stuck on right now?