by Skellie
Photo by mugley.
This is a guest post from Leo Babauta, who blogs about productivity, simplicity and happiness at Zen Habits.
I’m a pretty prolific blogger — between regular posts at Zen Habits, and writing regularly for blogs such as Web Worker Daily, FreelanceSwitch, NorthxEast and more, and writing guest posts for other blogs (such as the excellent Skelliewag), I write a lot of posts every week.
And what’s asked of me most often, besides “How can you write so much?”, is the more difficult question: “How do you come up with so many ideas for posts?”
That’s not so easy to answer.
Coming up with ideas is a skill, actually, something that’s become easier with practice. And I don’t have one single method of coming up with great ideas for articles, except this one:
I’m ALWAYS on the lookout.
Seriously. Always. Whether I’m in the shower, eating, reading, driving, exercising, talking, IMing, emailing, working, writing or playing with my kids, I always think to myself, “You know, that would make a great post!” It’s a bit sad, actually.
With that in mind, if you’re trying to find sources of great, wonderful, unique ideas, whether that’s for a blog post or a painting or a poem or a new product … here are my favorite ways.
1. Carry a notebook. Seriously, carry it everywhere. I can’t tell you how many awesome ideas I’ve lost simply because I forgot to bring my notebook. And you know why I can’t tell you? Because I didn’t write them down. Carry your notebook everywhere, always have some kind of writing implement, and write things down immediately. Of course, you may need to pull your car over to avoid an accident … or just start riding mass transit instead, to avoid that problem. Another good article on capturing ideas.
2. Keep a list. I have a simple Google Doc that I can pull up at any time with a few keystrokes (I use AutoHotKey to open all my most commonly used documents and programs instantly). On this list, I write down all my ideas. When I need to write a post, I am never short of ideas. Actually, I have dozens more ideas than I can ever use, so if anyone needs any, let me know. Just $5 an idea. 
3. Exercise. OK, you’re going to skip past this one. That’s OK. I’m not saying you have to start exercising to have amazing ideas, but from personal experience, exercise is one of the absolute best ways to come up with ideas. It seems it is literally impossible to go for a run or a walk without coming up with an idea that will knock you on your butt. Which is why I now wear padded running shorts.
4. Driving. There’s something about the mindlessness of driving that allows me to come up with some of my better ideas in the car. To make this work, you have to drive slower than some of the maniacs out there (try it, it’s calming), and ignore the rude antics of your fellow drivers. Concentrate on avoiding an accident, but don’t worry if someone cuts you off or is driving slower than your average toddler can walk. Just stay in your Zen zone, and watch the ideas come to you effortlessly.
5. Read a lot. I’m reading a book every day, several times a day. It might take me a week to finish the book, but that’s because I take my time and enjoy the book. In addition, I’m always reading stuff on the Internet. Reading is one of the very best ways to find new ideas. And yes, you have to read the articles, not just the pictures.
6. Find inspiration. I find inspiration from many sources, including other bloggers, from friends and family, from life itself. Sometimes, an idea can be totally unrelated to the source of your inspiration, but the key is that spark, that energy, that ignition that gets your mind going. Whatever does that for you is worth its weight in gold. Failing inspiration, just rip off ideas (and make them your own).
7. Listen. One of my favorite ways to get ideas is by listening to other people talk. When someone talks to me, I try to talk as little as possible, and just listen to them and understand. That’s difficult when talking to engineers, of course. Those guys can talk! I also like to eavesdrop on conversations held by loud people when I’m in public places. Yes, that makes me weird.
8. Find twists. Found a great idea by someone else? As mentioned before, if you aren’t inspired by someone else, just rip off their ideas. But don’t just spit out the ideas verbatim — take them to another level by finding new twists on those ideas. How can you take this great idea (or even a common idea) and give it a new twist? Sometimes you can find the best ideas by putting a new spin on an old idea.
9. Examine your life. Take a few minutes now and then to step back and take a look at your life. What are you doing? Where are you going? Who are you? What are you all about? What’s important? What are you trying to achieve? What are you doing right and wrong? Ask yourself these types of questions, think about what it is you do every day and why. This kind of examination can produce dozens of new ideas.
10. Question everything. When you find yourself thinking or following traditional ideas that everyone assumes are right, question them. Ask yourself if it’s really true, and if so, why? Why does everyone think this? Is it possible there are other ways of doing things? Question everything, and you might come up with some surprising answers.
11. Trawl through fresh sources. Sometimes, if you drive home the same route every single day, it’s good to drive a new route, even if it’s a little longer. Change things up. Similarly, you should visit new web sites, read new authors, break out of your niche, talk to new people, start clicking on links in blogrolls and see where they take you. Get outside your familiar territory, and find new ideas in new places.
12. Bounce stuff off others. Got an idea? Bounce it off a friend or colleague. Sometimes their responses can spur new ideas in you, and vice versa. It’s amazing what can form when two people put their heads together. Avoid more than three people talking about ideas, though … “ideas by committee” is not a smart approach.
13. Reader emails. I get lots of emails from readers, and while it can take a lot of my time to read and answer them, it’s well worth the effort. Some of my best post ideas have come from the suggestions of others. If you don’t get a lot of reader emails, don’t let that stop you … find a way to solicit suggestions from others, asking for emails or comments on your blog or whatever it is you do. Let others come up with the ideas!
14. Forums. Similar to some of the items above, online forums can be amazing places for ideas. You can get suggestions from others, you can bounce ideas off people, you can read and be inspired by great ideas from people on the forums. And there are so many forums online that it’s practically impossible to run out of ideas from them.
15. Ask. When I’m running dry, or need a fresh source of ideas, I’ll ask my readers. I’ll do a post and ask them for suggestions for different topics. And let me tell you, there is no shortage of great topics when I do this. A few months ago I asked if they had “health and fitness” topics they’d like me to write about. I haven’t even gotten halfway through the list of ideas yet!
16. Magazine rack. When I go into a bookstore or grocery store, I like to spend a few minutes at the magazine rack. I don’t even read all the articles … I just read the headlines on the cover, or flip through the magazines. And I don’t just read the ones I’m interested in … I glance at them all. I’ve found some amazing ideas in these racks.
17. Look deep inside yourself. This is a difficult one. It’s similar to the “examine your life” suggestion, but it’s a deeper look at yourself. Really reach deep inside, and search the person you are, search your soul for your deepest desires, your innermost secrets, your most secret dreams and ambitions. You can find some of the most wonderful ideas deep within yourself.
18. Learn from your mistakes. While mistakes can be embarrassing, I love making mistakes. Sure, they’re sloppy and painful, but they’re anything but unproductive. Mistakes are the way we learn, and if we can harvest the power of mistakes to come up with great ideas, we are using our mistakes to their fullest potential. Think about the mistakes you’ve made in your life, recently and over the years. What can you learn from them? What can others learn?
19. Be inspired by nature. I love going outside, to take a breath of fresh air, to stretch, to get natural light into my computer-strained eyes. And to take a look at the beauty of the nature around me. Our world has some of the most incredible natural beauty in the universe … take advantage of the nature around you, and find inspiration in it!
20. Music. I like to play a good CD or tune in to my favorite radio station, to get myself moving, to sooth my savage beast, to make my soul leap with joy. Music can be the most inspiring thing in our lives, if we open up our hearts and minds to it.
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116 Comments, Comment or Ping
daniel
thanks for the article, Leo.
A few extras I like: friends, overheard conversations, photos, stumbleupon.
I hope life’s good,
daniel
Nov 27th, 2007
Landon
These are some great methods to come up with ideas. One of the most important things to do when getting ideas is to always have fun and stay relaxed. This leaves your mind open and connected to the world around you, making it easier to let ideas get into you. You may not have to be exercising or driving, but you could be with your hobby, talking to a friend, or even watching your favorite TV show. Just be ready with that notebook!
And great point about questioning everything! If you ask why something is the way it is or how it got the way it did, you’ll have realizations you never thought about before.
Nov 27th, 2007
Mike Pedersen Golf
I have to get out of my own skin to try to come up with new product offerings for my niche. If I think like me I’d never come up with anything ‘my customer’ wants or needs. I also think being alert and conscious at all times will help you catch some great ideas. Be in the moment with your eyes wide open.
Nov 27th, 2007
Mark from MyTropicalEscape
Leo ~
I strongly agree with your third suggestion, “Exercise” as I would have to say that 85% of my ideas come to me while I am out running.
Now if I could only find a recording device that was easy to run with…any suggestions?
Nov 27th, 2007
paidtwice
Well at least I am not the only person who thinks “You know what would make a good idea for a post…” while doing other random things.
The notebook is the greatest invention ever
Nov 27th, 2007
Leo
Thanks, guys!
@Mark: No, I haven’t found a good recording device for running. I usually just write things down as soon as I finish my run.
Nov 27th, 2007
Jimmy Crackcorn
You forgot one important way to come up with amazing ideas.
smoking a joint.
I seem to have great ideas when I do that, which is infrequent.
but, you are right, I should have a notebook by me… then I would remember them!
Nov 27th, 2007
Tina Su - Think Simple Now
Great list Leo!
I’ve not heard of AutoHotKey, but it sounds very useful. I’m gonna check it out. Thanks man!
I carry loose paper everywhere I go, for sparks of inspiration. I found it to be important to write these ideas down as I get them, while I’m still in the energy. I get them at the most random places.. mainly when I’m relaxed. Sometimes, as I am writing one article, I’ll get like 4 more ideas for new articles on the same topic. For example, I was writing a guest post for Alex Shalman on Forgiveness and what I thought was a one-off article suggested by Alex, turned into 5 more article ideas on the same topic that I could use on my blog in the future. Pretty cool.
Generating ideas is like learning: the more you learn the more you realize how much more there is to learn… or like traveling: the more you travel, the more you realize how little of the world you’ve seen.
Thank you muchly for the link back! Much loved and appreciated.
*bounce*
Love & Gratitude,
Tina
Nov 27th, 2007
Bente Lilja Bye
Hiking and running are my most creative and productive drivers. I do like Leo, write down the “thinking products” as soon as I get hold of pen and paper! Ideas first - shower second.
Nov 27th, 2007
Bente Lilja Bye
Oh, let me add one more to Leo’s excellent list.
Big events that interest you - more or less - can be a good reason to blog about topics related to those events with your twist to it.
Ex. : There is going be a number of big international meetings on climate change and earth observations the coming weeks. I’ll write about the topics covered in those, only with my particular perspective on them. I’m sure you can find these kind of events for just about any niche.
Nov 27th, 2007
Keira Peney
Agreed on the notebook! I have at least four
Nov 27th, 2007
ChrisB
One source of ideas I’ve recently discovered is those google searches that led people to my site for 0.1 second — it got them in, but they didn’t find what they were looking for and left. When I see repeated searches like that, I add it to my list of future topics.
Nov 27th, 2007
David Reber
Great ideas. My problem is trying to get consistent on posts. Like narrowing down themes and perhaps having a specific subject on each day of the week.
Nov 27th, 2007
Michael Martine
Great ideas for um… ideas, Leo.
I have a 45-minute commute (in good weather). My radio in the car doesn’t work. Talk about meditative silence! (I think that last sentence might be some kind of ironic pun, but I’m not sure… punronic?).
On the computer/internet, I never seem to find anything that works perfectly for capturing ideas, but the Google Notebook Firefox extension comes close.
Mind mapping has become a fabulous tool. I use the open source program Free Mind. For anyone who’s never tried mind mapping, I recommend it. You might really like it. It’s very associative.
Nov 27th, 2007
SpicePuppy
Just an add-on to the notebook idea: keep one by your bed. You’d be surprised how many good ideas come from dreams!
Nov 27th, 2007
windyridge
I must be destined for greatness like you because I am always thinking about blogging about something I am doing or seeing or feeling or reading, similar to what you said you do. However I don’t have the notebook thing down yet and I have been caught with a good idea that was soon forgotten. The Google docs idea is a great one, as is looking through magazines in a store rack. I will do them both along with a few others you menetion. My life on a small farm with animals and teenagers is great fodder for articles but sometimes I get stuck. Thanks for a great article
Nov 27th, 2007
Matt
Loved the list - I find myself coming up with good ideas while driving, but also while showering (of course not both at the same time, mind you.)
Anything activity that relaxes me, and I’m like a faucet without a handle stuck in release mode. Thanks for the post
Nov 27th, 2007
Jonathan Fields
Hey Leo,
Great article! This sounds a bit foofy, but a lot of great ideas comes to me when I meditate or listen to visualizations and my mind is completely elsewhere.
In fact, my best ideas seem to come when I intentionally extract myself from the process of trying to come up with ideas!
Nov 27th, 2007
Mary Jaksch
@Leo
I marvel that you not only hit upon so many creative ideas, but also develop each one into a quality post. When I think of how many posts you write both for you own, as well as for other blogs, my eyes bulge. Very inspiring, Leo!
The creative process is fascinating. I reckon that meditation helps to foster creativity. And I don’t necessarily mean formal meditation. A mind that is cluttered with random thoughts lacks the spaciousness needed for creativity. I think it helps to be still for a few minutes before starting to write or paint. (The easiest way to still the mind is to pay tender regard to the breath, or to listen to sounds.) I find that when I start the creative process from this point of stillness, ideas flow naturally and freely.
@ Michael Martine
I see that you’re also a Mindmap aficionado! Mindmaps are my premium tool for inspiration. Although I sometimes use FreeMind, the process of mindmapping seems to be even more productive if I hand-draw with fat, coloured pens on large sheets of paper.
The difference between onscreen mindmapping and hand-drawing is quite simple: I tend to doodle with my pens if I’m drawing a mindmap. I embellish, underline, colour in and so on. Doodling seems to put me in a free frame of mind: I start to muse.
Mindmaps work because they replicate the way we store and access knowledge in our brains. When I write a post, I put the main thought in the centre and then radiate branches from there that represent sub-ideas. These branches have their own branches, and so on. The final touch is to connect related ideas with lines, dots, or doodles.
What I find is that each mindmap produces not only ideas for the post I originally had in mind, but at least a dozen ideas for others.
Nov 27th, 2007
Ivan
Great article! I also have a simple Google Document with ideas for my blog. But sometimes I just need to take time to sit down and to think about new ideas. I like to make lists, so often I make a list of possible subject to blog. It’s also a great source for ideas!
Nov 27th, 2007
Brian Holiman
Leo,
So this is crazy, but my best ideas seem to come in the strangest of places; the shower…yes I know, but the sound of the water, the steam, my relaxed state of mind and the complete lack of interruption seems to create the perfect environment for good ideas! I need water proof paper though! Any ideas on that one?
Nov 27th, 2007
Miss Gisele B.
Hi Leo,
I also use a lot of the techniques you use.
I never leave home withouth a notebook. I read countless magazines and websites every week and whenever I see a story on television that I can twist for my site…I’m all over it.
I think that content planning is something you do on a daily base…that way you never run out of “amazing ideas”.
Gisele
http://www.mybeautymatch.com
Nov 27th, 2007
Peter
Excellent suggestions - #1 on my list is exercise. Despite being sweaty and smelly after a work out, I actually head for a pen and paper before the shower so I can madly scribble down ideas.
Nov 27th, 2007
CHESSNOID
Hi Leo,
I enjoyed this post very much. I use many of the tips you mentioned and got a few new ones I don’t use. Thanks for sharing.
Cheers!
Nov 27th, 2007
kev
TRAVEL
is the best way and you left it out!!
good article tho
Nov 27th, 2007
Quanology
Nice list! Now there’s no excuse for lack of inspiration. Really… Maybe one to add to the list is “joking around/laughing” - psychologists agree that being in a silly state opens the mind to lots of new info - this is why good brain storming sessions are often light-hearted and jovial. And bad brain storming sessions have tension and seriousness…
Nov 27th, 2007
Nothingman
why don’t you just pick an idea from the Sea Of Ideas?
Nov 27th, 2007
cool dad
Many of my best ideas began in the car. There’s nothing to distract me, not even the driving since I’m usually stuck in traffic. It’s a quiet 20-30 min all to myself.
I do need to bring my notebook though - thanks for the reminder!
Nov 27th, 2007
Danny de Wit
Very good points. I actually agree with all of them.
Even ‘Exercise’. I’ll start hitting the gym again…
Nov 27th, 2007
Timothy Diokno
Leo, I followed you all the way here just to read this. Mind if I submit quotes from this article to a site? They’re really great and very inspiring. Yup, I’m just one of many kids out there saying “Thank You!” to you.
Nov 27th, 2007
Charles Mallory
Thanks for the great article Leo!
I agree with a couple others above that brainstorming in the shower comes very naturally.
Another way to come up with great ideas is to take a notebook or voice recorder to the TOILET with you! –Why didn’t anyone else say this yet?
Yes voice recording means TALKING TO YOURSELF, which is one of the best ways to brainstorm! When I talk about subjects or ideas out loud it is like opening floodgates. It’s just like what happens to public speakers when they are speaking extemporaneously instead of from a script.
The best ideas I’ve had have come when I’m in bed, dead tired and delirious. This includes when I’m half asleep, dreaming or just waking up. I think it’s your subconscious mind freeing your consciousness that does the trick.
Am I the only one who brainstorms these ways?
Nov 27th, 2007
Alex Kay
#1, #2 and #3 are gold.
Nov 28th, 2007
Alex
Leo is my HERO.
Nov 28th, 2007
Pachecus
There are 20 excellent points.. Thank you very much.
Nov 28th, 2007
free market research company
questioning about your very existence could lead to a innovation!
Nov 28th, 2007
Coach Kip
What a great article. I had already been using a notebook that is in my pocket all the time. I use a 5″x3″ notebook with a spiral binding on the side. That way I can slide a pen down in there and I have something to jot ideas down in, and have something to write with. The only problem I have is that I frequently send it through the washing machine.
Nov 28th, 2007
skyz
to simplify - be aware - process everything that comes over your event horizon -
Nov 28th, 2007
doesntmatta
Very interesting article. Just one recommendation:
Do not save your ideas in a Google Doc. Everything you put there can be used by google and it can become their proprietary content.
At least that is what is stated in their Agreement policies, which is essentially why many Europeans frown on using it.
Nov 28th, 2007
Mike
Nice blog…. glad I found it.
-mike
Nov 28th, 2007
Gerald Weinberg
“So this is crazy, but my best ideas seem to come in the strangest of places; the shower…yes I know, but the sound of the water, the steam, my relaxed state of mind and the complete lack of interruption seems to create the perfect environment for good ideas! I need water proof paper though! Any ideas on that one?”
Get yourself a diver’s slate. I always keep one in my shower so I can practice what I call the “Fieldstone Method.” If you want to go deeper into it, read my book, Weinberg on Writing (one of 40+ I’ve written using Skelligwag’s approach.
Nov 28th, 2007
Etavitom
20 Amazing Tips! Thanks so much for the phenomenal wisdom…..
Nov 28th, 2007
Gabe
“Whether I’m in the shower, eating, reading, driving, exercising, talking, IMing, emailing, working, writing or playing with my kids, I always think to myself, “You know, that would make a great post!” It’s a bit sad, actually.”
Haha… I’m reminded of http://xkcd.com/77/
Nov 28th, 2007
Eugene (Editor, Varsity Blah)
One thing that really works for me is to stop trying. It’s really hard to be creative when you’re sitting at your desk telling yourself to be creative! What really helped while I was writing my book last year were long showers and walks in the park. When you’re not trying to churn out content, it somehow manages to come out anyway. Ironic…
Nov 28th, 2007
Anthony Kuhn
Skellie:
These tips are excellent, especially the ones concerning unplugging from the cyber chains of the computer and getting outside for some fresh air and fresh perspective. 3 cheers for your good advice and subtle humor.
I cross-posted on your piece at the Innovators Network. IN is a non-profit dedicated to helping bring technology to small businesses, entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, and intellectual property experts. Please visit us and help our community grow!
Best Wishes,
Anthony Kuhn
Nov 28th, 2007
pril
note book i love them i have so many my problem is i never go back to them any tips?
Nov 28th, 2007
Kirill Kireyev
Being in a good mood has been highly correlated with creativity; we tend to make much bigger creative leaps if we’re happy.
I highly agree with #8. Douglas R Hofstadter (author of “Goedel, Escher Bach”) once said that creativity is simply a variation on a theme. He gives some great examples (such as a spherical Rubic’s cube for example) in “Metamagical Theorems”
Nov 28th, 2007
Anthony Lawrence
I’m going to disagree on one thing: keeping a notebook.
Omigod, is he insane????
No. First, consider that there are plenty of situations where you won’t be able to take notes: skydiving, driving a motorcycle, making love.. and dozens more where your pen ran out of ink, both hands are busy, or whatever,
Second, you might lose your notebook. Two things are wrong then: one, you’ve lost all your notes, and worse, if they are worth anything, they could fall into the hands of someone who will use them to your disadvantage.
Finally, hurriedly taken notes can be utterly baffling when you look at them later.
You CAN train yourself to not need a notebook, to remember with laser accuracy. Some people have more natural ability than others, but everybody can learn to remember effortlessly, and the more you practice, the easier it becomes.
However, relying on written notes does exactly the opposite: it trains you NOT to remember, not to need to remember.
With memory, you don’t need a notebook, you don’t need a pen, you don’t need your hands, your eyes or even your ears: everything you need is right between your ears.
Use it. Your life will improve in many, many ways.
Nov 28th, 2007
Anonymous
Hi,
I need a help with some (can be amazing) idea for a topic on my ‘forum’. Forum is under quotations because it is more a brainstorming tool, and a tool for writing interactive stories…
So if you have some creative idea that can utilize technical capability of this forum, please share.
Thanks.
p.s. forum is http://www.explore-ideas.com
Nov 28th, 2007
Leo
@Anthony Lawrence: It’s good to hear another perspective, but let me respond with my reasons for using a notebook instead of memory:
* If you rely on your memory, your brain has to constantly think about it. I prefer to focus on the task at hand, not on what I need to remember.
Seriously, though, if you’re thinking about ideas for blog posts while making love, I think you’re not concentrating on the task at hand enough. 
* Not relying on memory means I’m less stressed (believe me, I’ve tried both ways).
* It also allows me to focus better and have a clearer head.
* Who says you can’t have a notebook while making love?
* Training your brain to rely on paper and not memory is actually a positive thing for me. Memory is faulty — it remembers stuff when you don’t need it and forgets stuff when you do. Paper is much more reliable.
Nov 28th, 2007
elfreebo
my creative zen is a great player for running, and it has a built in voice recorder.
Nov 28th, 2007
Anthony Lawrence
@Leo:
But what you miss that I have is the creativity that comes from having multiple things in memory at the same time - creativity is all about relationships between things and having everything *here* lets you see those..
But yeah, my wife agrees with you - except she’s a yellow PostIt note person rather than a notebook
Nov 28th, 2007
cindy*Staged4more
May I add one? Shower
I always come up with lots of ideas for running my small business in the shower!
Cheers,
Cindy
Nov 28th, 2007
Madsen
21. Start teaching! Students always come up with surprising questions that force you to think in different way and to come up with new ways to explaing them the subject…It’s a kind of mental gymnastics and I’m always very inspired after class. (Sorry ’bout my broken English and my bad grammar…English is not my mother tongue).
Nov 28th, 2007
Latarsha
Sometimes watching kids at play can lead to wonders. It’s amazing to watch the mind of a child at work.
Nov 28th, 2007
Matt Ellsworth
great list - i do a lot of these anyway.
Nov 28th, 2007
GCM
The mindlessness of driving tip rings home close. Just today, I wrote about, destressing your driving. I think a follow-up to that, would be putting the brain to better use, while driving. Once your mind has been calmed down, I think productivity can be brought in automatically.
Great post Leo
Nov 28th, 2007
Melissa
I almost never leave home without a notebook and a camera. I am constantly coming across possible designs when I am out and for a long time I had nothing to put them in. The margins of my class notes are one place you might see design ideas I saw on someones shirt or even in my teachers lecture. Now I draw them in a mini sketchbook I keep in my purse or I take a photo for later.
For blogging I come up with a lot of my posts after I have been inspired by another blogger. Sometimes its just one sentence in someones blog that inspires a whole post on something seemingly unrelated.
Nov 29th, 2007
Joy
Hmmmm…these are great tips on how to come up with amazing ideas..^^
I will try some of them..probably not all to see if they work for me..^^
Thanks Skellie for sharing.
Nov 29th, 2007
Malcolm Lambe
Good list. I always try to keep “Share” a priority. I find stuff all the time that I want to keep to myself (especially if its tweaks that will get you on the first page of Google
but you’re right - if you can give a twist to something, provide more info, add “value” - its a good thing and the Karma comes back. Have a look at these “badass” tattoos from a French source and tell me that’s not worth sharing - Tattoos - 15 ways of WRONG, à bientôt, Malkie, Paris.
Nov 29th, 2007
Rachael Bisson
I think these are great ideas. I do tend to use these when I’m drawing a blank. Thanks for the tips. I even printed them out!
Nov 30th, 2007
Tokumei
Thanks for the ideas, I took nos 9, 17 and 18;-)
Nov 30th, 2007
Bobby Rio
Ive come up with some of my best ideas on the treadmill at the gym. so i can vouge for #3. Just recently i came up with a marketing idea that ive neglected for a long time that will most likely made a huge impact on my blog. thanks
Dec 1st, 2007
Lisa
Great someone who thinks like me.. Its good theres so many more.. everywhere you look can become an inspiring idea. Thanks for pointing out ideas in such an honest straightforward way I love it..
Dec 26th, 2007
OracleTube.com
i have been jotting down ideas on my mobile for last 2 years. eventually i started noticing good ideas.
Cheers,
Praveen.
Feb 13th, 2008
TheWorldOfM
Oracle tube >
I hope you’re backing up those things, we all know how utterly reliable mobiles are and how they’re never targets for thefts, don’t we?
Feb 14th, 2008
Jilli
@ Brian Holiman
you could get a divers slate as mentioned by Gerald…OR you could get those fantastic bathtub crayons…yeah…i have kids.
@ Leo
this is a great article and I do think it’s a great idea to keep something to write with on you all the time… or (as Melissa mentioned), I keep my cheap digital camera in my pocket at all times. that way, when something triggers an idea, take a picture of it. Then you have neat pics and ideas!!
Feb 21st, 2008
cima
am linking ur article into my blog, can I?
Mar 10th, 2008
garry
So many great ideas to help gain that initial spark that can get the brain working to create a fantastic article. Nothing beats carrying a wee note pad and pen wherever you go, or even use your mobile phone to take a few notes. For the past 4 months I haven’t been able to exercise properly due to a work related injury and my mind, defiantly isn’t as sharp as it was when I was exercising most days. I find going down to the beach and just letting your mind wonder watching the waves, helps to stimulate the mind.
Apr 1st, 2008
Cody Rapol
Great list
Apr 10th, 2008
manish soni
i want become a succesesfull person who will achive every thing of life.
Apr 10th, 2008
Rhonda
Fantastics tips that will impact you positively in life.
http://inspirationforch.stumbleupon.com
May 4th, 2008
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