Practical Tools and Wise Quotes on All Matters Creative

Toolbox 3: Psychological

How To Invent (Almost) Anything > Toolbox 3: Psychological

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Having discussed in some detail how the brain really works, it is now time to get closer to the bone and start looking at how we can turn around nature’s greatest invention from being a thing that drives our lives to a tool for enjoyable and profitable invention. In this chapter, we will pull together the key parts of the previous three chapters and build some critical tools for use in subsequent chapters.

The basic equation

The basic technique of producing creative ideas can be summed up in a simple equation:

Problem + Stimulus – Blocks = Ideas

This toolbox thus contains two chapters: one on removing the blocks and one on providing the stimulus that should light the fires of creation to produce wonderful new ideas!

10. Getting Past the Blocks

• 10.1. Three Sources of Blocks
• 10.2. Three Types of Block
• 10.3. Mental Blocks
• 10.4. Silencing the Inner Critic
• 10.5. Who Needs Experts?
• 10.6. Environmental Unblocking
• 10.7. Block Demolition
• 10.8. Unblocking Entire Companies

11. Stimulating Ideas

• 11.1. Challenging
  • 11.1.1. Challenging: Challenge
  • 11.1.2. Challenging: Assumption Busting
  • 11.1.3. Challenging: PO
• 11.2. Creating Tension
  • 11.2.1. Creative Tension: Incubation
  • 11.2.2. Creative Tension: Goal-Setting
  • 11.2.3. Creative Tension: Pre-inventive Forms
  • 11.2.4. Creative Tension: Truth and Vision
  • 11.2.5. Creative Tension: Wishing

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