3–from–1 "What is an idea?" #135 😊
3–from–1 by arnt eriksen
"To sit on an idea or fail to act on a goal is not really goal-setting, but wishful thinking."
— Les Brown
What is an Idea?
We all have them, but what are they really? Ideas are the root of all creativity and progress. But what are they? Where do they come from? How can we have more of them?
An idea is a new connection between existing information or experiences. You have an idea when you see that thing A could be used to solve problem B or when you have a new insight into how something works. Ideas are the raw material of progress. They are the building blocks of businesses, products, services, campaigns and movements. All progress starts with an idea. And yet for something so important, we know very little about where ideas come from or how we can have more of them.
There are two competing theories about where ideas come from:
Combinatorial Creativity and Associative Creativity.
Combinatorial Creativity is the process of putting together existing pieces in new ways. It’s what happens when you have a “eureka” moment while taking a shower or going for a walk. The breakthrough comes from seeing things in a new light and making connections that no one has made before.
Associative creativity is the process of connecting ideas based on similarities in their meaning or sound. It’s what happens when you have a sharp insight while talking to someone else or reading something unrelated to what you’re working on. The breakthrough comes from seeing the similarity between two things that no one has noticed before.
The best ideas are usually a mix of both combinatorial and associative thinking.
To have more ideas, we need to become better at both generating new combinations and spotting new similarities. We need to become comfortable with uncertainty and ambiguity, and we need to take more risks. And we need to create the conditions that are conducive to having good ideas: places where people feel safe to experiment and fail, where there is open-mindedness to new perspectives, where there is a diversity of thought and experience, and where there is a willingness to question assumptions and challenge orthodoxies.
Why it matters:
An idea is a new connection between existing information or experiences; it is the building block of businesses, products, services, campaigns and movements; all progress starts with an idea; To have more ideas, we need to become better at both generating new combinations and spotting new similarities; We also need to create the conditions that are conducive to having good ideas like places where people feel safe to experiment and fail without judgement as well as openness towards new perspectives.
So, what is an Idea? It is a thing, a thought with impact and consequences.
Agree? Disagree? Have something to add? Let me know!
Ok, let's move on with the show, shall we 😊
INSIGHT: BRAND : Patagonia In The Making
"In April 2017, the authors of Legacy In The Making visited me at Patagonia’s headquarters, in Ventura, California, to talk about the legacy I’m building as the founder of Patagonia. We talked about a lot of things, some of which I’d never spoken about before. Afterwards, when they asked me if I’d share some of those insights and stories in the foreword to their book and I made it clear: I never wanted to be a conventional businessman. I liked climbing rocks, not corporate ladders.
“Exactly,” they responded. “That’s why we asked you.”
It’s true. I never set out to be a businessman. Over the years, I’ve learned a lot about business with Chouinard Equipment and Patagonia, the two outdoor outfitters I founded. But I’m a creature of the 1960s. I never liked authority. I was a rock climber.... READ MORE"
How to be Engaging. Do receivers get enough information to act, or will they be left with more questions that prevent them from taking action? Will they care? Will they be moved or touched, in some shape or form?
INSIGHT: STRATEGY: Brand Revitalization Strategy
"For several brands, one of the outcomes from coronavirus is the reinspection and revitalization of their brand experiences. Peloton and Netflix are just two. Peloton is becoming a subscriber brand while becoming more of a mass brand. Netflix is now offering ad-supported services and is getting into gaming.
But, it cannot be mere coincidence that, at the moment, three brands in fast food are “remaking” their brand experiences... READ MORE"
INSIGHT: MARKETING : "Make a lot of mistakes"
"This Advice From Steve Jobs Is Only 5 Words, But It Teaches a Master Class in How to Build a Great Business. Steve Jobs's emotionally intelligent approach to mistake-making can help you build a better business. The year was 1984. It was shortly before Steve Jobs left Apple and several years before Jobs would go on to conduct one of the biggest turnarounds in business history, bringing Apple from the brink of bankruptcy to become one of the most valuable companies in the world... READ MORE"
Why identity and branding are important for startups and small businesses
As a startup or small business, you might think that identity and branding are two things you can worry about later on down the road… But here’s the thing: identity and branding are more important for startups and small businesses than for established companies…
Click to read my latest blog post
END NOTE
In its simplest form, an idea is thought with consequences. But as anyone who has ever had a truly great idea knows, it is so much more than that. An idea has the power to change lives, start businesses, and even create brand legacies. It is the spark of creativity that can make anything possible. And it all starts with a single thought. So what is an idea? It is the beginning of something beautiful and big. It is the power to change the world. And it all starts with you. Ideas are the things that matter. They are the things that make us who we are and shape our future. So never discount the power of a single idea. Because it just might be the one that changes everything.
Thanks for reading.
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Be safe — stay awesome!
Brand You Economics — timeless, tangible tools and principles to enable a brand legacy is available as an audiobook on Audible. I consume a book over the course of 3 days while working out, which is perfect. My attention is on the content and to absorb the knowledge that is presented. I hope you enjoy it!
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