Whether you’re trying to come up with ideas for your marketing, for your content, your products, your new book or even your bedroom’s decor –

Sometimes you just don’t have a good idea.

So if you’re stuck on ideas and need help – this #bookshelf post if for you.

What is this book about, anyway?

What if I told you that there is a simple, and methodical way to generate ideas?

Would you try it?

Cuz the main idea behind this book is simple:

Although we view ideas as some magical moments that appear out of nowhere… they’re actually not. They’re no accidents.

And in fact – there is a very simple and straight forward process for creating new ideas.

Learn how to use it – and you’ll be able to generate ideas at will.

So – in this 1960’s classic – James Webb Young will teach you a simple, 5 step technique for producing ideas!

The #1 A-Ha moment I’ve had from this book / The main message

Ideas are nothing by a combination of old components, brought together in a new way.

In advertising – Ideas are a combination of our knowledge in the specific details of what we wanna sell (the product, the audience)…

…and general details about stuff we know about the world.

The process for creating new ideas

The process for creating new ideas is ridiculously simple, but super effective.

It has 5 core steps:

STEP #1: Research

This is where you get started every single time.

Since new ideas are nothing but a combination of old components, brought together in a new way…

You gotta first collect those old components.

So – you start with research. what has been said about this topic? What has been done in it?

Collect as much info as you can,

STEP #2: Immersion time

Got a bunch of raw materials about your topic? Articles, blog posts, pictures, examples, interviews and such?

Good job. Now it’s immersion time –

Where you basically spread everything you have – and start examining it. Search for connections and interesting ways to combine your data… But don’t push it.

if a crazy idea or a though come into your mind – write it down. it doesn’t have to be perfect.

Do this until you’re sick of it, and can’t think or look at any of your findings anymore.

When you got this “ugh – I can’t look at it anymore” type feeling – it means you’ve successfuly completed step #3.

STEP #3: Get away

Now that you’ve chewed all your research, let yourself rest. This way – you allow your subconscious to do its job, and to find cool, new connections between your research materials.

Ideas are nothing by a combination of old components, brought together in a new way.

So – Get away.

watch a movie. go to a concert. smoke some pot. who knows.

Point being – leave it alone, and try to keep your mind off of it.

STEP #4: The idea will pop into your mind

it will be unexpected, and will come out of no where.

maybe you’ll be in the shower. in bed, about to fall asleep. or maybe early in the morning, when you struggle to find your way outta bed.

Be prepared for it, and have a phone or a pen-and-paper next to you to jot it down.

STEP #5: Grow your idea from a complete blur… to something concrete

At this point you gotta take the raw, unpolished idea that popped into your head – and polish it into something concrete that will survive the real world.

Cuz hey – in most cases – your idea won’t be 100% logical or “done” when it spits outta your head. So take some time (and patience) to polish your raw stone into a gorgeous diamond.

What to do now? Where should you start implementing the book in your life?

Simple – pick a topic you want to find an idea in – and give this technique a go!

you’ll never know if it will work for you untill you try it.

– xoxo, Nataliya.