Mindstorming

How to Mindstorm using the 20 idea method of solo brainstorming

Here's a creative thinking technique that works like gangbusters! You probably know all about or at least have a pretty good idea of what brainstorming is, but do you know what mindstorming is?

With brainstorming, you get a group of people together and just generate as many ideas (in response to your challenge) as possible -- without any judgement or editing while you are doing it. It's a great way to combine the computational and creative power of many minds. But what if you don't have a group of people to brainstorm with? Or what if you just want to do your creative thinking on your own? That's where Mindstorming or the 20 Ideas Method comes in. Think of it as solo brainstorming. Here's how it works:

Mindstorming Instructions

Tools: Paper and a pen

Set up: Write the problem / challenge / goal at the top of the page.

Note: The more specific you are, the better the results you will get.

Action steps: Begin to generate ideas or answers to your challenge. Keep going until you have at least 20 answers or ideas.

Key points: Your first answers will come easily. Keep pushing until you have reached at least 20. Just let the answers and ideas flow. While solo brainstorming or mindstorming, you set the judgemental mind aside. That means tell that spiteful inner critical voice to shut up! We're just working with the creative mind. Ideas can be whacky and crazy. It doesn't matter.

Afterwards: Once you have your 20 ideas, go back over them and choose the one that feels right to you. Trust your instincts with this. Your unconscious mind is a wonderful guide if you relax and trust it.

Optional: When you have chosen your idea, you can put that at the top of another page, and do mindstorming to generate 20 ideas on how you could implement that idea.

This creative thinking technique can trigger ideas and breakthroughs that can shortcut years of hard work.

Source: I first heard about this idea of Mindstorming on Brian Tracy's audio program, Thinking Big: The Keys To Personal Power and Maximum Performance. I can highly recommend it to you. Brian Tracy has a brilliant way of communicating top quality information in a very clear and usable way. The section on Unlocking Your Creativity alone was worth the price. It is packed with valuable ideas you can immediately apply.