1.B 14 ways to get Ideas response.

First of all you can find the reading at this link:
http://changethis.com/manifesto/49.06.14Ways/pdf/49.06.14Ways.pdf

Mitch Ditkoff's suggestions I feel are very useful, he discusses different ways to get ideas in a process that offers a low stress atmosphere and a go at your own pace standard. The ways that are offered are not that grueling. The exercises may last a week for example where one writes down ideas as they go, or  it may promote the urge to try something new they normally wouldn't. Another idea given was to just meet new people and surround yourself around people who you wouldn't normally be around with. This is to help promote opportunities for ideas to come through by listening to other experiences. Another option is to just create a list of different items and see if there is a way you can connect them in order to create different ideas. In fact I think it is a very smart way to go about it because only one person can control the way someone goes about getting inspired for ideas and that is themselves. So regardless of what other people may say, someone can only go about getting ideas in a manor that works for them.

For example I think the very first idea of "Follow Your Fascination" is a good process because some of the best ideas were discovered because the person had an interest in the field. I mean why would someone want to come up with ideas for something they don't have an interest in? For example Les Paul the famous musician helped develop the first electric guitars, why? because he wanted to evolve the sound and the use of the guitar into something that would make it revolutionary which ended up helping the development of Rock 'n Roll by laying down the foundation. Just imagine what could be created if people acted on their interests and fascinations more often. That is why I think I will try and pay attention to things that fascinate me more and see what ideas I can come up with because who knows what the next big thing will be.

I also think the third suggestion of "Tolerate Ambiguity" is also a very helpful notion. The first or "rough draft" if you will, will not be perfect the first try. This is why this suggestion is so good. Instead of giving up, keep at it, keep evolving ideas until you look at all aspects of the thought. I felt the Thomas Edison quote of "I didn't fail, I learned 800 times what didn't work." Offered some insight as to what was the whole point of this suggestion. If something doesn't work, just adjust it, and then try again. In the end you might find something. I think I'll try and do this more often, instead of getting frustrated and giving up, I'll just evolve the thought until I get that right combination and if not well I'll just keep trying.

Finally I think one of his best suggestions is to "Fantasize." Some of the most creative ideas ever imagined happened when someone was day dreaming. The thought of just letting one's mind wonder around without a leash can really bring together some very creative ideas. In fact in some song writing work shops they preform an exercise where everybody day dreams for like five minutes and then everybody writes down the ideas they gathered from the day dreaming exercise. Personally I believe fantasizing could only help with coming up with good ideas and I might try and do it more, except for when I'm in class...


 What new idea of yours is bubbling on the brink of breakthrough? In what ways can you stay
with it, even if something in you is impatient for a breakthrough?


Well I have an idea for a song I'm working on, I've been struggling with the lyrics but I pretty much have the music figured out. I just can't seem to find the lyrics I need to complete the song. I can stay with it in many different ways. For example, I could work on the song a half an hour a day, I can look it over, go through the music I've written down, work on the timing in the strumming pattern and I can revise the lyrics I have written down. By doing this everyday, I can constantly have "fresh eyes" looking at the project and I'd be able to see something I hadn't the day before. This process will help me because by looking at other ways of improving the song I'm working on, I could make the song even better then what is now and hopefully have the song reach it's full potential.