E.
Solving Creativity Problems
Unfortunately, hardly any invention ever works right or
"flies" the first time it’s built. You need to build and test it
to be aware of the working problems. If you don’t, the first
builder, whoever it is, will inevitably face them. If this is a
corporation to which you’ve sold or licensed your invention,
it’s sure to create problems. If your first construction doesn’t
work, don’t be discouraged; expect problems and expect to
solve them through perseverance. If you don’t believe
me, consider Edison’s views on this subject:
“Genius? Nothing! Sticking to it is the genius! Any other
bright-minded fellow can accomplish just as much if he
will stick like hell and remember nothing that’s any good
works by itself. You’ve got to make the damn thing work!…
I failed my way to success.”
If you show your invention to someone and you get static
in return, don’t necessarily get discouraged; the history of
invention abounds with quotes from naysayers who were
proved to be disastrously wrong. The enlightening book
<i>303 of The World’s Worst Predictions,</i> by W. Coffey (see
Appendix 2, Resources: Government Publications, Patent
Websites, and Books of Use and Interest), is full of amusing
and insightful erroneous quotes. Here are a few teasers:
“Everything that can be invented has been invented.”
—U.S. Patent Office Director, urging President McKinley
to abolish the Office (1899)
“What, sir? You would make a ship sail against the wind
and currents by lighting a bonfire under her decks? I pray
you excuse me. I have no time to listen to such nonsense.”
—Napoleon Bonaparte to Robert Fulton, after hearing
Fulton’s plans for a steam engine driven boat
“I think there is a world market for about five computers.”
—Thomas J. Watson, IBM President (1956)
“Man won’t fly for a thousand years.”
—Wilbur Wright to Orville
after a disappointing experiment in 1901
Many have analyzed the creative process, but so far
no one has come up with a foolproof recipe or technique
for innovating. However, almost all writers recommend
that, unless you already have a “flash of genius,” you first
thoroughly prepare and familiarize yourself with the field,
always keeping an open mind. Thereafter, some writers
recommend you wait a while (allot an incubation period)
to let your mind digest and work on the problem. Following
incubation, work on the problem again and insight may come,
sometimes in bits and pieces. “To discover something you’ve
never seen before, walk the same path you walked yesterday.”
R.W. Emerson. Alternatively, some experts recommend
that, after preparation, one make a concentrated effort, which may
lead to frustration and withdrawal. But be patient, since the
insight, which may be an image or a fantasy, will usually come
thereafter. Of course follow-through is necessary to implement
and profit from the insight or fantasy.
If you have creativity problems, such as how to make
that great idea work, here are some specific techniques you
can use to enhance your creativity, and hopefully solve that
problem.
Frame It Differently: One of the most effective ways to
solve a problem is to "frame" the problem properly. Framing
is another way of describing the way in which one looks
at a situation. A common example of framing a problem
occurs when you try to move a bulky sofa through a small
doorway. If the first way doesn’t work, frame the problem
differently by turning the sofa upside down and trying
again. Or take another example: If you have an apparatus
which includes a lever, and you can’t find a design shape
for the lever which the machine will accommodate, look
at the situation another way; perhaps you can redesign the
apparatus to eliminate the lever altogether!
Use Your Right Brain: In the course of trying to solve
a problem with an invention, you may encounter a brick
wall of resistance when you try to think your way logically
through the problem. Such logical thinking is a linear type
of process (that is, one step follows another), which utilizes
our rational faculties, located in the left side of our brains.
This works fine when we’re operating in the realm of what
we know or have experienced. However, when we need to
deal with new information, ideas, and perspectives, linear
thinking will often come up short. On the other hand,
creativity by definition involves the application of new
information to old problems and the conception of new
perspectives and ideas. For this you will be most effective if
you learn to operate in a nonlinear manner, that is, use your
right brain or creative faculties. Stated differently, if you
think in a linear manner, you’ll tend to be conservative and
keep coming up with techniques which are already known.
This, of course, is just what you don’t want.
One way to engage your right-brain faculties in a search
for a creative solution to your quandary is to pose the
problem in clear terms and then forget about it and think
of something completely different. For example, if you can’t
fit that lever in your apparatus, think of a different activity,
or just take a break (how about a nice boating trip or a hike
in the woods). Your subconscious will work on the problem
while you’re "away." Then come back to the problem and
force your different activity onto your problem. In other
words, try to think of the apparatus and your boating
trip or hike simultaneously. You may find that a solution
appears by magic (for example, you may realize a way to
design the machine without the lever!).
Let Go of Assumptions: If you adhere to assumptions,
you’ll never innovate, since innovation, by definition, is the
adoption of something new, the embarkation on an untrodden
path. As Erich Fromm said, "Creativity requires the
courage to let go of [assumed] certainties." So if you’ve got a
problem, try to see what assumptions you’re making (they’re
usually hidden) and then let them go or try to cancel
them and see what you come up with.
Meditation: Another way to bring out your creativity
is to meditate on the problem or meditate merely to get
away from the problem. Either will help. As strange as it
seems, some experts say that creativity can be enhanced
during reverie by listening to a largo movement from a
baroque symphony. At least you’ll enjoy it! Also, the use of
biofeedback machines can induce or teach deep relaxation
with enhanced alpha, or even theta brain waves, a very
effective stimulus to creativity.
Dreams: Some creative people find dreams the most
effective way of all to solve problems. Or as Edison said:
“I never invented anything; my dreams did.”
Elias Howe solved the basic problem of his sewing
machine in a dream. He saw some tribal warriors who
ordered him to come up with a solution or they would kill
him. He couldn’t make a solution, so the warriors then
threw their spears at him. When the spears came close, he
saw that each had a hole near its tip. He awoke from the
nightmare in terror, but soon realized the symbology: he
put a hole near the tip of his bobbin needle and passed the
thread through. Again, the rest is history.
Similarly, Mendeleev came up with the periodic table of
the elements in a dream.
To stimulate creative dreaming, first immerse yourself
in the problem near bedtime. Then forget about it—do
something completely different and go to sleep. Your
subconscious will be able to work on the problem. You’ll
most likely have a dream with an inspiration or insight.
Then remember the dream and evaluate the insight to find
out if it’s correct (sometimes it won’t be!).
Note that you’ll forget most dreams, so keep a dream
diary or notebook handy, by your bedside. Also, you’ll find
a pen with a built-in flashlight is also helpful. Before you
go to bed, repeat fifteen times, "I’ll remember my dreams."
Whenever you do dream, wake up (you’ll find it possible to
do this if you intend to do so beforehand) and write your
dreams down promptly. Once they are written down, forget
about them, go back to sleep, and try to figure them out in
the morning. Sometimes a week or more will pass before
the meanings become clear. Or talk your dreams over with
an equally inventive friend and see if he or she can get the
meaning—sometimes talking about it helps.
While sleep dreams are usually the most productive,
often daydreams will bring valued insight. So, don’t dismiss
your daydreams either!
Good luck. And pleasant dreams!
Computerized Creating: As strange as it may seem,
computers can be used to enhance creativity, solve
problems, bust through conceptual roadblocks, and get
into the recesses of your memory. Several "mindware" or
"CAT" (computer-aided thinking software) programs for
this purpose exist, and I believe they can be of significant
help in this area. The programs work by first asking you to
enter lots of details of your problem or area and then they
rearrange the details and suggest lots of modifications and
permutations for you to consider. One program is called
"The Idea Generator" from Experience In Software, Inc.,
Berkeley, California, but other programs and services exist
in this area.
The Hot Tub Method: This has been used by many
creative geniuses, starting with Archimedes who discovered
the principle of volumetric measurement while in his tub.
It works like this: When you relax in a hot tub for a long
period, the heat on your body mellows you out and dilates
your blood vessels so as to draw blood from your analytical
brain, allowing your creative subconscious to come to
the fore.
Unstructured Fanaticism: As "excellence guru" Tom
Peters states, structured planners rarely come up with the
really great innovations; monomaniacs who pursue a goal
with unstructured fanaticism often do. So let yourself go
and become an unreasonable madman—it may do the trick!
Group Brainstorming: If all else fails, get a group of
friends or trusted associates together (or on a computer
network) and throw the problem to the group. For some
unknown reason, a group of people working together often
come up with more good ideas than the same individuals
working separately. This synergistic method is often used
in corporations with great success. The use of others to help
innovate has been called "leveraging knowledge," since
one’s knowledge and abilities are multiplied by others in a
group.
Increase Self-Confidence: Those with more self-confidence
and self-esteem tend to be more venturesome,
and hence more creative. If you suffer from low self-confidence
or low self-esteem, you may wish to explore
local courses or read some of the self-improvement books
in Appendix 2, Resources: Government Publications, Patent
Websites, and Books of Use and Interest.
20 Questions: Dixie Hammond of Focus Works in Van
Nuys, California, suggested 20 questions you can ask to
encourage ideas:
- What if …?
- Can we improve …?
- How will a customer benefit?
- Are we forgetting anything?
- What is the next step?
- What can we do better?
- What do you think about …?
- How can we improve quality?
- How can we streamline?
- What should we modify?
- What should we replace?
- What should we add?
- What should we eliminate?
- Can we make any new assumptions?
- What will make it work?
- What other ideas do you have?
- What issues should we explore?
- What patterns can you see?
- How can we simplify?
- Why?
Idea Tools: Most inventions don’t work well as originally
developed. Here are some suggestions for modifying your
invention to make it work better:
Divide: Divide it into smaller components or separate
functions.
Combine: Combine separate ideas, parts, or functions.
Simplify: Simplify it—for example, by making it
smoother, or streamlined.
Substitute: Use different materials, parts, functions, or
ingredients.
Add: Add additional parts, movement, color, flavor,
sound, functions, textures, or ingredients.
Subtract: Remove parts or steps.
Reverse: Reverse the mode of operation or position, or
transpose cause and effect.
Minimize: Make it smaller, lighter, or lower.
Maximize: Make it bigger, stronger, better, higher, in
multiples; exaggerate it.
Redesign: Redesign the exterior or interior, change the
symmetry, speed, shape, function, or perspective; give it
new meaning.
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