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 303 of The World’s Worst Predictions, 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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