In Ditkoff’s article he lists 14 ways to get breakthrough ideas and a way to start each of these 14 suggestions. This article is helpful to those individuals who struggle with creative thinking, which seems to be everyone at a particular or another. There were three suggestions which stood out to me. The first idea I found interesting was number 7, listen to your subconscious. At first this stuck out to me because it was funny. How does one listen to their subconscious? The idea presented was to just follow you intuition at times, but more so how a person’s mind slowly becomes consumed by a problem. The examples Ditkoff presents of “eureka moments” seem to be examples of how some people’s minds think after long struggles of brainstorming solutions to a problem. It shows how the brain seems to think of the presented problem at spare moments of the day, or how inspiration for a solution or idea presents itself in everyday life. Part of this is the way the mind becomes consumed by ideas for a solution to the point the person may not even realize they are thinking of potential solutions. Another part of this is the way inspiration can strike at any time and it is up to the person to recognize this inspiration. I think this is a good way to retrieve answers to problems; it just may be hard for some. As a creative person I try to recognize inspiration, even if the time is inconvenient.
Another idea Ditkoff presented was number 9, notice and challenge existing patterns and trends. Now this is a good way to make money but may be too compromising to some creative people. As a creative person I have always struggled with the balance of staying true to myself while pursuing opportunities. The idea of “selling out” immediately entered my mind. As an artist it is hard to compromise yourself to following the trends, but Ditkoff also presented the idea of going against trends to achieve breakout success. Personally as an artist I think it will always be somewhat of a struggle to follow the leader, while it may be scary to go against the norm, I just have to go with what feels right at the time.
The final idea Ditkoff presented that stuck out to me was number 11; Brainstorm. This seems like the most basic of ways to achieve a breakthrough idea but is the most effective. It helps me a great deal to bounce ideas back and forth with another creative person because afterwards the idea is better and more defined. The idea develops more and more until the people involved with the brainstorm think it is the best it can be. I like to work with two to five people to get the most out of my ideas. Even with my solo work I bounce ideas off of friends and peers to see what their input is. Also brainstorming with others presents an idea of what the audience may think.
One of the final prompts
#14 Suspend Logic
What can you do this week to suspend practicality, logic and rationality in service to birthing
your big idea
This week, in order to suspend practicality, logic, and rationality in service to birthing my big idea, I can just create. When I am working on some music I can just play, not think. Sometimes with music the composer will strive for success so much they ignore their instincts as a creator and think of how the audience will receive it. This is a good way to achieve some success but the way to achieve true success is to foster you instincts so much you do not have to think. Doing what you feel is the best way to create. Audiences seem to have the biggest reactions to something that seems natural and not forced. So I should just jam and fool around. I should do what I did as a novice and just fool around and abandon all inhibition. It would also to lose my ego while I write, complete detachment from how I perceive myself. Going back to the basics is always good.
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