5 Unorthodox Ways To Get Inspired
Looking for that moment of inspiration can be daunting. Especially if you have no method or process in place to help you. The following five ways are the most effective ways that inspire me:
1. Present Your Initial Ideas
While the purpose might be to find the golden idea, we often overlook the value of collaboration with the current ideas that are on the table. Believe it or not, this method works and will help you to come up with new ideas! A fresh perspective can bring volumes of insight.
2. Eavesdrop
Drive yourself to the nearest coffee shop, buy something to blend in, and try to sit near the most conversational people. Start writing down everything they say. I know, I know eavesdropping on someone’s conversation is down-right wrong. But your objective isn’t to publish their story, it is to find ideas within what they say and how you are hearing it.
There was a time I was working on an Ad Campaign for a window film company. The whole team was stuck for days at a time. The Creative Director and I took a walk to the local coffee shop, blended in and just listened to what other people were saying. We went back to the office, and read out loud parts of the conversations that we had just heard. Soon enough the creative team came up with more ideas than we ever imagined. Yes, it is a real story!
3. Write, Write, Write
Get away from looking for inspiration and sit down with the purpose to write. Jot down your thoughts, feelings, emotions, and/or just rant about anything. Writing without a purpose helps explore your inner most thoughts without forcing them to come alive. One neat thing my business partner and I try to do (if time permits) is a Quote of the Week. I find that just writing my thoughts on a quote helps refresh and energize my creativity. It is just one way to get out of the norm.
4. Surround Yourself With Music
Sometimes to get yourself in the moment you have to turn the music on loud and allow yourself to become absorbed with the tunes. Listen to the beats, the lyrics, and see what visuals you can draw from it. But of course, if your more of the soft music type, that works as well. ☺
5. Surround Yourself With Images
Sometimes all it takes is looking at images for some level of inspiration. Whether it is a breathtaking view, or a vacation that you took most recently. Inspiration is about abundance and experiences. So try and re-live an event. You just never know where the next big idea is hiding.
Happy Inspiration
Mitesh Solanki