Ideas...

(1B).

(The following is a response to Mitch Ditkoff's article "14 Ways To Get Breakthrough Ideas" which can by found at Change This, a web site bent on spreading what they consider to be important ideas and changing the minds of their audiences. You can also follow Mitch Ditckoff on Twitter.)

In Mitch Ditkoff's article "14 Ways To Get Breakthrough Ideas", Ditkoff attempts to detail certain procedures, or mindsets, that will help the creative individual to find an end to their means. That being said, it seems that Ditkoff does a good job overall of coming up with creative fuel for the creative individual. Below, I have detailed three of Ditkoff's fourteen ways to get ideas. Though I believe most of Ditkoff's suggestion are decent catalysts for contemplating one's creative self, or that which one is currently creating, I believe that these three ideas are particularly advisable to execute for the creative individual...

1) "Follow Your Fascination"...

Though this might seem a bit cliche, or obvious, I believe that this is very good advice. How can one succeed at something if they are not fascinated by it, or passion about it?

A simple example of this from my own life would be taking classes. If I care about a class, I can succeed, but if there is a class that is boring that has little real value in my own life then it is hard for me to find it fascinating. Without this fascination, the passion is lacking, and therefore I tend to do more poorly.

For me, fascination is necessity in creation. I only create (write/produce/edit) things that I am fascinated in, and this seems to do well in giving me the creative momentum I need to complete each new project that I start.

5) "Fantacize"...

Ditkoff says that few of us are ever encouraged to fantasize, and I believe that there is a lot of truth to this statement. I can remember countless times in my life when someone has given me an odd look just for going off on a tangent about one of my ideas or plans. Most people try to think with the masses, because they believe that this is what the masses want and praise.

There are three types of thinkers: the fantasizers, those who do not fantasize, and those who fantasize but keep their mind's more fantastical inventions to themselves...

I personally believe that those who defy the masses, who allow themselves to fantasize and think outside the box, are those who tend to set each cultural norm in its primacy. The only times that I can remember really getting what I believed to be true positive feedback from something I created was when it was something that people found unique, or novel.

9) "Notice And Challenge Existing Patterns And Trends"...

I believe that this final idea goes hand in hand with the previous idea: those who are willing to fantasize tend to notice and challenge the pre-exissting patterns, or trends, within any facet of society.

Within media, these are the revolutionaries who have been willing to study their predecessors, but also to break away from some of the norms and traditions that those forerunners have set. In my previous post, "Creative Influences..." (which can be found below or by clicking the title) briefly details the life of Andy Kaufman, the man and the controversy. Though Kaufman had quite the conventional early career (working for Saturday Night Live and other primetime and mainstream television shows), Andy Kaufman really became a legend when he stepped outside of the box that comedy had been slowly placed into up until that point.

Defying the trends and patterns he knew so well, Kaufman began to start a comedy revolution, able to do so with fame already in tow from his previous work in mainstream television.

With this power, Kaufman suddenly chose to do what he found funny instead of what he was sure his loyal devotees would, such as getting a hundreds-thick audience hyped up only to wind up reading them the entire novel The Great Gatsby. With pranks like this, Kaufman eventually began a new wave of comedy, often leading the audience to question who he was and what he was getting at, whether than just getting them to laugh at singular gags and jokes.

Though he passed away many years ago officially, some people even think Kaufman faked his own death as a joke and is still alive somewhere today, laughing at the world...

It can be hard to defy what works because what works is what people are sure will make money. That being said, when risk is taken, a greater reward can often follow.

THE JIST...

In essence, I believe following one's creative intuition is best, but that being aware of one's audience and how one's creation might be received can be equally important.

CHALLENGE...

After Mitch Ditkoff's fifth suggestion, "Fantasize", he prompts the reader with the following:

"Think of a current challenge of yours. What would a fantasy solution to this challenge look like? What clues does this fantasy solution give you?"

Thinking about my own life in particular, I have been facing a financial challenge for at least a year now. Every college student deals with bills and the works, but if I don't think of a solution for my dilemma within the next ten weeks or so, I could jeopardize my house, and ultimately, my ability to attend Ohio University...

A fantasy solution to this would be if I were to hit the lottery today. I suppose this could be considered a realist solution, but I personally don't believe there is a realistic possibility that I will hit the jackpot any time soon. That being said, the lottery is a fantasy solution to my fiscal problem, or a solution that diverges from reality.

The fact that this solution sounds so perfect and yet so far-fetched clues me into the fact that it might take some realistic, critical thinking to actually solve the problem at hand. Either way, Ditkoff forcing me to address the issue makes me want to come up with creative solutions right this second.

FINAL QUOTE...

"...fantasizing is exactly how many breakthrough ideas get their start - by some maverick, flake, or dreamer entertaining the seemingly impossible."

Mitch Ditkoff.

JAC...