Comments on: How to grow ideas http://www.sametz.com/roundthesquare/posts/2009/08/how-to-grow-ideas/ Just another WordPress weblog Tue, 03 Jan 2012 21:12:57 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.4 By: Tamsen http://www.sametz.com/roundthesquare/posts/2009/08/how-to-grow-ideas/comment-page-1/#comment-137 Tamsen Tue, 18 Aug 2009 13:56:59 +0000 http://www.sametz.com/roundthesquare/?p=952#comment-137 Great point, Michelle--I wrote this from the perspective of the gardener, but by bringing it up specifically you made me realize that it's not always about being a solo gardener. Sometimes you need a coop, which, while related to #7, is a different concept. Sometimes the group makes the difference.... Great point, Michelle–I wrote this from the perspective of the gardener, but by bringing it up specifically you made me realize that it’s not always about being a solo gardener. Sometimes you need a coop, which, while related to #7, is a different concept.

Sometimes the group makes the difference….

]]> By: Michelle Tripp http://www.sametz.com/roundthesquare/posts/2009/08/how-to-grow-ideas/comment-page-1/#comment-99 Michelle Tripp Fri, 14 Aug 2009 13:55:02 +0000 http://www.sametz.com/roundthesquare/?p=952#comment-99 Love this post, Tamsen! At first I couldn't even think of anything else required for ideas to grow, but then it hit me... #8: It takes a great GARDENER! Coming from the agency world, we live in a swirl of ideas. But the success of the harvest is ultimately a result of having a leader that has the vision and wisdom to know which seeds to focus resources on. When there's only so much time, water, sunlight, and soil, it's essential to have someone who can provide experience and guidance, and keep the goal in focus. Especially when multiple ideas take energy and resources away from each other, it's key to have a gardener who knows what will likely be the most promising crop. And not to mention seeing beyond the ideas of the moment and having vision for next season. Maybe that's #9: Garden Strategy ;) Thanks again for a great post! Love this post, Tamsen! At first I couldn’t even think of anything else required for ideas to grow, but then it hit me… #8: It takes a great GARDENER!

Coming from the agency world, we live in a swirl of ideas. But the success of the harvest is ultimately a result of having a leader that has the vision and wisdom to know which seeds to focus resources on.

When there’s only so much time, water, sunlight, and soil, it’s essential to have someone who can provide experience and guidance, and keep the goal in focus. Especially when multiple ideas take energy and resources away from each other, it’s key to have a gardener who knows what will likely be the most promising crop.

And not to mention seeing beyond the ideas of the moment and having vision for next season. Maybe that’s #9: Garden Strategy ;)

Thanks again for a great post!

]]> By: Tamsen http://www.sametz.com/roundthesquare/posts/2009/08/how-to-grow-ideas/comment-page-1/#comment-94 Tamsen Thu, 13 Aug 2009 20:28:34 +0000 http://www.sametz.com/roundthesquare/?p=952#comment-94 Great addition, Deanna. Ideas need nourishment in all forms! Great addition, Deanna. Ideas need nourishment in all forms!

]]> By: Tamsen http://www.sametz.com/roundthesquare/posts/2009/08/how-to-grow-ideas/comment-page-1/#comment-93 Tamsen Thu, 13 Aug 2009 20:15:32 +0000 http://www.sametz.com/roundthesquare/?p=952#comment-93 Ah, but I know you see, Chris, that it's not necessarily what's <em>in</em> the fertilizer, it's what you do with it, and how it works with all the other elements involved. See #7.... Ah, but I know you see, Chris, that it’s not necessarily what’s in the fertilizer, it’s what you do with it, and how it works with all the other elements involved. See #7….

]]> By: Tamsen http://www.sametz.com/roundthesquare/posts/2009/08/how-to-grow-ideas/comment-page-1/#comment-92 Tamsen Thu, 13 Aug 2009 20:11:22 +0000 http://www.sametz.com/roundthesquare/?p=952#comment-92 What's wonderful about the process you describe, Jennifer, is that it elevates the value of idea creation above that of judgment. We can never tell from the seed what the plant will ultimately look like, whether it will grow or die, whether it will conform to standards or do something new and different--the same is true with ideas. It's critically important to give ideas exposure, and consideration, before evaluating their worth. What’s wonderful about the process you describe, Jennifer, is that it elevates the value of idea creation above that of judgment. We can never tell from the seed what the plant will ultimately look like, whether it will grow or die, whether it will conform to standards or do something new and different–the same is true with ideas. It’s critically important to give ideas exposure, and consideration, before evaluating their worth.

]]> By: Deanna McNeil http://www.sametz.com/roundthesquare/posts/2009/08/how-to-grow-ideas/comment-page-1/#comment-91 Deanna McNeil Thu, 13 Aug 2009 19:18:56 +0000 http://www.sametz.com/roundthesquare/?p=952#comment-91 What I love about Jennifer's response? It details what I would call the "sunshine" required for any idea to grow. Great post, love how you took the next logical step from Chris's post. What I love about Jennifer’s response? It details what I would call the “sunshine” required for any idea to grow. Great post, love how you took the next logical step from Chris’s post.

]]> By: Chris Brogan... http://www.sametz.com/roundthesquare/posts/2009/08/how-to-grow-ideas/comment-page-1/#comment-90 Chris Brogan... Thu, 13 Aug 2009 17:55:40 +0000 http://www.sametz.com/roundthesquare/?p=952#comment-90 I'm worried that most of what I have is fertilizer. What a cool site design, and a much better summary of what I started so vaguely in the wee hours. Thank you for that! I’m worried that most of what I have is fertilizer.

What a cool site design, and a much better summary of what I started so vaguely in the wee hours. Thank you for that!

]]> By: Jennifer Blair http://www.sametz.com/roundthesquare/posts/2009/08/how-to-grow-ideas/comment-page-1/#comment-89 Jennifer Blair Thu, 13 Aug 2009 17:41:20 +0000 http://www.sametz.com/roundthesquare/?p=952#comment-89 Some Thoughts on Creativity & Idea Generation: 1.)There are commercial companies that specialize in New Product Research & Idea Generation. Some even have rotating groups of bright brainstormers from different age groups, economic backgrounds, and even countries. Good results have been produced when a creative group has been isolated for a weekend with a specific problem to solve. Large groups are broken into smaller groups, when then produce lots of ideas. The best ideas from each small group are recorded, then people are switched. This continues until all have been matched with each other. Then the ideas (no matter how wild) are evaluated, with pros & cons thrown out (and often other, new ideas are generated). Favorites are selected. Facilitators keep the process moving along. In the best environments, commercial artists are waiting to transform the hottest ideas into samples and story boards. It's an incredibly energizing environment and actually produces wonderful results, fast. 2.) For individuals, Barbara Sher runs "Idea Parties" for real people - live, on the phone, and on Twitter - in which a person submits a "Wish" and an "Obstacle". Again, a group of diverse people brainstorm & offer their suggestions, practical advice, and real-life connections. The more people, the better. Amazing results have happened this way, too. In fact, in March of 2009, Ms. Sher had a free idea party on Twitter that launched hundreds of dreams. It was truly inspiring! Some Conclusions: -Ideas flow when a motivated group gets together. -It helps to have a moderator to control the flow and keep things on track. -A large, widely diverse group is better than a small, "inbred" one. -No initial idea should be thrown out until something worthwhile is found in it. This is a fascinating topic, and one well worth exploring further. Thanks for starting a great discussion. Warm regards, Jennifer Blair Some Thoughts on Creativity & Idea Generation:

1.)There are commercial companies that specialize in New Product Research & Idea Generation. Some even have rotating groups of bright brainstormers from different age groups, economic backgrounds, and even countries.

Good results have been produced when a creative group has been isolated for a weekend with a specific problem to solve.

Large groups are broken into smaller groups, when then produce lots of ideas. The best ideas from each small group are recorded, then people are switched. This continues until all have been matched with each other. Then the ideas (no matter how wild) are evaluated, with pros & cons thrown out (and often other, new ideas are generated). Favorites are selected. Facilitators keep the process moving along.

In the best environments, commercial artists are waiting to transform the hottest ideas into samples and story boards. It’s an incredibly energizing environment and actually produces wonderful results, fast.

2.) For individuals, Barbara Sher runs “Idea Parties” for real people – live, on the phone, and on Twitter – in which a person submits a “Wish” and an “Obstacle”. Again, a group of diverse people brainstorm & offer their suggestions, practical advice, and real-life connections. The more people, the better. Amazing results have happened this way, too. In fact, in March of 2009, Ms. Sher had a free idea party on Twitter that launched hundreds of dreams. It was truly inspiring!

Some Conclusions:
-Ideas flow when a motivated group gets together.
-It helps to have a moderator to control the flow and keep things on track.
-A large, widely diverse group is better than a small, “inbred” one.
-No initial idea should be thrown out until something worthwhile is found in it.

This is a fascinating topic, and one well worth exploring further. Thanks for starting a great discussion.

Warm regards,
Jennifer Blair

]]>