This document is the introduction to a book titled "Think Unstuck" which provides methods for becoming creatively unstuck. It discusses how our minds can get stuck in routines and how we need new ways to interpret information. Each page of the book then provides a different technique to spark new ideas and help the reader get past a state of creative block, such as going outside, simplifying, reusing old ideas, and asking others for inspiration. The introduction explains that the book is meant to be read randomly, with the reader testing different techniques when feeling stuck.

1. Think Unstuc k
tanner christen s e n
Think Unstuck ! ! 1

2. Copyright 2010 Tanner Christensen.
Visit www.ThinkUnstuck.com.
First edition: May 2010.
Christensen, Tanner
Think Unstuck. First edition.
ISBN: 978-0-578-05881-8
Think Unstuck ! ! 2

3. For all the creative thinkers, dreamers, researchers,
educators, artists, and everyone else who colored
outside of the lines at one point or another.
Think Unstuck ! ! 3

4. Think Unstuck ! ! 4

5. The truth.
We’ve all been there.
! Sitting in front of a blank sheet of paper or
computer screen and feeling utterly stuck. No
matter how hard you try there is little you can do to
get unstuck. Your mind is completely out of ideas
and you feel helpless. This feeling of being
creatively stuck can be incredibly daunting.
! The truth is that we all experience the feeling
of being mentally stuck from time to time. You are
bound to find yourself stuck at sooner or later,
unable to come up with new ideas or solutions to a
problem you may be having.
! You don’t have to stay stuck, though. The
good news is that there are many ways for you to
get unstuck – a numberless amount, to be exact.
! Albert Einstein, Leonardo da Vinci, Thomas
Edison, Madame Curie, Walt Disney, and Charles
Darwin are just a few of the millions of people
throughout history who have discovered the power
of becoming unstuck. They have shown the world
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6. that getting unstuck is possible, but you first have to
know where to start.
! So, where do you start? The best place to
begin understanding the art of becoming unstuck is
to explore why we get stuck in the first place.
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7. “Why do we get stuck?”
In his book, “Cracking Creativity,” Michael Michalko
compares our minds to a bowl of ice cream.
! If you pour a spoonful of hot water over a
bowl of ice cream repetitively, the water will begin
to form deep grooves in the ice cream. If you keep
pouring, eventually the water will begin to
constantly follow a set path in the ice cream, carving
the trail even deeper.
! When information is poured into our mind it
flows like water over ice cream, into grooves or
paths. After a short while, these “grooves” in our
thinking become very deep. New information is
then likely to flow into our mind just like old
information, through previously created “grooves.”
! The grooves that form when we take in
information from the world around us are helpful
because it’s a way of thinking that has helped
humankind for hundreds of thousands of years.
! Even when faced with completely new
information, our brains will try to automatically
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8. spill the information into an existing groove – or
pattern of thinking – to process that data quickly.
Having new information flow into existing paths is
a convenient way of processing data or new
information, and it’s worked to help human beings
for thousands and thousands of years.
! Getting unstuck means that we need to find
new paths in our mind for the information that we
come across every day. We need to create different
ways for us to focus our attention, translate new
information, and interpret everything in our day-to-
day lives. This book will help you create new routes
for the information you absorb every day.
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9. How to use this book.
If you quickly flip through this book you’ll realize
that it is unlike most of the books you may have
ever read.
! Each page of this book is filled with a way
for you get unstuck. That is: every page holds a
way for you to create a new path for information to
flow into your brain. The ideas in this book will help
you ultimately find inspiration and get past a state
of creative block.
! It should be noted that this book is not
meant to be read front-to-back. In-fact: the best way
to read this book is to randomly flip to a page
whenever you feel creatively stuck, pick a number,
and go with whatever idea is behind that number.
! If one technique doesn’t seem to be working
for you, don’t hesitate to try two or three of the
methods explained throughout these pages.
!
Think Unstuck ! ! 9

10. Think Unstuck ! ! 10

11. 1. Go outside.
The phrase “outside the box” applies not only to
your brain, it applies to your physical state as well.
! Sitting indoors for any amount of time –
whether it’s in your office or in a café – forces your
mind to jump from one thing to the next almost
automatically. Being indoors, or even in a heavily
populated urban area, forces your brain to work
hard almost constantly.
! Going outdoors – into nature and under the
sun – allows your mind to float freely in a state of
“effortless attention.”
! Rachel and Stephen Kaplan, two famous
environmental research psychologists from the
University of Michigan, have even coined a term for
the creative benefits of going outdoors to think:
attention restoration theory (or ART).
! If the weather is bearable where you are, go
outside to think for a while.
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12. 2. Simplify.
You’ve likely heard of the acronym “K-I-S-S” or,
“keep it simple and stupid.”
! The principal of K-I-S-S was first coined by
Clarence Johnson, an aircraft engineer during the
early 1930s. Johnson believed that, by searching for
simple solutions, problems could be solved in
powerfully simple ways. This “simple” philosophy
is what led Johnson to develop an “H” styled tail for
airliners, which solved a major stability problem for
the industry.
! Ask yourself: “what is the absolute simplest
thing I could do?”
! Acknowledge that the absolute simplest
solution may be the best solution to pursue for your
current situation or problem.
! What is the simplest solution and how can
you make it happen?
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13. 3. Reuse an old idea.
Reusing an old idea to solve a new problem is an
easy way to find a solution, it’s also a great way to
fuel new ideas.
! Thomas Edison kept records of his ideas in
over 3,000 notebooks; he would often scan through
his past ideas to create new ones or to solve new
problems using old methods. If it wasn’t for his
reuse of old ideas, Edison would never have crafted
the reliable, long-lasting, electric light bulb.
! An idea journal is a great way to make sure
you never miss an opportunity to reuse an old idea.
! If you already have a journal, look through it
right now for inspiration. If you don’t already have
an idea journal, now would be a great time to start
one. Write in your idea journal any thoughts or
ideas that are stirring around in your head right
now, no matter what they are. Look to past ideas to
solve your current dilemma.
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14. 4. Think backwards.
Instead of working towards a goal, reverse your
thinking by working backwards.
! Kanzi, a Bonobo – or pygmy – chimpanzee,
known for being a featured subject in several
ground breaking studies, demonstrated the
powerful effect of working backwards when he
created stone tools by smashing regular stones
together and then using the remaining bits of
broken pieces as his tools going forward.
! If a pygmy chimpanzee can use backwards
thinking to solve problems, there’s no reason why
you can’t too.
! Think up the ideal, perfect result for your
problem or situation, then use your imagination to
determine how you got there. Working backwards
from your imaginary steps, write down each step it
takes to reach your ideal goal, then act on the
process you just thought of.
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15. 5. Reverse your perspective.
Ask yourself: “What if my problem or situation was
the opposite of what it currently is?”
! Scott Adams uses a reverse-perspective
technique to come up with creative ideas for his
world-famous comic strip “Dilbert.” The perspective
reversing technique works so well for Adams, it will
undoubtedly work for you too. Whenever he gets
stuck on what to do for a new comic, Adams asks
himself: “What if it’s the opposite?”
! How would you behave if your perspective
was reversed? What could you do if the source of
your problem or situation was reversed?
! Reverse your perspective of the problem or of
the solution you’re searching for and you will easily
find a way to get unstuck. If it fails, take a look at a
Dilbert comic strip and try to see the perspective that
Adams reversed.
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16. 6. Read a random page in a book.
Grab a book – the closest book to you other than this
one – and open it to a random page. Read the entire
page and then try to relate whatever it is that you
read to your current problem or situation.
! Steve Jobs, cofounder of one of the world’s
most popular computer and software
manufacturers, believes that connecting ideas of
seemingly unrelated things is the key to creativity.
! Here’s what Steve has to say on the theory:
“Creativity is just connecting things. When you ask
a creative person how they did something, they may
feel a little guilty because they didn’t really do it,
they just saw something. It seemed obvious to them
after a while.”
! Open up a book and read a random page,
then find a way to relate what you read to your
problem or situation.
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17. 7. Do something unusual.
Try a new blend of unique foods, stay up late
tonight and watch infomercials, or listen to a genre
of music that you normally despise. Do anything
that you wouldn’t normally do.
! Experiences affect how we create new ideas.
Our experiences help us think up new possibilities
about the world around us, and the best experiences
are always the ones that are unusual to us because
they force us to expand our knowledge and
experience something new.
! If you’re not fully convinced that new, unique
experiences are a great way to get creatively
unstuck, look back at the previous idea in this book
(6. Read a random page in a book) and see what
Steve Jobs, cofounder of Apple computers, has to
say about experiences and how they affect creativity.
! Try something unusual right now.
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18. 8. Dramatically change your pace.
For the next five minutes, try working at a much
faster or slower pace than you currently are or have
been attempting.
! Changing your pace can be refreshing and
help refuel your creativity. Even reading at a
different pace than you normally do could inspire
your creativity.
! By slowing your pace down dramatically,
you allow your mind to focus on things you would
otherwise miss or skip over. By speeding up your
pace, you create a sense of urgency, forcing your
brain to go into “production” mode.
! If anything, working at an extremely different
pace will help you feel reenergized by forcing your
mind to work a little bit harder.
! Take five minutes and try working at an
extremely different pace.
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19. 9. Ask a stranger for inspiration.
Sometimes the best way to get unstuck is to simply
ask someone else for their thoughts or opinions.
! Strangers may hold a surprising solution to
getting unstuck. The reason asking a stranger for
inspiration works is simply because a stranger
undoubtedly will have a perspective or opinion on
something that you never could have seen or
thought of before.
! Asking a stranger for insight is, by-far, the
easiest way to gain new insights into the world
around us, as well as fuel your creativity by learning
something new or from a different perspective.
! By asking a stranger for help you could learn
something that not only solves your problem, but
changes your mind about a different idea as well.
You won’t know until you get out there and ask,
right? So, go ask a stranger.
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20. 10. Take a break.
Stop whatever it is you are doing right now and
take a break.
! Watch a movie, get something to eat, relax
however you know how, do anything but what you
were doing before you started reading this book.
Give your mind a break from all the hard work it’s
been doing and let it recharge.
! Lynn Bradley, a writer and former broadcast
engineer-announcer, is an avid believer in taking
breaks. A few reasons Bradley believes taking breaks
is beneficial include: breaks relax your mind, they
allow your subconscious to work on the problem,
and they ultimately make life and work a little more
enjoyable. Who could argue with such positive
points as those?
! Take a break right now for a few minutes,
setting a timer if you feel the need.
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21. 11. Get rid of the unnecessary.
Does your problem or situation really need to
involve all of the things that it currently does? Get
rid of unnecessary elements to make getting
unstuck easier.
! Look at your problem – or think of the ideal
solution – and for each individual aspect ask
yourself whether it’s vital to success. If a piece of
your problem doesn’t have an impact on your ideal
result, get rid of it. If your problem includes things
out of your control or that don’t fully affect the end
result, you can make things easier on yourself by
ignoring or getting rid of them.
! First, identify which elements of your
problem or situation are unnecessary, then get rid of
them by throwing them out or ignoring them
completely.
! Do what you can to get rid of the
unnecessary elements in your problem or situation.
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22. 12. Ask “What would ______ do?”
Seeing your problems or situations from another
person’s perspective is a powerful way to getting
unstuck.
! Asking yourself: “What would someone else
do?”, is an easy and effective way to getting yourself
to think creatively.
! What would one of your best friends do if
they were in your shoes? What if you were your
pet? Imagine what your parents or relatives would
do in your situation. If you don’t have any idea of
what someone would do in your situation, call them
up on the phone or sit down with them in person
and ask.
! Use your imagination to determine what
someone else would do if you must, and remember:
the more realistic your imaginary perspective is, the
more realistic your outcome will be.
! Ask yourself: “What would _________ do?”
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23. 13. Look at things upside down.
If you don’t remember sitting upside down as a
child and gawking at how fascinating things looked,
now is a great time to remind yourself.
! Literally sit upside down and look around
you for a few minutes. What does the world look
like when the ceiling becomes the floor? How do
you feel about being on the roof with the rest of the
world beneath you? Does an upside down world
affect your problem or situation?
! By looking at their problem upside down,
Heinz – a world leading ketchup manufacturer –
was able to design an upside down ketchup bottle,
dramatically increasing sales of their product and
increasing customer satisfaction globally.
! Changing your perspective by looking at
things upside down could help you see things you
couldn’t see before. Sit upside down however you
can and take a look around.
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24. 14. Get dirty.
Either physically or mentally: get a little dirty.
Throw some dirt around if you have to.
! Chances are that you live in a fairly clean and
modern part of the world, one where you are
regularly washing your hands and avoiding spills.
It’s time to break with your typical, clean patterns
and explore the messy side of your creativity.
! Grab some painting, cooking, or craft
supplies – you could even try gathering up some
dirt or mud – and get your hands dirty. Don’t worry
about creating a mess, the goal is to get past your
fear of being dirty and force your mind to embrace
creative possibilities.
! Getting dirty has worked for artists and
painters for hundreds of years, so it couldn’t hurt
you to try. Besides: if things get too messy, you can
always wash up afterwards.
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25. 15. Find the simplest solution.
No matter how complicated your problem is, focus
on finding the absolute simplest solution. Don’t
confuse finding the simplest solution with
simplifying your entire problem.
! Celebrated writer and philosopher, Henry
David Thoreau, often wrote and talked about the
power of simple solutions. Thoreau was so fond of
simplicity that he has been quoted as saying:
“Simplicity, simplicity, simplicity! I say, let your
affairs be as two or three, and not a hundred or a
thousand. Instead of a million count half a dozen,
and keep your accounts on your thumb-nail.”
! Find the simplest solution by wording your
problem as one sentence and then thinking of the
first – which is often the simplest – solution. Don’t
over think your ideal solution, especially when you
don’t need to.
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26. 16. Use a different medium.
Use a different medium to draw or map out
potential ideas.
! Pablo Picasso’s first words, according to his
Mother, were “piz, piz,” which is a shortened term
for the word “pencil.” Picasso was extremely
passionate about drawing from a very early age, but
if he had only stuck to drawing with pencils he may
never have helped to create the Cubist (a primarily
paint-focused) art movement.
! Explore your creative potential by using
different mediums. Rather than drawing with a
pencil, buy some sidewalk chalk. Why type on the
computer when you could write out your ideas on a
whiteboard?
! Because different mediums produce different
types of results, you may discover unimagined
thoughts or outcomes. Look for solutions to your
problems by using a different medium.
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27. 17. Do something unexpected.
Ask friends or complete strangers for ideas to your
problem to find out what people would expect.
Then decide to do something that nobody would
expect.
! When Apple released the iPod mp3 player –
with its scroll wheel, rather than buttons, for
controlling the device – the world was shocked. Just
a few years later, the iPod became the new standard
for mp3 players, scroll wheel and all. The iPod
became so successful simply, in-part, because it was
something that nobody expected, but worked
remarkably well.
! Do something unexpected and do not
concern yourself with what people will think of it
initially. Your idea could become the next iPod, but
you won’t know until you try by doing the
unexpected.
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28. 18. Watch the end of a movie.
Motivate your creativity visually by watching the
ending of a random movie.
! Whatever resolution the characters in the film
find, you should try to relate to your problem or
situation.
! Movies are notorious for their problem-
climax-solution format, so by watching the end of a
movie you may find all the creative inspiration you
need to solve your own problem. In any case,
watching a movie might be enough visual
stimulation to inspire you to think creatively
regardless of how the movie ends or how the plot of
the movie is resolved in the last 30 minutes.
! In-fact, you may find that this technique
works best with creative movies, like the
typography-focused documentary “Helvetica,” by
Gary Hustwit. Whatever the movie, find inspiration
by watching the last 20 to 30 minutes.
Think Unstuck ! ! 28

29. 19. Do the exact opposite of what
everyone else is doing.
Ask yourself “What does everyone else do in this
situation?” Then do the exact opposite.
! In the early nineteenth century a French
painter by the name of Georges Braques decided,
along with Pablo Picasso, to bring the influence of
simplistic painting styles from Africa to Europe.
Nobody was doing simple, line-focused paintings
back then, so with a few strokes of the brush
Braques, along with Picasso, had begun the Cubism
art movement.
! The well-known artists, Picasso and
Braques ,looked at what every other painter during
their time was doing and did the opposite. Rather
than focusing on details, they focused on simplicity.
! Ask what everyone else does in your general
situation, then find a way to do the exact opposite.
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30. 20. Answer your own questions.
Get out a sheet of paper and a pen or pencil, write
down several questions related to your problem and
then try to answer each of them one at a time.
! If you can’t answer a question, make up an
answer … realistic or not.
! Searching for the answers to your questions
is a powerful way to explore your creative thoughts.
Physically seeing questions or answers related to
your problem written out lets you view your
problem and potential answers in the real world,
not simply as ideas floating around in your head.
! As the legendary American author Lloyd
Alexander once said: “We learn more by looking for
the answer to a question and not finding it than we
do from learning the answer itself.”
! Search for answers starting now.
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31. 21. Emphasize your flaws.
What are your personal flaws? What happens if you
take your flaws and emphasize them in your
situation or problem?
! If we never worked on our flaws the burden
of being perfect would overwhelm us. If you have
never tried to relate your flaws to other problems –
like being creatively stuck – then you have missed
an opportunity to not only get unstuck, but also to
improve yourself.
! Create an idea that really demonstrates your
weaknesses, or an idea that depicts your fears or
worst talents. Dig deep inside of yourself (or just ask
others what your flaws might be) and try to use
your flaws to build up your creative ideas.
! Inspiration can be found in our flaws, but
we’re often too afraid to look. Ask yourself what
your flaws are, then try to find a way to build on
them in order to create ideas.
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32. 22. Think with friends.
Get a group of friends together, make some snacks,
and think together.
! Not only is thinking of ideas with a group of
friends a powerful way to gain new perspectives, it
can build up your friendships and ultimately lead
you to other sources of inspiration.
! Aristotle often discussed the value of
friendship. He’s quoted as saying that “a friend is a
second self.” If you could think with multiple
versions of yourself, would you? Gather a few
friends and you can have the thinking power of
several people you trust, rather than just yourself.
! Sit down with friends to think over your
situation or problem, you will not only find creative
inspiration, but you’ll most likely have fun in the
process of coming up with ideas as well.
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33. 23. Ask a child for their opinion.
Children typically have wild, uninhibited
imaginations. Ask a child for their opinion on your
problem and the answer you get could be one hell of
a great solution.
! Sir Ken Robinson, a writer and remarkable
creative thinker, believes that children are an
incredible source for creativity. In his book, “The
Element,” Sir Robinson states: “young children are
wonderfully confident in their own imaginations.
Most of us lose this confidence as we grow up. Ask a
class of first graders which of them thinks they’re
creative and they’ll all put their hands up.”
! Unlike adults, children aren’t afraid of being
creative even on the chance they might be wrong.
! Even if you don’t have a problem, talk and
play with children often, their creativity could
eventually rub off on you.
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34. 24. Open up a window.
Opening your window when it’s daytime can allow
sunlight in, increasing not only your mood but also
your cognitive abilities. Opening your window at
night can refreshen your attitude with some much-
needed fresh air.
! Researchers at the Washington University
School of Medicine tested the affects of sunlight
with a select group of elderly and found that
sunlight not only increased mood in the
participants, but also improved their cognitive
thinking ability.
! In a day and age where sitting indoors all day
is the norm, sunlight and fresh air are hard to come
by on a regular basis.
! Open up a window or door to get sunlight
and fresh air. Your mind and body will thank you
for it by thinking more proficiently.
Think Unstuck ! ! 34

35. 25. Take a 15 minute nap.
Even if you don’t feel tired, letting your brain and
body relax for 15 minutes is the perfect way to feel
rejuvenated and get unstuck.
! Sara Mednick, a medical researcher and
author of the renown creativity book “Take a Nap!”
believes that naps can boost creativity in powerful
ways. According to Mednick, napping allows your
subconscious mind to create associations between
seemingly unrelated knowledge; she says: “if you
take a nap with REM sleep, you’re actually going to
be boosting your ability to make these new
associations in creative ways.”
! Mednick believes so strongly that naps have
such an impact on our creativity, she attempts to
take them several times a week.
! Grab a timer and sit back – or lay down – and
take a short, 15 minute power nap.
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36. 26. Think smaller.
View your problem as being much smaller than it
really is.
! By viewing your problem or situation as
being smaller than it is, the problem will seem less
daunting and solutions may seem larger, making
them easier to find.
! It may be difficult to convince yourself that
your problem is really smaller than it appears, but
it’s not impossible. Evaluate the problem and
consider the most important question posed by
innovative entrepreneur and author of “The 4-Hour
Workweek” Tim Ferriss: “What’s the worst that could
happen?”
! Realistically, the worst that could happen is
probably not as bad as you think. So take a minute
to realize that the situation or problem that is
constricting your creative thinking is really smaller
than it appears.
Think Unstuck ! ! 36

37. 27. Change your perspective.
Physically change your perspective, right now,
however you can.
! Author of the creative thinking book
“Cracking Creativity” Michael Michalko wrote:
“What … Copernicus [and] Darwin really achieved
was not the discovery of a new theory, but a fertile
new point of view.”
! When we solve a problem for the first time
we are more inclined to solve a similar problem the
same way in the future. Change your perspective
and your mind has to find a new way to solve the
problem you’re facing.
! By changing your physical perspective you
start to see solutions that you couldn’t have seen
from your natural perspective.
! Sit upside down, walk around with your
head tilted to the side, do something to change the
way you literally look at the world around you.
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38. 28. Think abstractly.
Abstract thinking is when you generalize an idea by
reducing the information behind it to just the
information which is essential for a specific purpose
or goal. Take a few minutes to think abstractly now.
! Vincent Van Gogh, a famous Dutch painter
from the 1800s, used abstract thinking to create
paintings of countrysides and portraits. Van Gogh’s
abstract style inspired thousands of painters and, as
a result, produced an incredible amount of work
that is displayed in museums all around the world.
! If abstraction worked for Vincent Van Gogh,
thinking abstractly about a problem could work for
you too.
! Ask yourself: “How can I reduce the
information behind my problem to just the essential
information?” How can you think abstractly to get
unstuck right now?
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39. 29. Disprove the facts.
What are 10 facts about your problem or situation
that are absolute fact? How could you force a
change to at least one of those facts?
! Write down the first 10 undeniable facts you
can think of and then try to think of what you could
do to change at least one of them. Use your
imagination and don’t hesitate to push boundaries
in any way you can.
! The author – and accomplished musician,
sculptor, as well as painter - Robert Fulghum
believes that using your imagination is more
powerful than any fact could ever be. Fulghum once
said: “I believe that the imagination is stronger than
knowledge, myth is more potent than history,
dreams are more powerful than facts.”
! First, define 10 facts related to your problem
or your situation, then use your imagination to
change at least one of those fact.
Think Unstuck ! ! 39

40. 30. Ask “Why?”
Sometimes the problem you are looking at now isn’t
the same problem you should be trying to solve.
Ask yourself: “Why” several times to find the true
source of what ever is hindering creativity.
! Sakichi Toyoda, founder of Toyota Industries
and the unofficial “King of Japanese Inventors,”
developed a famous technique for solving problems
that involves asking the question: “Why?” exactly
five times.
! Asking “Why?” five times has helped Toyota
Motor Corporation evolve to such a powerful car
manufacturing company that the technique of
asking “Why?” is now a natural part of training for
the Toyota Production System. It worked for Toyota,
it can work for you too.
! By asking “Why?” you can easily determine
if the question or problem you’re facing now is
really a problem at all.
Think Unstuck ! ! 40

41. 31. Reward yourself.
Set a goal for getting unstuck – a simple, achievable
goal – then give yourself a reward if and when you
reach the goal.
! Rewards are great motivators because they
focus our attention. Rewards will not work,
however, if your goal is too broad or complicated.
! Daniel Pink is a successful author of
revolutionary books about changing the world of
work, he has spoken several times on the impact of
setting rewards for goals such as getting unstuck.
After looking into hundreds of research projects on
the subject, Mr. Pink concluded that rewarding
yourself will help you get unstuck, but only if you
set predefined rules before determining a reward.
! Set a goal for getting unstuck, but not just a
random goal; create specific rules for your goal, then
reward yourself when you reach or exceed it.
Think Unstuck ! ! 41

42. 32. Sleep on it.
Let your brain take a break from working for the
day and get some sleep.
! Paul McCartney, a well-known musician who
played with a little band by the name of The Beatles,
woke up from a relaxed sleep when a melody for a
new song struck him. The song that McCartney
“dreamed up” was titled “Yesterday” and is now
rumored by many musicians around the globe to be
one of the most covered songs in history.
! Your problem or project will still be there for
you tomorrow, and by getting some sleep your brain
will be fully charged and ready to take on the world
again. Sleep works as a creative motivator because it
is one of the easiest ways to break thinking patterns
and refresh creative thinking.
! Put away everything, walk away from the
problem for today, and go get some sleep.
Think Unstuck ! ! 42

43. 33. Find connections between
unrelated things.
Think of – or find – a random object and try to find a
way to connect it to your problem or current
situation.
! Steve Jobs, cofounder of Apple computers,
once said: “creativity is just connecting things.” By
connecting unrelated items you are forcing your
brain to search for inspiration in places you
otherwise would overlook, or not even think to look
in the first place.
! To find connections between unrelated things
you can ask several questions, such as: “What do
these things have in common,” or “If these things
were one in the same, what would the result look
like?”
! To get unstuck, ask yourself what two or
more unrelated things have in common.
Think Unstuck ! ! 43

44. 34. Listen to a new genre of music.
If you’re looking for inspiration to get unstuck,
listening to a genre of music you typically don’t
listen to will help you.
! Multiple studies have shown that music
affects our minds at primal and rudimentary levels.
The rhythm that our bodies often follow – consider
a heartbeat, for example – can be affected by the
music we listen to. By listening to a new genre of
music you are exposing yourself to new rhythms
and potentially an entire new culture.
! Music can also energize your mind and cause
inactive areas of your brain to suddenly become
active. It’s through new music that you can easily
awaken parts of your creative mind.
! To be inspired: tune-in to a type of music
you’ve never heard before and turn the volume up.
Think Unstuck ! ! 44

45. 35. Hire someone to do the work.
An easy way to get unstuck is to outsource the
problem to somebody else.
! There is usually somebody who will gladly
help you out for a price you can afford. It may
sound like cheating, but in reality: there is a creative
type of growth that you can experience by
outsourcing your work.
! Having someone else worry about your
problem cannot only get the problem solved, but
you might also learn something from the solution
that is presented – something you couldn’t have
learned on your own.
! There’s never anything wrong with using
somebody else’s creativity to help yourself, just be
sure to give credit where it’s due and try to find
inspiration from the results. Hire someone else to do
the work if you can afford it, if not, try bartering or
arranging a beneficial deal.
Think Unstuck ! ! 45

46. 36. Write a short poem.
Write a poem about your situation. An answer you
may find in your well-written, new creation.
! One way to jolt your creative thinking is to
constrain yourself to one method of expression,
poetry for example.
! By trying to write a poem about your
problem – whether you’ve done it before or not – is
a powerful way to force your creativity into motion.
Be spontaneous and limit yourself to a few lines of
poetry to get the absolute best results from writing a
short poem.
! In-fact: try writing three or four poems
related to your problem or situation, rather than just
one.
! If you’re feeling stuck, like your mind is in a
rut: don’t forget what you’ve just read, quickly write
a short poem instead.
!
Think Unstuck ! ! 46

47. 37. Act it out.
Imagine that you are your problem – whether it’s a
person, a project, or an idea – and act out your
present situation.
! Use your imagination to be realistic or silly
and apply your problem or situation to a physical
character. Ask yourself questions such as: “How
might my idea act if it were a real person?” And: “If
my current situation were to take on a physical
persona, what would it do during a typical day?”
Then try acting out the character you have created
in your mind.
! Using your imagination in a playful and
explorative way like this allows your mind to step
around any real-world limitations and lets you
literally see your problem or situation from a
completely new perspective.
! How can you act out why you’re stuck?
Think Unstuck ! ! 47

48. 38. Pretend you’re a cartoon.
Use your imagination to pretend that you’re a
cartoon character, faced with the same problem of
becoming unstuck.
! As a cartoon character, the laws of the real
world don’t apply to you. You can do almost
anything and go almost anywhere in order to solve
your problem or move forward from a particular
situation.
! Think of yourself as your favorite cartoon
character, either from your early childhood or even
your favorite character now, if you have one. In a
cartoon world, where there are no limitations, what
would you do to solve your problem? How would
you behave in your current predicament?
! Once you begin to imagine how you would
act as a cartoon character, try to find ways to link
your character – how he or she would act in your
real situation – back to the real world.
Think Unstuck ! ! 48

49. 39. Get up and dance.
Wiggle your arms, do the twist, or simply jump up
and down. Get your body moving by dancing
however you can.
! In 2005, a development agency in England
studied the ways dancing affects creativity amongst
academic students. During the six-week study,
students participated in an hour long dance lesson
followed by a one-hour writing class.
! During their writing class, the students were
asked to try to relate the attitudes and movements
they experienced during dance class to their writing
assignments.
! The result was that the quality of writing
“improved greatly” in every student. If dancing
helped students to use creativity in their work,
dancing can inspire you too.
! Get up and dance. Try to relate how you feel
when you’re dancing to your problem.
Think Unstuck ! ! 49

50. 40. People watch.
Create stories for people you see out in public. Then
ask yourself: “how would that person handle my
problem?”
! If you watch strangers out on the street long
enough, you can easily use your imagination to
create a persona for each of them. Once you have an
imaginary persona for a stranger you can mentally
remove yourself from being creatively stuck.
Instead, imagine how a stranger would solve your
problem.
! By removing yourself from your problem or
situation, you’re allowing your mind to pursue
creative outcomes that may initially seem far-
fetched to you, but may not be for a stranger.
! Ask yourself why someone is doing
something specific out in public, create a story for
that person and then ask “what would that person
do if they were in my shoes?”
Think Unstuck ! ! 50

51. 41. List as many different
scenarios as you can.
Using a pencil and a notebook, or a computer, list as
many different possible scenarios related to why
you’re stuck as you can.
! Linus Pauling, an American chemist, author,
and educator, once said: “The best way to get a good
idea is to have lots of ideas.”
! Pauling’s advice about coming up with many
ideas to get one good idea not only led him to take
tremendous strides in his work with molecular
medicine and medical research, his insights also had
him named one of the 20 greatest scientists of all
time by New Scientist magazine.
! Creating many potential scenarios for your
situation or problem will allow you to find at least
one good one. Start coming up with as many
scenarios as you can right now.
Think Unstuck ! ! 51

52. 42. Just say no.
Any idea or direction that pops into your head, say
“No” to and then try to move onto a different idea.
! Saying no to ideas forces your mind to
pursue further ideas, while not limiting the
potential of other ideas.
! It’s not just creative thinkers who have to say
“no” to ideas though. Successful businesses have
understood the power of “no” for years. Take Apple
computers, for example, internally the company
says “no” to a lot of ideas every day. Tim Cook,
Apple’s Chief Operating Officer, has been quoted as
saying: “We say no to good ideas every day [at
Apple]. ... it’s saying no to many products that are
good ideas, but just not nearly as good as the other
ones.”
! Say “no” to your ideas. When you find an
idea that you really can’t say no to, well, then you’re
unstuck.
Think Unstuck ! ! 52

53. 43. Use a different tool.
Use a different tool to come up with ideas.
! Using a notepad to jot down your ideas? Put
it away and try using a whiteboard. Solving a
puzzle with your hands? Put your hands into your
pockets and use only your mouth. Instead of using
the tools you have been using to come up with ideas
or to solve your problem: try using a different tool
or set of tools.
! From the way a marker creates bold, smooth
lines, to the way chalk breaks apart against a board,
the tool you use to manage ideas can greatly affect
your creativity. You won’t know the full extent of
how different tools can benefit you until you try
using different ones.
! It’s possible that your stuck because of the
tools your using, not because of the problem itself.
! Experiment with a different tool or set of
tools to get unstuck right now.
Think Unstuck ! ! 53

54. 44. Set an unrealistic goal.
Set an unbelievably unrealistic goal – or goals – and
try to reach them.
! Make sure the goal you set is really
unrealistic, then try to reach that goal through any
means possible.
! As the director of the record-breaking 1997
film “Titanic,” James Cameron, said: “If you set your
goals ridiculously high and it’s a failure, you will
fail above everyone else’s success.”
! The key to setting goals that are creative is to
avoid systematic, or “left brained” goals. That is: set
goals that you can see, feel, or express, rather than
goals that which can only be understood with
logical reasoning. For example, an unrealistic and
creative goal could be to come up with 1,000
brilliant ideas for a new movie in one minute.
! Reach for Saturn and you may just hit the
Moon. Set an unrealistic goal, then try to reach it.
Think Unstuck ! ! 54

55. 45. Ignore unnecessary obstacles.
First, identify unnecessary obstacles that are in your
way of being creative, then choose to ignore them.
! To determine what’s unnecessary, ask
yourself questions such as: “Are there limitations
I’ve put in place that won’t affect the end result?” or
“Are there any restrictions that won’t affect how my
problem – or situation – gets resolved?” You could
even ask: “If I remove an element from this, will it
directly impact my end goal?”
! Sometimes we face obstacles or limits that are
unnecessary, but we don’t realize that they can be
ignored until it’s too late. In some cases, you may
need to simply ignore unnecessary obstacles to get
around them.
! Look at the obstacles which are preventing
you from making progress right now, then decide
which are realistically unnecessary and make an
effort to ignore them at all costs.
Think Unstuck ! ! 55

56. 46. Do a few simple chores.
Take some time to do chores or mundane work and
let your mind wander while you do.
! Doing easy chores will not only help you to
obtain a feeling of productivity, chores like washing
the dishes or vacuuming allow your conscious mind
to wander while your subconscious goes through
the routine motions of your chores.
! It’s during these almost-meditative states of
idle thinking that great ideas are often created.
! Allowing yourself to step away from a
problem and let your mind mull over it over
naturally is a key aspect of being creative. Edward
de Bono - sometimes referred to as the “Father of
Creativity” – believed that taking a short break from
a problem and participating in idle thinking was a
valuable way to solve the original problem.
! Take a break right now and try to do a few
simple chores.
Think Unstuck ! ! 56

57. 47. Start from scratch.
Think up a new problem or scenario by starting
completely from scratch.
! Sometimes starting from the very beginning
is the only thing you can do when you get stuck. If
you feel like you’re already at the beginning of
being stuck, you can go back to a point before you
felt stuck, then move forward using a different route
or strategy than before.
! One of the best things about problem solving
is that there is usually more than one way to go
about finding an answer. All you have to do is go
back to the start – repeatedly – until you find the
perfect path to a solution.
! Believing that there is a “right” way to do
something and a “wrong” way to do something is a
fallacy, and only hinders your creativity. Don’t be
afraid to pursue a “wrong” path by starting over.
! Start over from scratch.
Think Unstuck ! ! 57

58. 48. Work in a larger group.
Get a few people together to help you get unstuck.
! In his book, “The Wisdom of Crowds,” James
Surowiecki addresses the power of crowds,
summarizing the benefits with the following insight:
“Under the right circumstances, groups are
remarkably intelligent, and are often smarter than
the smartest people in them … We should stop
hunting [experts] and ask the crowd … Chances are,
it knows.”
! Working in groups is efficient for getting
unstuck because everyone has different experiences
in life that influence the way they view and solve
problems.
! The more people you have helping you to get
unstuck, the more likely you are to be successful. Of
course, the key thing to remember here is: don’t be
afraid to ask for help.
! Try to get a large thinking group together.
Think Unstuck ! ! 58

59. 49. Make a joke.
Make a joke out of whatever is on your mind and
you’ll see how easy – and fun – it can be to get
unstuck.
! Making a joke out of a problem or situation
ultimately lets you confront reality without being
restricted by the thought of results or consequences,
and sometimes that’s all you need to be creative.
! In the article titled “Using Humor to Boost
Creativity,” Paul McGhee of LaughterRemedy.com
explains why a good joke can get you thinking
creatively in no time. Paul explains that humor
supports creative thinking by “emotionally
distancing you from the problem” and that “most
people think more creatively when they’re not so
serious and intently focused on the task … and the
pressure is off.”
! Try taking some pressure off of your situation
by making a joke out of being stuck.
Think Unstuck ! ! 59

60. 50. Take a vacation.
Reenergize your body and mind with a relaxing
vacation. It can be a big getaway, or just a day in bed
with a good book.
! Vacations are great creative motivators for a
multitude of obvious reasons. By taking a vacation
you can recharge your creative “battery” and
prevent burnout. A vacation allows you to connect
with yourself and discover new and reinvigorating
experiences that you couldn’t experience without
getting away from your regular work routine. And a
vacation let’s you discover another perspective to
your possibly routine day-to-day life.
! If you can, take a vacation to another country
– or at least another town – to experience a different
perspective on things in your life.
! Call your boss, tell your friends, take a brief
vacation and do anything but what you typically do
in a workday.
Think Unstuck ! ! 60

61. 51. Give yourself constraints.
Even if you already have constraints set in place,
constrain yourself even more.
! Only think in verbs, only draw ideas out by
using shapes, restrict yourself to painting only in a
tiny space, force yourself to use only your hands, or
do something else that will constrain your thoughts
or results in a sizable way.
! Piet Mondrain was a Dutch painter during
the 1930s who constricted his work to straight lines,
90-degree angles, and primary colors. As a result of
the constraints he used, Piet helped usher in
modernism art and create Neo-Plasticism.
! Constraints can often be helpful to creative
thinking because they force you to work with a
single focus in mind, which makes it easier to ignore
anything outside of that focus and really get things
done.
! Give yourself a few constraints.
Think Unstuck ! ! 61

62. 52. Jump in.
Pretend like you know what you’re doing – even if
you really have no idea – and jump into getting
yourself unstuck.
! In “The Element,” author and creative genius
Sir Ken Robinson discusses the power our attitudes
play in how we view the world and, as a result, how
our worldview affects our ability to create. Sir
Robinson states that the way we think about a
particular situation acts as a “filter on what we
perceive and how we think.”
! Sir Robinson isn’t at all alone in the thought
that our attitude affects almost everything we do. As
Buddha once said: “All that we are is the result of
what we have thought. The mind is everything.
What we think, we become.”
! Start getting unstuck by pretending that you
know what you’re doing. You will quickly find
reality following your “can do” attitude.
Think Unstuck ! ! 62

63. 53. Read a biography.
Read a large part of a biography. It can be a
biography of anyone at all – try not to be too picky.
! The best thing about biographies is what can
help you get unstuck: they often include one
person’s recollection of a problem, and how that
individual solved the problem.
! Because we only experience the world from
our own perspective, it becomes harder and harder
to see events or problems from any other
perspective or angle. A biography allows you to
look at the world through someone else’s eyes
momentarily. With a biography, you can read about
how a person solved a problem and then relate what
they did to your situation.
! Expand your perspective on the world and
pick up a biography to read. If you don’t have time
to read the entire biography skip to the middle and
read for as long as you can.
Think Unstuck ! ! 63

64. 54. Create an analogy.
Create an analogy for your problem or situation,
relating it to something you are familiar with.
! An analogy is a comparison between two
things. Often analogies are used to describe an
object or situation in terms a person already
understands.
! In his book, “The Element,” creative savant Sir
Ken Robinson, states: “Growth comes through
analogy, through seeing how things connect rather
than only seeing how they might be different.”
! Imagine that your problem is like an
uncooked noodle. The problem may just be a noodle
right now, but with a little hot water and some
analogical sauce, it could turn into something really
tasty.
! What types of analogies could you create for
your problem?
Think Unstuck ! ! 64

65. 55. Imagine that you are finished.
Imagine that you have finished your project.
! Ask yourself: “what affect would it have if I
was finished?” If the project or problem you are
currently faced with were finished and you were to
look back at it, what would you ideally change?
! Use these questions as referencing points on
what to do next. For example: if finishing your
project means you could work on something else,
consider working on that something else right now
for a few moments and then coming back to getting
unstuck. If you imagine that you are finished and
you look back at your imagined results to find
things you would like to change, make those
“changes” right now, so you don’t have to when
you are really finished.
! Use your imagination to see yourself as
unstuck, ask questions about the imaginary results
and use the answers to help get you unstuck.
Think Unstuck ! ! 65

66. 56. Free write.
Write as fast, honest, and detailed as you possibly
can for three minutes.
! Grab a pencil or pen, a piece of paper, and
write about whatever comes to you right now. Try
not to worry about spelling, punctuation, grammar,
or any writing rules – simply write for three minutes
without stopping.
! Free writing allows you to ignore your inner
critic and instead focus on a creative thinking
process. Through free writing you will discover
ideas that were subdued in your conscious mind,
but only if you completely relax and write without
too much concentration.
! The goal of free writing isn’t to write
something that reads well, the goal should be to
discover new ideas through random thought. If
anything: free writing can be fun.
! Take at least three minutes to free write.
Think Unstuck ! ! 66

67. 57. Combine ideas.
Think of a few ideas and then combine them to
create a new idea that can help you get unstuck.
! To use this technique: think of two or three
different ideas, ideas that already exist or crazy,
imaginary ideas of your own. Something like a
mechanical pencil or a stretchable sticker. Once you
have a few ideas combine them to form a new idea –
a mechanical sticker that stretches, for example.
! Combining ideas is one of the best creative
thinking strategies that has been proven to work
throughout history. The concept for this book, for
example, came up when the idea of creative
thinking strategies and the idea of a field-guide
were put combined.
! Quickly think of a few ideas related to your
problem or situation, then think of ways you could
combine the ideas.
Think Unstuck ! ! 67

68. 58. Learn something new.
Learn a new hobby, a new technique for something
you already do, or a new and interesting fact.
! A large aspect of creativity is ultimately a
result of your ability to relate what you know to
what you don’t know. By learning something new
you are increasing your creative capacity and
improving your chances of getting unstuck.
! Look to your local community for
opportunities to learn something, or ask a friend
who may have a talent or hobby you could learn
about. You could even open up a book or search the
internet to learn something new right now. Look
outside the area of things you already have interest
in and, instead, try to learn something new that you
have previously not had an interest in.
! Make an effort to learn something new and
you will find creative inspiration in the process.
Think Unstuck ! ! 68

69. 59. Stop and go.
The next thought that pops into your head, go with
it. No matter what the idea is, see where it can take
you by going with it.
! After working with your first idea, think of a
different idea related to it, but don’t pursue it.
Instead, move onto yet another idea – again similar
to your first – and go with it, to come up with
another related idea.
! An alternate method to “stop and go” is burst
thinking: for five minutes concentrate on producing
ideas or solutions, then stop and take a break for
five minutes – sitting and not focusing on thinking,
then focus on thinking for another five minutes.
Repeat the process until you feel inspired.
! You may have to repeat the process of “stop
and go” several times before you begin to see
results, but this type of thinking pattern is always
worth trying if you’re stuck.
Think Unstuck ! ! 69

70. 60. Break with routine.
Take a risk and experience something new with
your daily routine.
! Something as small as taking a different road
to the store, or showering before breakfast, or even
putting your socks on before your pants, is all you
need to get thinking creatively.
! While routines are great for getting our
minds and bodies into a healthy rhythm, breaking
with routine is one of the “biggest advantages of
having routines,” to quote the creative writer and
designer Jack Cheng.
! Give yourself a burst of creativity by
breaking with whatever routine you’re currently
running in. Your mind, and whatever you’re
currently stuck on, will thank you.
! Break with your daily routine and try
something new right now.
Think Unstuck ! ! 70

71. 61. Cook something.
Even if you can’t cook well, go into the kitchen and
try to cook something simple right now.
! Cooking enables you to relax your mind,
helps you to focus on a single task, and excites the
part of your brain that is used for creative planning
and problem solving.
! By experimenting with cooking – having fun
with the ingredients and physically mixing things
together – you are presenting your mind with a
physical problem to solve. You should be able to
instinctively associate cooking with your creative
problem or situation.
! To get unstuck, get into the frame of mind
related to cooking: having fun, mixing ideas, and
creating something. If you don’t get unstuck by the
end of the day, at least you’ll have something to eat.
! Get cooking!
Think Unstuck ! ! 71

72. 62. Exercise.
Exercise to energize your body and mind by getting
your blood flowing.
! Thirty minutes of exercise has been found to
increase creativity, and it doesn’t have to be
excessive exercise like a workout class or exercise set
at your local gym.
! In a 2005 study titled “Aerobic Exercise and
Cognitive Creativity: Immediate and Residual Effects”
researchers discovered that “creative potential will
be greater upon completion of moderate aerobic
exercise than when not preceded by exercise...”
! Exercise causes your body to release special
chemicals designed to improve thinking and to
create a certain type of “good feeling.” As a result of
exercise your mind will be chemically charged, and
your body will be energized and ready for problem
solving.
! Take a few minutes to exercise.
Think Unstuck ! ! 72

73. 63. Discuss your situation with
the least creative person you
know.
Who is the least creative person you know? Ask
them what they would do in your situation, then do
what they suggest.
! Often, someone you might consider as being
the least creative person you know can come up
with solutions or ideas that are easier than anything
you could have thought up on your own.
! Creativity is a relative term, so even if you
think someone isn’t creative, they in-fact are, only
on different terms than what you may consider to be
creative.
! Get a different perspective from someone
with a different level of creativity and you will see
how easy it is to find creative inspiration.
Think Unstuck ! ! 73

74. 64. Find inspiration in quotes.
Search for quotes related to your problem and read
them aloud for inspiration.
! Ask yourself: “What am I ultimately trying to
achieve by getting unstuck?” Look through
inspirational and simple quotes related to your
answer to that question.
! The wisdom of other, great creative thinkers
is often provided in small quotes. If you’re feeling
stuck, a quote could be all you need to feel inspired
and get motivated again.
! Here’s a quote by the great American author
Henry David Thoreau to get you started: “If you
have built castles in the air, your work need not be
lost; that is where they should be. Now put
foundations under them.”
! Read through inspirational quotes to find
creative inspiration or motivation.
Think Unstuck ! ! 74

75. 65. Word shuffle.
Create a “word shuffle” for inspiration.
! Here’s how to create a word shuffle: first
write a few words on some index cards or small
pieces of paper, one word on each. Then mix the
cards up and place two side-by-side. Try as hard as
you can to come up with a new idea from the phrase
that results from the two cards.
! As an example: imagine that you write a few
types of animals on several index cards, then types
of machines on other cards. In this example, you
will draw a card from each stack to produce
something similar to: “Giraffe Electric Scooter.” Use
the results to inspire your creativity and get you
thinking in irregular ways.
! A word shuffle will help your brain to form
new ideas around familiar ones, a perfect method to
getting unstuck.
Think Unstuck ! ! 75

76. 66. Sketch.
Use your artistic abilities – or lack thereof – to sketch
something on a sheet of paper.
! It doesn’t matter what you sketch (or if you
are any good at it), just grab a piece of paper and a
pencil or pen or marker, then draw.
! Not only does drawing make you simply feel
as though you’re creative, being able to physically
see ideas drawn out on paper allows your brain to
literally see your thoughts and thinking patterns.
! Being able to work with visual cues makes
the process of problem solving easy for some
people, it could help you too.
! Take a few minutes to sketch freely on a sheet
of paper, paying no attention to the quality of your
drawing. Focus solely on getting your thoughts onto
paper in a visual way.
Think Unstuck ! ! 76

77. 67. Set a deadline.
Set a deadline for yourself. Make the deadline
reasonable, but don’t be too lenient. If you already
have a deadline, set a new deadline for a date or
time that is much sooner.
! The pressure of a deadline may jumpstart
your creative thinking, something that many people
falsely believe to be untrue.
! Deadlines – while they may cause stress as a
result of feeling stuck – can help you to ignore
tempting distraction and force you to focus. A
focused mind is a powerful mind.
! To emphasize the importance of setting a
deadline to maintain focus, a quote from best-selling
author Peter McWilliams: “Our thoughts create our
reality – where we put our focus is the direction we
tend to go.”
! Get focused by setting a deadline.
Think Unstuck ! ! 77

78. 68. Use your senses.
Use as many of your senses – touch, sight, smell,
hearing, and taste – as you can for the next 15
minutes.
! Walk into another room and smell different
objects, feel your way around wherever you are,
close your eyes and listen to even the most minute
sounds, taste whatever you can, focus your eyes on
a specific item, or use all of your senses in as many
was as possible.
! We absorb experiences through our senses
every day, often taking our incredible abilities for
granted. By focusing your attention on your senses
you are activating the parts of your mind that
literally create the world you live in. Senses can also
help you to recall previous experiences or events in
your life that could help you to get unstuck right
now.
! Focus your attention on your senses.
Think Unstuck ! ! 78

79. 69. Take a shower.
A shower isn’t merely the perfect opportunity to get
clean, it’s the perfect opportunity for something
called “creative pause.”
! The man who is believed to originally have
coined the phrase “creative pause,” Edward de
Bono, defines it as a deliberate pause to think of
solutions to a problem … even if the problem
doesn’t seem important.
! Bono declared: “some of the best results come
when people stop to think about things that no one
else has stopped to think about.” The shower is the
perfect place to go in order to stop and passively
think about your problem or situation and why
you’re feeling stuck.
! Allow yourself a moment of creative pause -
or idle thinking - by taking a brief, worry-free , and
comfortable shower.
Think Unstuck ! ! 79

80. 70. Start from the middle.
Instead of worrying about where to start or what to
expect for an ending, work on what comes after the
start but just before the ending.
! If your project is to write a story, for example,
consider what the middle of the story would be.
! Writers have used the technique of starting
from the middle to write novels for a very long time,
cartoonists and film writers have done the same. By
starting from the middle you are sidestepping some
of the biggest concerns with creative thinking: how
to start and what to expect as a result.
! Start from the middle of your problem and
work towards the end. When you reach a point
where you’re feeling creative and as though you’re
making progress, go back and do the beginning to
match the middle you’ve created.
Think Unstuck ! ! 80

81. 71. Avoid making progress.
Prohibit yourself from making any progress. Don’t
let yourself do anything that is progressive for at
least 30 minutes.
! To inspire your creativity: keep your focus on
your problem or situation, but don’t make any effort
to solve the problem or move forward.
! By maintaining focus on your problem but
avoiding progress, you allow your mind to
passively think of related creative ideas without the
pressure of doing something about it. Thinking
without acting is incredibly powerful when it comes
to getting unstuck.
! Take 30 minutes to avoid making any
progress on your problem and simply think about it,
after the time is up jump back into getting unstuck.
As former American President Andrew Jackson
said: “Take time to deliberate; but when the time for
action arrives, stop thinking and go in.”
Think Unstuck ! ! 81

82. 72. Focus on the process.
Focus on the process of being creative, rather than
the results you are looking for.
! Take a step back to evaluate the process you
are using for getting unstuck, then ask yourself:
“How can I change my process to get unstuck?” or
“Am I stuck because of the process I am using?”
! Changing your process – rather than your
thinking or the tools you’re using – can help you get
unstuck more often than not. You simply need to
focus on the actual process you’re using to see
where you’re getting stuck.
! Focus on the process you’re using to achieve
results and try to forget about your expected results.
If you find that your current process isn’t working
for you, find another process that is different or
unique to you.
Think Unstuck ! ! 82

83. 73. Meditate.
Take some time to get comfortable in a quiet area,
then let your mind wander aimlessly for a few
minutes through meditation.
! Meditation improves creative thinking by
providing an environment for insight.
! Frederick Franck was an artist and author of
over 30 books on Buddhism and meditation. Franck
believed that meditation could give us the clarity we
need to be truly creative, he said of meditation: “We
need a way to detach ourselves from an
environment constantly bombarding us with noise,
agitation and visual stimuli. We need to establish an
environment for recovering our unspoiled creative
core, an oasis of undivided attention, and an island
of silence.”
! Take a few minutes now – and each day after
today – to relax, breathe slowly, and give your brain
the break it deserves through meditation.
Think Unstuck ! ! 83

84. 74. Create a mind map.
Build a mind map to visualize what you’re getting
stuck on.
! A mind map is a visual representation of
ideas and how they relate to each other. To create a
mind map: write an idea in the center of a piece of
paper. Then write down ideas that are related and
connect them to the main one. Repeat that process
several times until you begin to see new ideas form
from completely unrelated ideas.
! Creating a mind map is valuable because it
gets around most of the limitations of other creative
mapping techniques; the point of a mind map is to
quickly and efficiently find links between ideas.
! Mind maps are ideal for creating visual maps
of related ideas, but they’re also great for recalling
existing memories that can aid you in getting
unstuck. Sit yourself down and quickly put together
a mind map of your own to get unstuck.
Think Unstuck ! ! 84

85. 75. Lower your standards.
!
Lower your standards and expect results that are
subpar.
! It’s possible that you are stuck because you
have been expecting results that shouldn’t be
expected.
! If you’re stuck – whether you can’t get
started on a project or you can’t find a solution to a
problem – lower your standards to make progress.
Rather than focusing on the quality of results, focus
on getting anything out the door or on a piece of
paper or on the computer screen.
! Lowering your standards allows you to work
at an easier pace, think of less-popular ideas, and
ultimately (with a little luck) achieve results. More
often than not, subpar results may end up being
better than forced results.
! Take a risk by lowering your standards and
do whatever it takes to get something done.
Think Unstuck ! ! 85

86. 76. Copy somebody else’s idea.
Independent filmmaker, Jim Jarmusch, said it best
with this quote:
! “Nothing is original. Steal from anywhere
that resonates with inspiration or fuels your
imagination.
! Devour old films, new films, music, books,
paintings, photographs, poems, dreams, random
conversations, architecture, bridges, street signs,
trees, clouds, bodies of water, light and shadows.
Select only things to steal from that speak directly to
your soul. If you do this, your work (and theft) will
be authentic. ...always remember what Jean-Luc
Godard said: ‘It’s not where you take things from,
it’s where you take them to.’”
! Copy somebody else’s idea and make it into
your own; be sure to give credit where credit is due
(otherwise it would be stealing).
Think Unstuck ! ! 86

87. 77. Collaborate with a friend.
Bounce ideas back and forth with a close friend.
! A friend may have a good idea based on their
own experiences and knowledge, which is
guaranteed to be different from your own. The
benefits of collaborating with a friend are seemingly
countless. You can get the opinion of a friend while
having fun and avoiding stressing over your project
or goals.
! Another reason friends are a great resource
for creative thinking is because they have your best
interest in mind. A friend will want to help you, and
may have the insight or advice you need to get
unstuck. You won’t know until you try to
collaborate with a close friend though.
! Ask a friend to collaborate with you on your
problem or situation and see what you can come up
with as a result.
Think Unstuck ! ! 87

88. 78. Gamble.
Make a friendly bet – with a relative or friend – that
you will come up with a great idea or solution to a
problem in a certain amount of time.
! Try not to bet anything of great value, but do
bet on something that will motivate you enough to
get yourself unstuck.
! Betting things like washing a friend’s car for
a week, or paying for dinner, or wearing pajamas to
work for a day are all good ways to motivate
yourself to get unstuck.
! The added pressure of a bet makes it easier
for you to focus and get something created. While
pressure can sometimes hinder creativity, a friendly
wager could be the extra boost you need to get
unstuck quickly.
! Think of something you can safely bet on
with a friend, then bet that you’ll get unstuck and
do your best to win the bet.
Think Unstuck ! ! 88

89. 79. Do something daring.
Go skydiving. Befriend a complete stranger. Swim
with sharks. Do anything that you would consider
to be daring.
! Daring experiences – like skydiving, for
example – are ideal ways to reroute preexisting
thinking paths in your mind. Daring experiences
give your brain a jump start, like a car battery
hooked up to jumper cables. To give your brain a
good jolt you need to do something daring, and by
doing something new you are expanding your
perspective on the world.
! Mark Twain said it best when he said:
“Twenty years from now you will be more
disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by
the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail
away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in
your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”
! Do something daring to get unstuck.
Think Unstuck ! ! 89

90. 80. Pick a different number.
OK, so this is really just a way to get you to see what
other ideas are in this book, but doing so will help
you get unstuck.
! There are so many different ways for you to
get unstuck that the best way to ensure that you
start thinking creatively is to pursue two or three
different techniques, many of which are outlined in
this book.
! Take a minute to sit back and relax, then flip
to another page and pick a different number to
inspire your creativity.
Think Unstuck ! ! 90

91. 81. Quickly create several ideas.
Set a goal to reach a certain number of ideas in a
short amount of time.
! Sit down with a pen or pencil, or in front of
your computer, and list as many ideas as you can
until you reach your limit.
! A little added pressure – like that of a goal or
time constraint – allows you to consider even silly or
unrealistic ideas, which often end up being some of
the best and completely realistic ideas. Time frames
are good for focusing because they force you to
ignore the unnecessary aspects of a situation.
! There are no excuses here, you must reach
your limit within the timeframe you’ve set for
yourself. Write down any idea you can. Force
yourself to get unstuck.
! Quickly create several ideas and write them
down. Revise each idea once you’re finished.
Think Unstuck ! ! 91

92. 82. Solve somebody else’s problem.
Find a problem that someone has and try to solve it.
! By helping someone else with their problem
you are relieving that stressful part of creative
thinking which is so common when trying to solve
your own problem. Solving somebody else’s
problem allows you to think creatively without
worrying too much about what the results may be.
! The impact of helping someone else with
their creative problem is that you open yourself to
thinking creatively. Not only does helping someone
else make it easier for you to find inspiration by
adjusting your focus, it also will likely make you
feel good too.
! Help somebody else with creative solutions
or possibilities and you’ll not only feel good about
yourself for helping somebody else, you’ll also
increase the likelihood of getting unstuck.
! Help solve somebody else's problem today.
Think Unstuck ! ! 92

93. 83. Stretch.
Invigorate your body and mind by standing up and
stretching your arms, legs, shoulders, and neck. Do
relaxing, stretching exercises for at least five minutes
and then get back to work.
! Stretching allows both your mind and your
body to relax and release tension that may be
constricting your thinking, literally.
! By stretching, you are increasing blood flow
throughout your body. Increased blood flow equals
increased energy levels and an increase in mood.
! Give yourself a few minutes to stretch really
well and you might find yourself feeling
reinvigorated, in a better mood, and ready to tackle
getting unstuck. You have nothing to lose by
stretching in whatever ways you can, so try
stretching right now and see what happens.
Think Unstuck ! ! 93

94. 84. Physically build something.
Build something using physical materials.
! Use paper and glue, wood and a hammer,
your favorite brand of small plastic blocks, or
anything you can find near you to physically build
something with your hands.
! The different materials you work with, the
process you use to build something, and the end
result are all great resources for creative inspiration.
! Physically putting something together is a
fundamental building block of creativity in most of
our lives. Try to remember back to when you were
younger, when you would use your imagination
and the materials you had handy to create
something fun, when physically building something
helped you discover yourself and the power of your
imagination.
! Rediscover your imagination and physically
build something with whatever materials you can.
Think Unstuck ! ! 94

95. 85. Connect random ideas.
Connect random ideas to form new ideas or
concepts around similar themes.
! In a 2007 Fast Company article titled
“Connecting the Dots,” Mark Dziersk summarizes
creativity and connecting ideas by saying: “Many
advances in … creativity are largely about making
connections that haven’t before been made: [such as]
peanut butter and chocolate.”
! To connect random ideas: first think of an
object or idea, then think of another that is
completely different from the first. Ask yourself
what the two ideas or objects have in common. With
the first two idea’s common connection in mind,
think of another object that has that connection as
well.
! Continue to connect objects and ideas
randomly until you feel inspired or can’t think of
any other connections.
Think Unstuck ! ! 95

96. 86. Write a letter to a therapist.
If you don’t have a therapist, just write a letter to
yourself as if you were writing to a therapist.
! In your letter: explain exactly what it is you
are trying to do, how you would ideally do it, and
why you feel stuck.
! While you don’t have to send the letter to
anyone, the process of writing about your situation
is extremely therapeutic and often enough to spark
creative inspiration.
! An idea or creative goal is nothing more than
an invisible thought in your mind. Writing an idea
down – in the form of a letter to a therapist, for
example – makes it something you can physically
see and interact with. Writing your ideas and goals
down can make them “real” and help you feel
creatively motivated.
! Write a letter to a therapist – real or not –
about what you’re trying to achieve.
Think Unstuck ! ! 96

97. 87. Get into a physical routine.
Get used to having a physical routine associated
with feeling creative or inspired.
! If you don’t already have a physical action
that you can associate with feeling creative, start
creating one today.
! Whenever you feel creative, create a physical
routine for yourself by doing jumping jacks, getting
up and walking around, or simply by standing up
and then sitting back down repeatedly.
! The next time you get stuck on an idea, go
through your physical routine and your brain will
get the hint to be creative. Similar to how a specific
smell or sound can remind you of something that
happened to you previously, a physical routine can
be an easy, creative reminder to yourself. Even small
physical actions can be enough to remind your brain
that it’s “time to be creative.”
! Get into a creative physical routine.
Think Unstuck ! ! 97

98. 88. Think in the bathroom.
Go into the nearest bathroom, sit down, and give
your brain a break by forgetting about whatever it is
you’ve been thinking about.
! Bathrooms are often the most personal and
quiet places you can be in, for good reason; though
you don’t have to think in the bathroom, try to get
yourself away from noise, away from the computer
or video games, away from pencils and paper, away
from distractions, and just sit in a quiet place – like a
bathroom – for a few minutes.
! When you’re sitting in a quiet and personal
space it becomes easier to forget about the stresses
and influences of the world outside of your
thinking. In the bathroom it’s just you, your
thoughts, and the walls around you...a perfect place
for creative thinking.
! Try to find a quiet place – such as a bathroom
– and think to yourself for a few minutes.
Think Unstuck ! ! 98

99. 89. Remind yourself that you are a
creative person.
Take a deep breath and remind yourself that you are
a creative person. Say it out loud: “I am creative!”
! It shouldn’t come as a surprise that we are all
creative. We are all born with the creative intuition
to put the square peg in the square hole. We all use
our creative minds to learn language and speak and
draw. Even as we grow older, we all use our
creativity to solve problems every day. What to
wear, how to fit all of your things in a drawer, how
to solve a problem at work or in a relationship.
! You use your creativity for many things every
day, so remind yourself of the fact that you are
creative.
! Reminding yourself that you are creative will
take you one step closer to getting unstuck.
Think Unstuck ! ! 99

100. 90. Bounce around between
multiple projects.
Work on another project or work on solving a
different problem for a few minutes, then go back to
your current problem or situation. Repeat.
! Spend five minutes on one project, then five
minutes on another, bounce around between
projects for half an hour or until you feel creatively
exhausted.
! By working on two things simultaneously,
you are causing your brain to ignore the sorting and
categorization of what it is you’re doing. In short:
you’re telling your brain to be random and creative
with thoughts.
! Bouncing between projects works best when
the projects or problems are similar in nature – for
example: writing assignments or poetry.
! Try bouncing between problems.
Think Unstuck ! ! 100

101. 91. Take a sick day.
Spend the day all by yourself, in bed.
! Forget about any projects or work that you
have to do, though you will want to keep a
notebook and pen nearby so you can jot down any
creative ideas that may pop into your head as the
day goes by.
! A relaxing “sick day” allows you to refresh
your thinking patterns, which may be stuck due to
regular creativity drains such as work or school.
! Plan a few creative activities for your sick
day, such as painting or writing, to really boost your
creative thinking.
! As David Abelman, Vice President at A.C.
Moore Arts & Crafts once said: “With a little
planning, a sick day can be filled with creativity and
learning.”
! Take a sick day to relax and participate in
some easy, creative thinking exercises or activities.
Think Unstuck ! ! 101

102. 92. Write about being stuck.
Write about what you think is keeping you from
getting unstuck and what it feels like to be stuck.
! Writing down your reasons for feeling stuck
is an easy way to evaluate and find solutions to the
barriers that are keeping you from being creative.
! Writing also helps you improve your critical
thinking abilities, as reported in a 2006 study titled
“Learning to Improve: Using Writing to Increase Critical
Thinking Performance in General Education Biology” by
Ian Quitadamo and Martha Kurtz. The study
compared two groups of students, one group which
participated in a writing exercise and another group
which did not. The results of the study showed that:
“analysis and inference skills increased significantly
in the writing group but not the non-writing
group.”
! Write about being stuck in order to evaluate
the reasons you’re stuck and find inspiration.
Think Unstuck ! ! 102

103. 93. Read an odd magazine.
Stop by your local magazine shop or bookstore and
pick up a wacky or odd magazine.
! Grab a magazine with a cover that makes you
laugh or cringe – the kind of magazine that makes
you react to whatever is written in it. Try to read the
magazine cover to cover in your search for creative
inspiration.
! It’s often in the places we least expect to find
creativity that we find inspiration, odd magazines
are definitely full of creative inspiration because
they tend to be so different from what you might
normally read.
! Feeling stuck can be daunting, but if you
actively pursue creativity in places like odd
magazines you are bound to find inspiration. As the
renowned neurologist and psychologist Sigmund
Freud wrote: “When inspiration does not come to
meet me, I go halfway to meet it.”
Think Unstuck ! ! 103

104. 94. Ask yourself: “Should I?”
Ask yourself if you should really be pursuing what
you are currently trying to do.
! Should you really be trying to solve that
problem right now? Should you really be attempting
to create something today? Should you really try to
be creative? Maybe you shouldn’t try to become
unstuck at all. Instead, consider not attempting to be
creative for a little while.
! Stepping back to evaluate what you’re doing
can often be a step forward.
! When you focus your attention on a specific
problem – or on a detailed part of a problem or
situation – you are blinding yourself to potential
answers outside of your focus. Asking yourself,
“Should I really be doing this?” allows you to adjust
your focus and see outside of the overall goal or
objective of what you’re doing.
! Take a step back and ask: “Should I?”
Think Unstuck ! ! 104

105. 95. Stop worrying.
Chances are you’re worrying about things that you
don’t need to worry about. Stop worrying about
deadlines or making things perfect or what
everyone is going to think.
! Close your eyes and take a deep breath in,
tell yourself to stop worrying. Then stop worrying.
! Hugh MacLeod, author of the book “Ignore
Everybody” and a cartoonist best known for his
quirky and creative illustrations, said it best when
he explained that feeling creatively stuck “is just a
symptom of feeling like you have nothing to say [or
do], combined with the rather weird idea that you
SHOULD feel the need to say [or do] something.”
! Worrying does nothing more than waste your
time and energy on thoughts and feelings that won’t
help you get unstuck anyway.
! Sit back, relax, and stop worrying about
whatever it is you are worrying about.
Think Unstuck ! ! 105

106. 96. Balance your work.
Instead of focusing on one specific area of an idea,
try balancing your focus on multiple areas.
! For example: rather than focusing on writing
the introduction to a story, you could think of the
introduction while at the same time drawing art
ideas for the story.
! The wider your load of balance and focus on
a specific project or problem, the more areas you
have to look for inspiration.
! The very definition of balance – as described
in the New Oxford American Dictionary – explains
the benefits of balancing your creativity. The
dictionary describes balance as “stability of one’s
mind or feelings.”
! Find a balance between working on different
aspects of your problem or situation, by working on
one aspect and then another for the same amount of
time or with the same amount of effort.
Think Unstuck ! ! 106

107. 97. Consider yourself an explorer.
Think of yourself as an explorer, exploring different
ideas and scenarios.
! Often when we’re searching for inspiration
you might act more like a detective, searching for a
solution, rather than an explorer. Think of yourself
as an explorer, going where no-one has gone before
and doing things that others have yet to do.
! Use your imagination to truly become an
explorer of your own creativity. What might your
explorer outfit look like? What areas of creativity
have you yet to explore, and what has prevented
you from exploring those areas in the past?
! Rather than searching for creativity as a
detective might – clue by clue – discover your
creativity and find new sources of inspiration by
becoming an explorer.
! Consider yourself an explorer, a discoverer of
yet-to-be-found creative insights.
Think Unstuck ! ! 107

108. 98. Make a list of metaphors.
Quickly jot down a list of anything that you can
think of. Create a metaphor that connects each
random item on your list to your current situation
or problem.
! Ask yourself: how is this item on my list like
this problem I have?
! Metaphors work for inspiring creativity
because they allow you to take strange or unknown
ideas and make them familiar.
! For example: when Albert Einstein began
developing the theory of relativity he likened the
idea to that of “riding on a beam of light.” By
creating a metaphor for his theory, Einstein was able
to better explore the idea through familiar means.
(What would it be like to ride on a beam of light
anyway?)
! Create a list of metaphors for your idea or
situation, then explore the metaphors you create.
Think Unstuck ! ! 108

109. 99. Gather things.
!
Take ten minutes to gather as many physical things
related to your problem or situation as you can.
Collect all the items in one place and then
experiment with ideas involving each item.
! What if you combined items? What if you
took a piece from one item and added it to another
item? What if one item had never been created?
! Often time that should be used to work on
ideas or connecting thoughts is spent gathering
materials or inspiration. Dedicating a few minutes
to gather as many items as you can that relate to
your problem beforehand let’s you get everything
you could need, and then forces you to place your
attention on creating rather than gathering
seemingly necessary supplies.
! Gather as many inspirational or possibly
useful things as you can in ten minutes, then force
yourself to sit down and play with them.
Think Unstuck ! ! 109

110. 100. Call on an audience.
Call some friends, family members, or coworkers
over to wherever you are and have them gather
around you while you try to work.
! Having an audience sounds like a strange
idea, and that is exactly why it works.
! An audience can influence your thinking and
activities immensely. Merely having an audience
near you while you work can affect your creative
output.
! William Shakespeare, the great playwright
and poet, believed that audiences could directly
influence his plays. Often Shakespeare would use
rhythmic patterns or place actors within the
audience to create a sense of involvement from the
audience themselves.
! Call on an audience and put on a show, the
worst that can happen is a bit of entertaining for
your friends and family.
Think Unstuck ! ! 110

111. 101. Do something monotonous.
For fifteen minutes do something that you can do
without really thinking about it or the process of
doing it.
! While your subconscious is occupied with
the dull task your mind will be able to think freely.
! Edward de Bono, a truly creative author and
inventor, believes that the power of “creative pause”
– doing monotonous tasks while focusing on a
problem to be solved – is immensely useful for
getting unstuck; he even coined the term itself.
! Things like doing the dishes, taking a shower,
going for a drive, or anything else that can occupy
your subconcioius while leaving your concious
mind to focus on being creative, can help you get
unstuck easily.
! Take fifteen minutes to do something
monotonous, and let your mind freely wander.
Think Unstuck ! ! 111

112. 102. Work on smaller pieces.
Break your goal or problem into smaller goals or
problems. Then break those smaller problems into
even smaller ones.
! Having to deal with smaller pieces of a
problem or situation makes it easier to deal with,
almost every time.
! Gina Trapani, editor of Lifehacker.com,
explained the benefits of working on smaller pieces
of a problem in the book “Getting Real” by 37signals.
Gina stated that “smaller tasks … are more
manageable, hide fewer possible requirement
misunderstandings, and cost less to change your
mind about..."
! Smaller pieces of a problem are much easier
to work on, and any problem can be broken down
into smaller chunks repeatedly.
! Work on your problem in smaller pieces, one
at a time.
Think Unstuck ! ! 112

113. 103. Reminisce.
Take a few minutes to reminisce about an important
moment in your life.
! Can you relate the previous moment you
think of to your current problem or situation? Ask
yourself: “If I were in that situation again, with my
current problem, how would I solve it?”
! Endel Tulving, a Canadian neuroscientist and
former professor at the University of Toronto, has
studied the power of memories, specifically episodic
memory: the ability to recall past memories and to
envision future ones.
! According to Tulving, the ability to recall past
events is heavily correlated with the ability to
envision the future. If you can reminisce about the
past you can envision a future where your problem
or situation is resolved.
! Try it right now: reminisce about the past and
try to relate it to your ideal, soon-to-be future.
Think Unstuck ! ! 113

114. 104. Go with your gut instincts.
What do you feel you should do right now? No
matter what your instinctual feelings are at the
moment, go with them.
! Instincts are often good, and for good reason.
In the book “The Power of Simplicity” Jack Trout and
Steve Rivkin discuss the affects of going with your
instincts. The authors explain: “People distrust their
instincts. They feel there must be a hidden, more
complex answer. Wrong. What’s obvious to you is
obvious to many. That’s why an obvious answer
usually works so well.”
! Your instincts can often lead you to effective
and creative solutions, if you let them. Learn to relax
and go with your “gut” when the feeling strikes. Be
sure that – if you do go with your instincts – that
you are following instincts and not desires, which
are two completely different things.
! Do the obvious: go with your instincts.
Think Unstuck ! ! 114

115. 105. Ask yourself what you want
to learn.
Sit down and ask yourself: “What do I want to learn
from this situation?” Asking yourself this question
works best if you write down the question and then
list the answers beneath it on a piece of paper.
! Discovery is a creative learning method that
is – without a doubt – the most beneficial way to
find inspiration.
! By reevaluating your problem or situation
into a problem of discovery, you lower your risk of
failure to zero. By pursuing knowledge you can’t
lose with what you do next. No matter what
happens: you’ll learn something. And that’s good.
! Learning is all it takes to discover new
sources of inspiration. Ask yourself: “What do I
want to learn from this?”
Think Unstuck ! ! 115

116. 106. Be fearless.
Whatever you do next: be fearless.
! Take a minute to sit back and relax. When the
minute is up, jump back into things, but this time:
be fearless. Don’t worry about whether the results of
your effort will be what you expected, and don’t
worry about what people will think.
! Fear restricts thinking to invisible – and often
imaginary – boundaries. It shouldn’t be surprising
that fears are often far worse than any actual
negative outcome could be. To face your fears, ask
yourself: “What’s the worst that could happen?”
The worst that could happen is very likely to be
worth risking in order to be creative or innovative.
! As Shakespeare once stated: “Fearless minds
climb soonest into crowns.”
! Take a few deep breaths, relax the best you
can, then become fearless.
Think Unstuck ! ! 116

117. 107. Think of reasons why you
might be feeling stuck.
Think of several reasons why you might be feeling
stuck, then actively find ways around each reason.
! Evaluating possible reasons why you might
be stuck is a great first step to getting unstuck.
! A large part of being creative is being able to
look at a problem and find all the different reasons
why it may be a problem. Doctors have to use
creativity regularly to treat symptoms in their
patients. Without evaluating the possible reasons
why a patient might be ill, a doctor could never
fully help them. Likewise: without evaluating the
reasons you might be creatively stuck, you can’t find
a way to get unstuck.
! Take the time to evaluate why you might be
feeling stuck, then tackle each potential reason, one-
by-one, however you can.
Think Unstuck ! ! 117

118. 108. Write down at least 50
possible ideas in 3 minutes.
Set a timer for 3 minutes, sit yourself down in front
of a computer or sheet of paper, and type or write 50
ideas down before the timer goes off.
! Write down ideas that are specifically about
your problem, if you can. If you can’t think of any
ideas related to your problem or situation, write
down anything that comes to mind that you feel is
creative or could lead to other creative ideas.
! Silly ideas, unrealistic ideas, ideas that
somebody else has already though-of, these are all
acceptable things to write down, as long as you
reach at least 50 ideas in three minutes.
! Forcing yourself come up with a list of ideas
will undoubtedly get your creativity flowing, and
with a list of at least 50 ideas you are sure to find
creative inspiration.
Think Unstuck ! ! 118

119. 109. Go for a walk.
It doesn’t matter where you go or how far, get up
and go for a walk.
! As you walk, let your mind wander freely
with thoughts, rather than focusing your attention
on problems or projects.
! When your mind is relaxed by an easy walk
around the neighborhood or local park, you’ll easily
find inspiration in the best possible place to look for
it: the world around you.
! So whenever you’re feeling stuck or like you
could use a boost in creativity, keep in mind the
insightful words of the remarkable author Henry
David Thoreau when he said: “Me thinks that the
moment my legs begin to move, my thoughts begin
to flow.”
! Give yourself the creative boost you deserve:
go for a walk outside.
Think Unstuck ! ! 119

120. 110. Use your personal strengths.
Focus on using your personal strengths to help you
become unstuck.
! It’s possible that you may be stuck simply
because you are focusing on your weaknesses,
rather than your strengths. Negative thoughts such
as, “I’m no good at this,” or “I can’t do it,” create
barriers in your thinking that realistically don’t need
to be there.
! Rather than thinking anything negative,
think of what some of your personal strengths are,
then try to use your strengths to seek out
inspiration. Instead of saying: “I can’t do this,” think
to yourself: “I’m struggling with this at the moment,
but I’m great at doing this other thing …” then try
to use what you’re good at to help you improve in
the areas you are currently struggling.
! Use your personal strengths to get unstuck.
Think Unstuck ! ! 120

121. 111. Compare old methods with
modern methods.
Ask yourself what an old way to solve your
problem is, then compare it with a new and modern
problem solving technique.
! Use the internet, browse the library, or ask
someone you know for help in order to discover old
and new methods of getting unstuck.
! By comparing past methods of creative
thinking with modern techniques, you can see
where the techniques were improved and where
they remained unchanged. If you can see where a
technique has been most effective, you can use that
knowledge to fuel your own thinking.
! Think – or research – old creative methods for
your problem or situation, then compare them with
new, modern creative thinking techniques.
Think Unstuck ! ! 121

122. 112. Change your point of view.
Changing your point of view is just that: change
your point of view or opinion.
! Changing your point of view – as described
here – isn’t a physical action, it’s simply changing
your mental perception of a problem.
! To change your point of view: disagree with
your initial view of your problem or situation, view
it from the perspective of someone who isn’t
involved with it, or try to find an alternative view
that is unlike your own.
! By viewing a situation from different points
of views or with different opinions of the elements
of your situation, you’re exposing yourself to
potential solutions or ideas that you might not have
been able to see before.
! Open yourself to new and potentially helpful
ideas by changing your point of view.!
!
Think Unstuck ! ! 122

123. 113. Think of a solution that fails.
Rather than trying to find a solution that will
undoubtedly work, try thinking of a solution that is
sure to fail.
! You can peak your creative thinking by
observing ideas that don’t work and then looking at
their opposite.
! We (hopefully) learn from failures by looking
at our mistakes and then avoiding them in the
future. Skip the process of failing now by thinking
of solutions that are sure to fail, then try doing the
opposite.
! Ask yourself: “How does a solution that will
definitely fail affect my perception of possible
solutions that could work?”
! To get unstuck: think of a solid solution that
will fail, then think of it’s opposite and try using
that idea to progress.
!
Think Unstuck ! ! 123

124. 114. Seek out a partner.
Find inspiration from one person that you can work
with as a partner on your problem or project.
! There is always someone who has had to deal
with the same problem you are facing, or someone
who isn’t feeling the same thinking constraints you
may be experiencing, seek them out and work with
them to get unstuck.
! To find a partner: ask around, use the
internet, or turn to friends. Find someone you can
work with as a team to come up with ideas.
! Thinking with a partner can make getting
unstuck much easier. Thomas Edison believed that
working with others was essential to innovation.
When asked about working with partners, Edison
stated simply: “If I could solve all the problems
myself, I would.”
! Seek out a partner to help you think.
Think Unstuck ! ! 124

125. 115. Learn about another culture.
Research another culture and how they go about
what you are trying to do.
! Different cultures have very different beliefs
and problem solving strategies, which makes the
exploration of cross-cultural studies a great source
of creativity.
! Research studies have repeatedly shown that
learning about other cultures can increase creative
thinking dramatically. In their research study titled
“Multicultural Experience, Idea Receptiveness, and
Creativity,” esteemed educators Angela Ka-yee
Leung and Chi-yue Chiu report that “multicultural
experiences can provide a valuable cognitive
resource for creative thinking.”
! Learn about another culture and you could
be surprised at what you find. Use that to your
advantage and feel inspired.
Think Unstuck ! ! 125

126. Think Unstuck ! ! 126

127. ! “Creativity is a lot like looking at
the world through a kaleidoscope. You
look at a set of elements, the same ones
everyone else sees, but then reassemble
those floating bits and pieces into an
enticing new possibility.”
– Rosabeth Moss Kanter
Think Unstuck ! ! 127

128. Think Unstuck ! ! 128