What inspires your original ideas?

The best original ideas come when you've not only sought diverse input, but you have also sought to understand all sides of the issue. Rich ideas can come from an appreciation of all points of view and dispensing with any bias, judgement or prejudice we might have.

“Read it up – you really should. There is nothing new under the sun. It has all been done before.” ― Sherlock Holmes, A Study in Scarlet. When people ask me the roots of my offbeat opinions, I tell them it’s about consuming every random piece of information with the strong intent to re-use and re-create. If you’re reading without a notepad and pen at hand, you’re only passing your time. You need to read with intent, attacking every idea you’re consuming, and journaling the essence for future use. Over time, you will start making connections that few others can spot, because you’re mining the rich vein of your experiences and extensive reading. And, when you connect these dots, they emerge into a brand new, original idea!

Following other creators in completely different areas is where I get a lot of inspiration. It blocks out the noise of the 'content' of what I do and lets me focus on the process. So the hiker reflecting on how they plan to change how they collaborate is food for thought. Or the homesteader talking about not setting fixed deadlines is a useful perspective. Getting out of the echo chamber of my own area is a great reminder that there is no need to feel any sense of competition. We're all individuals on our own creative path working out what's best for us and those we help. The most productive thing we can do is exchange experiences and learn from each other.

Unoriginal problems inspire my original ideas. The components of the idea are not original... it's the amalgamation and construction process that is original. There's nothing new under the sun. It's not what you do, but how it's done!

Original ideas are the secret sauce of thought leadership – they're like the sprinkles on an ice cream cone. And guess what, sometimes, my two little boys contribute more to my brainstorming sessions than I'd like to admit! To summon those fresh concepts, embrace curiosity, explore new territories, and don't forget to listen to the unfiltered wisdom of the little ones; you never know when their 'out of the box' thinking might just be the genius you need!