We can talk about creativity till the proverbial cows come home but that isn’t going to guarantee that you’ll start looking at problems, projects and ideas from a creative point of view. What’s really needed is action.

Of course we’d be delighted to help your make your ideas a reality. Here are 6 creative kick starters.

1. Challenge everything
Don’t accept the first idea or thought that pops into your head. Question it, investigate it, and pull it apart. Ask why? Ask what else? Ask what if? Ask how you can make it better? Ask what’s wrong with it? Ask how you could replace it? Don’t be satisfied until you have scrutinized it, tossed it about, or figured out how to improve it.

2. Have a least one really dumb idea each day
If you don’t have at least one dumb idea a day then you ain’t thinking hard enough. Let’s face it not every idea you have will be brilliant, in fact there will probably be more bad ones than good ones so view it as a numbers game and just keep coming up with ideas. It will help flex your creative muscles. Besides, dumb ideas often open doors to better ones or evolve into masterpieces.

3. Make assumptions
Assumptions are the natural born killers of creative thought. So bring them on and deal with them up front. That way you know what they are. Next time you’re trying to find a new angle or solution to something write down every assumption you can think of. Assume your head off. And then either avoid them, or challenge them.

4. Think like a kid
Be spontaneous and see things as they are, not how others perceive them to be, or how they think they should be seen. Children don’t make as many assumptions as grown-ups and simply see things in different ways. They know how to play, have fun, ask a heap of questions and be uninhibited. So be childlike – not childish.

5. Throw away your best idea
When we have a really good idea we tend to hang onto it. Why? Because good ideas are valuable and so it’s natural to treat them as precious things. But hanging onto an idea stops you thinking of new ones. A different, more precious or valuable idea may only be a thought or two away and you may never see it if you’re clinging onto to another. So next time you have a great idea, get rid of it and think of an alternative. You can always comeback to it but the point is open up the space to explore other alternatives.

6. Work on your problem by not working on your problem.
Let your mind do its thing and stop getting in the way. Too often we ponder and think and plan and hypothesize and don’t get anything done. So when you’ve thought yourself into a stupor just walk away for a while and forget about whatever it is you’re working on. You’ll find it’s like a holiday for the mind and when you return you’ll attack your work with a new vigor and fresh outlook. Besides, your subconscious has an amazing ability to sort things out without any help from you.