Shift Gears

What's one of your most persistent challenges? You know, one that won't go away - because the strategies you've tried to date haven't been as effective as they need to be.

As you return to the challenge, do you notice that your responses tend to be variations of familiar themes? It's time to deliberately shift gears.

Here's one way to do so:

• Write your challenge in the form of a question (How can we...?).


• Find a random image that has no relationship to your challenge.


• List your reactions to the image - whatever comes to mind.


• Re-read your challenge statement, and then one of your impressions.


• Assume the impression is a clue to a better solution.


• Write down every possible connection or idea that comes to mind.


• Move on to the next impression, and repeat as often as necessary.

You can practice this process, using the free Shift Gears tool . If you're lucky, the first image you use will spark promising new associations. More often, it takes several images over time. You will come up with new ideas.

This works because it forces you to begin from a perspective outside your habitual ways of thinking, working harder to make a new kind of connection - understanding and thinking about your challenge in a slightly different way.