MindStorm is a simple technique for generating a bunch of ideas. Traditionally, it's done with paper and a pen , however, this webapp version makes it easy to reference, search and catalogue your ideas. Overtime, as you generate an abundance of ideas, this becomes especially valuable. Basically, you give yourself a quota of coming up with 20 ideas for how to solve a problem, or achieve a goal. Then, you force yourself to do it, to actually come up with the ideas.
MindStorm is an idea generation technique where you force yourself generate at least 20 ideas on a given topic.
You start a MindStorm by deciding on a topic area. Next, you think of a goal, problem or question related to that area.
Once you have your topic, you turn that topic goal, problem or question into an open ended question that invites ideas. Then, you answer the question with at least 20 ideas. After you have your list of ideas, ideally you will select one or more of the ideas to implement as soon as possible.
The first benefit is that upon completion of a MindStorm you have at least 20 ideas for how to solve a problem or achieve a goal. Oftentimes, the very lack of viable alternatives keeps us stuck. With MindStorm you can literally generate enough solutions to solve virtually any problem or goal.
Brian Tracy and Earl Nightingale, who taught this process to thousands, claim that the regular practice of MindStorm has created more self made millionires than any other process. If you make MindStorming a daily habit, in a month you will have 600 (30 x 20) ideas for solving your problems and achieving your goals. In a year, that translates to 7,300 ideas. Most people get a handful of ideas per year. 7,300 ideas per year for how to succeed will revolutionize your life.
Finally, after practicing MindStorm on a regular basis for a few weeks, you will literally become an unstoppable genius. You will start to turn on a stream of ideas, and insights so that you will become a fountain of ideas any time you need them as you go about living your life.
This is a common response that almost everyone runs into. The most essential solution is patience and persistance. Ironically, this feeling of being out of ideas, and unable to generate any more often comes right before a whole new set of ideas emerge. The key is to keep looking, keep asking yourself questions, keep examining your topic from as many points of view as you can.
Interestingly enough, a powerful way to get past this is to do Mindstorm on a question such as, "How can I generate more ideas?" Since these will be your personalized ways to generate ideas, they will probably work better for you than anything another could suggest.
As a way to get started, here is a list of ideas generated during a MindStorm on how to generate ideas.