Solo brainstorming: Forced random connections

- I'm guilty.…Too often, if someone shares a story…with me, my mind finds itself racing ahead…to collect a story to share back in return,…one dredged from the back of my mind…that's a perfect retort or segue to the conversation…and sparked by what I've just heard.…Brainstorming, that's what it is,…just not in the formalized model…that you might typically imagine.…Actually, calling on your companions to brainstorm…an idea with you may seem much more stilted,…but, in effect, it's the mingling of thoughts…and ideas to bring about a collision…that breeds an even more significant idea.…

Lay out your problem or objectives, and, yes,…someone may just hand you back the perfect solution.…But by far, the greater likelihood is multiple ideas…will ignite an even more remarkable solution.…Thing is, generating a crowd of sharp-witted folks…for this task is not always an option.…Trying to summon your own genius lacks the spontaneity…of reacting to a good sparring partner.…

Self-brainstorming can be a bit like trying…to tickle yourself, just not very effective.…