Maybe you are a writer looking for fresh ideas. Maybe you are an artist looking for more inspiration. Maybe you are a business person, looking for creative ideas to expand your business and income. Or you work in a place that requires problem-solving skills every day. In any case, you would be surely helped by a strike of genius, would you not?

What did Mozart, Einstein and other geniuses have in common?

They recoded their ideas immediately as they got them! Mozart used to write music on the sleeves of his shirt. My art teacher told me that in art school they are required to carry a sketch pad with them at all times, and sketch what they observe, throughout the day.

All Reason, No Inspiration

I am self-employed. I have my own business. I write and publish. I want my creativity fountain open and pouring resources upon me constantly. I wasn’t always as inspired as I am today.

Earlier in life I learned to shun down creativity and keep my decisions purely rational. As a result, I had a limited life, working in a bank, not very creative at solving life problems, and totally disconnected from the creative expressions I had displayed as a child. Honestly, I was not a happy gal.

When Life Depends on Inspiration

Quitting a nine-year banking career to pursue my life’s passion told my subconscious mind that I am ready to rock! My long-lost creativity returned. I started painting and writing again. It was a big step which also meant learning the rules for a different game: being responsible for my own income. I started writing and publishing, and there were times when I was sitting there, in front of my computer screen, with a blank mind, not knowing what to write, or if I had anything valuable to tell anyone. It was frustrating, to say the least, and wasn’t putting bread on my table.

Creativity was now something that was coming on and off. The on was nice. The off was scary, feeding on the fears of lack. Not enough business or money scared me, which shut down my inspiration channels. What a vicious circle. How does one clear a clogged and rusty channel?

Opening the Tap

I did to major things to open the creativity tap:

• I started journaling. First thing in the morning, obediently observing the three-page rule. The three-page rule says you sit there with your journal and write three full pages. Blabber. Write anything. I don’t care you don’t know what to write. Write: “I don’t know what to write and am sitting here not knowing and wishing I had coffee instead etc etc.” You get my point. Writing opens the tap of ideas, and ideas start flowing as you write. You could cheat, of course, and write on small pages, but I suggest you keep good size pages and keep flushing that channel!
• I started recording absolutely all the ideas visiting my brain. I learned that ignoring and not recording ideas is not neutral to my subconscious mind. It actually tells it: “Hey buddy, these thoughts don’t count; you may as well close shop”. Conversely, when recording ideas, you tell your mind: “Keep up the good work!” Then sit back and watch ideas flow and genius grow!

What Counts as Recording?

• Sharing with a supportive friend who is a good listener
• Journaling ideas and dreams
• Carrying a notebook – paper or electronic – with you and recording ideas
• Carrying a sketchpad and draw as you’re inspired
• My favorite or all is sound recording. Carry an MP3 recorder with you and talk to it anytime, anywhere. My brightest ideas come to me when I walk my dog in the forest. Something about nature does it for me. Walking in the woods and writing a book into your MP3 recorder is, to me, the best of all worlds. You can get voice-to-text software; have the recording transferred to a text file in your computer, et voilà! A strike of Genius!