Liz Strauss at Successful Blog

Thinking, writing, business ideas … You’re only a stranger once.

May 20, 2009

From Out of Ideas to New Energy Everywhere

ME Liz Strauss wrote this at 7:15 am

I've been thinking . . .

about being out of ideas.

Oh yeah, billions of us log on to the web everyday, but I only know a few and the few I know are a lot like me. If I’m not careful I find that everywhere I go I hear people saying the same things. Funny, it’s easy when everything is too the same to start comparing things. That’s also when I start to feel out … out of gas, out of sync, out of ideas.

Yet, I think the problem may be that I’m in — not out enough.

A person, a product or a business has to stand out to perform.

When I’m tired of feeling out of gas, out of sync, out of ideas. I get out of that routine, out of my way, out the group and scene I’ve been and suddenly I discover I’m into all sorts of outstanding new things.

Sometimes the fastest way to move my mind is to move my feet off the usual path away from the usual group I’m in.

Then new energy, new ideas, and a new view surrounds me everywhere I am.

Know what I mean?

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20 Comments to “From Out of Ideas to New Energy Everywhere”

  1. May 20th, 2009 at 7:27 am
    Lisa Robb said

    I recently left big corp job and now immersed in social media learnings before pulling together a new consulting practice. Enjoyed your words. Am usually not at a loss for words - but getting blog going has been a challenge. Lisa

  2. May 20th, 2009 at 9:02 am
    Jendi said

    Yes! I know exactly what you mean.

    In real life I’ll go for a walk, vacuum the floor, push the kids on the swings. My mind will relax and start working again.

    Online I’ll go read a new blog or talk to someone I don’t usually talk to on Twitter or in a forum.

  3. May 20th, 2009 at 9:25 am
    Fred H Schlegel said

    I’ll let the dog decide where we are going. The walk is usually long, random, occasionally hurried (rabbits, don’t ya know). The mind has no choice but to wander and notice a few new things.

  4. May 20th, 2009 at 12:06 pm
    The crazy suburban mom said

    Energy and ideas are interesting…

    For me, just going through the motions of creativity starts the wheels. There are days I don’t feel the sparkle of a ‘great’ (or even interesting) blog post until I begin writing a so-so one.

    Sometimes the sparkle comes with the editing. The most mundane idea can birth some pretty fizzy stuff…

    Tracy

  5. May 20th, 2009 at 1:00 pm
    Amy said

    You? Out of ideas? Somehow I can’t imagine that. ;-)

  6. May 20th, 2009 at 7:55 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Lisa,
    Leaving a role that was so defining had to shake your energy as well as your thinking. Let me know if I can help. That’s what I do. :)

  7. May 20th, 2009 at 7:56 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Jendi!
    Welcome!
    Everything you mention is a great strategy for getting out of our heads and into action that will free up our ideas again. Sometimes the best way to have ideas is to stop NOT having them. heh heh :)

  8. May 20th, 2009 at 7:57 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Fred!
    Those rabbits are a great incentive to get energy and the mind off what was clogging up a brain. I like that your dog knows where to go. Dogs are wise that way. :)

  9. May 20th, 2009 at 7:59 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Tracy,
    I find that some of my most enjoyable ideas lately are offline and you know, I’m not minding that at all. I figure it’s just fuel for when I come back to tell everyone about them. yeah. :)

  10. May 20th, 2009 at 7:59 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Oh Amy,
    That’s cause I never run out of ideas when I’m talking to you!

  11. May 20th, 2009 at 8:26 pm
    Dave Pancost said

    I’ve just recently been listening to an audio book, Stephen King’s “On Writing”. It’s a combination of memoir on how he became a writer and his advice on writing.

    In it he describes how he came up with the idea for “Carrie”. He had been thinking a lot about telekinesis, the supposed ability to move things with your mind alone, and one day tripped across an article about how some scientists believed that psychic power is strongest in early adolescence. Bam! The idea for Carrie popped into his head almost in it’s entirety.

    The point being the more we expose ourselves to the new and different, the more interesting ideas we form. Now you come along and say much the same thing. Looks like I’m gonna have to work on expanding my borders a bit. :-)

  12. May 20th, 2009 at 10:43 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Yeah, Dave,
    The thing about new ideas is remembering to let them happen. We don’t need to look for them really they’re all around us.

  13. May 21st, 2009 at 8:00 am
    Barb Hartsook said

    Liz, I LOVE your comment back (#7) and “whoopeed” my way to the kitchen to share with my husband.

    You said — the best way to have ideas is to stop NOT having them.

    Love that……….. will take that thought with me and go work out. :)

  14. May 22nd, 2009 at 5:08 am
    Amanda said

    I do a ‘Thinking Walk’ or take a shower.

    I don’t know why it works - it just does. I’d like to turn my Thinking Walk method into a something I could share with others - for free.

    I have this amazing idea for creativity for non-arty farty people and I’d like to get it out of my head and out there for everyone to benefit from.

  15. May 22nd, 2009 at 5:00 pm
    Tim Bursch said

    Liz,
    Good reminder. I will be doing some real paper book reading, writing and getting outside with friends this weekend. Look forward to new ideas!
    Thank you for sharing.

  16. May 23rd, 2009 at 8:57 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Barb!
    It’s a fact out bodies a valve called ARS that stops stimuli from reaching our brains. Too much stimuli would make unable to function, but too little keeps the ideas from coming in. That’s why when we walk, shower, move boxes and such our best ideas come … we’re unconsciously not blocking that stimuli like when we’re trying to think things up.

  17. May 23rd, 2009 at 8:58 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Amanda,
    Get that idea out and share it. It will grow if you do. I guarantee it.

    Liz

  18. May 23rd, 2009 at 8:59 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hey Tim,
    I’ve got a plentitude of ideas right now. I’m having to use every minute and all of my energy to keep up with them. Thanks!!

  19. May 23rd, 2009 at 9:42 pm
    Dave Pancost said

    Wow, Liz,

    I didn’t know about ARS. That’s fascinating. Where did you find out about that? I wonder if there is a connection to this and ADD. Hmmmm.

  20. May 24th, 2009 at 7:45 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Dave,
    The ARS — I think I’ve got that right — is a valve at the base of the brain. I’ve been thinking I should revisit that and start writing about ideas again. :)

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