Your presentations are excellent models of creativity and combined with your calm enthusiasm, I find them very encouraging. Thank you for the ideas about ideas, positive ideation!
- Use conscious interruptions to explore different thought associations (0:31) - Try Goethe think by setting time limits and structuring thoughts in columns (2:58) - Use Teepe think with spatial limits to encourage diverse trains of thought (3:54) - Combine initial thoughts with external stimuli for new perspectives (9:32) - Employ these techniques to generate new ideas quickly for further exploration with other thinking tools (11:37)
Here's a short updated, self-contained summary of my views - I'm ever so glad if people do their own experiments and make their own adjustments. I use the following three building blocks, which I can combine in different ways. Building block 1 - the sheet layout: I use an A4 sheet in landscape format and divide it in 3x3 boxes of equal size - there's no need for exactness and I do it without a ruler. Alternatively, I can use 3 columns and make boxes of different sizes - but at the beginning, 3x3 boxes are easier to handle. I fill the boxes in column 1, then in column 2 and then in column 3. Building block 2 - the box layout: I use each box for a simple small mind map. The size limit of the box will come as a surprise, but it has a number of advantages which I will describe in a moment. Instead of mind maps, I can use diagrams, ordinary text with indentations or math terms. Building block 3 - thinking tools: I can use thinking tools as topics for the small mind maps, to stimulate my thinking about the problem, like: What are key questions? What are my options? How can I split the problem into smaller parts? I find a personal collection of thinking tools very useful - I have a corkboard over my work table and can access dozens of tools and stimuli with one glance. For me, this process has four main advantages. First, a conventional mind maps works best with a couple of main branches of equal size. In problem solving however, I often want to develop only one or two branches over many steps, and this leads to an unsymmetrical, unbalanced mind map. Secondly, moving from one box to the next needs a moment of orientation - where do I stand, and what can I do next? This re-orientation happens much more often in the 3x3 layout than in an ordinary mind map. Thirdly, I find it easier to reflect on a previous thought in a new box than in a branch of an ordinary mind map. Fourth, the combination of mind maps and thinking tools seems very powerful to me. Some remarks: Depending on handwriting size, paper size and personal taste, we can experiment with 2x2, 3x3 or 4x4 boxes. As a fourth building block I'm using a zettelkasten to organize my sheets - but that's outside the scope of this comment.
What do you do to diversify your thinking?
This is easily THE BEST CHANNEL ON TH-cam. Period
Great that you like it!
Thanks. I really appreciate this content. I have just started using the ABC list and it is a definite game changer. Keep doing what you are doing!
Awesome, that it helps you so much! Let me know if you have any questions.
👌👌
Thanks for uploading again. Was missing your videos and thought that you maybe quit YT for good!
Don't worry, I have no plns of quitting any time soon. :-) It's just a matter of juggling my workload.
Thank you! At this point I've watched all your videos chronologically, excited for when you release more!
Great that you find them valuable. Let me know if there's anything specific you like me to cover.
Your presentations are excellent models of creativity and combined with your calm enthusiasm, I find them very encouraging. Thank you for the ideas about ideas, positive ideation!
Thanks, mate! Great that you enjoy my videos.
- Use conscious interruptions to explore different thought associations (0:31)
- Try Goethe think by setting time limits and structuring thoughts in columns (2:58)
- Use Teepe think with spatial limits to encourage diverse trains of thought (3:54)
- Combine initial thoughts with external stimuli for new perspectives (9:32)
- Employ these techniques to generate new ideas quickly for further exploration with other thinking tools (11:37)
Here's a short updated, self-contained summary of my views - I'm ever so glad if people do their own experiments and make their own adjustments.
I use the following three building blocks, which I can combine in different ways.
Building block 1 - the sheet layout:
I use an A4 sheet in landscape format and divide it in 3x3 boxes of equal size - there's no need for exactness and I do it without a ruler.
Alternatively, I can use 3 columns and make boxes of different sizes - but at the beginning, 3x3 boxes are easier to handle.
I fill the boxes in column 1, then in column 2 and then in column 3.
Building block 2 - the box layout:
I use each box for a simple small mind map. The size limit of the box will come as a surprise, but it has a number of advantages which I will describe in a moment.
Instead of mind maps, I can use diagrams, ordinary text with indentations or math terms.
Building block 3 - thinking tools:
I can use thinking tools as topics for the small mind maps, to stimulate my thinking about the problem, like: What are key questions? What are my options? How can I split the problem into smaller parts?
I find a personal collection of thinking tools very useful - I have a corkboard over my work table and can access dozens of tools and stimuli with one glance.
For me, this process has four main advantages.
First, a conventional mind maps works best with a couple of main branches of equal size. In problem solving however, I often want to develop only one or two branches over many steps, and this leads to an unsymmetrical, unbalanced mind map.
Secondly, moving from one box to the next needs a moment of orientation - where do I stand, and what can I do next? This re-orientation happens much more often in the 3x3 layout than in an ordinary mind map.
Thirdly, I find it easier to reflect on a previous thought in a new box than in a branch of an ordinary mind map.
Fourth, the combination of mind maps and thinking tools seems very powerful to me.
Some remarks:
Depending on handwriting size, paper size and personal taste, we can experiment with 2x2, 3x3 or 4x4 boxes.
As a fourth building block I'm using a zettelkasten to organize my sheets - but that's outside the scope of this comment.
Thanks, Thomas, for the very detailed comment. I think people will find this very useful.