Do you do your best thinking when you’re driving in traffic, taking a jog, just before you nod off or while you’re taking a shower? It’s a fact that many people seem to encounter their brilliance when their minds shut off from thinking about the here and now and simply wander. The challenge is that your moment of peace is often interrupted by this intense desire to escape from your solitude or find something to write on, lest you forget your winning idea.

At least once a week, every entrepreneur should make time to do ‘relaxed thinking’. This is the time when we create great ideas, work through problems and crack codes. Although it’s seemingly when your conscious mind turns off and your subconscious mind awakens that you spark ideas, it’s important to understand that you can use your conscious mind to frame and shape the ideas you come up with. As Dr. Joseph Murphy states in The Power of Your Subconscious Mind, “The conscious mind is like the captain at the bridge of a ship. He directs the ship and signals orders to men in the engine room… The men in the engine room do not know where they are going; they follow orders. They would go on the rocks if the man on the bridge issued faulty or wrong instructions…”. Recognize your power to create ideas and make the time to think them.

6 Tips for Shutting off your Mind

1. Frame your thoughts - Identify what type of ideas you want to come up with. This helps steer your subconscious mind in the direction your conscious mind wants to travel in.
2. Schedule - Clear your calendar for at least 30 minutes. Make sure others know that you can’t be interrupted.
2. Remove all distractions - It’s important to understand what helps you relax and what distracts you. For example, some people find music distracting, others find it soothing.
3. Get comfortable - Wear comfortable clothing and sit or lie down in a comfortable position.
4. Breathe – Focus on your breathing – deep and slow breaths.
5. Have a pen & pad nearby – If you have a great idea, give yourself the ability to record it so you don’t spend the remainder of your relaxation wound up, trying to hold on to the one idea you thought up.
6. Don’t have any expectations – Be prepared for a good idea, but don’t expect one. After all, this kind of defeats the purpose of relaxing. If an idea comes, great! If not, don’t sweat it. You just got 30 minutes of peace and tranquility.

The Importance of Spontaneity

Spontaneous thoughts will continue to happen, even if you’re training your mind to work in a relaxed state. So be prepared for these thoughts. I have notepads on my bedside table, in my living room and in my car. I’ve also downloaded some voice recording apps (Evernote is my favorite free app) for my iPhone to capture ideas when I don’t have a pen and paper handy. The key is to be prepared so you don’t spend the following few days wracking your brain trying to remember your great idea.

Bonus: For those of you who get your best ideas in the shower, here’s a great product for you…an in-shower notepad.

My question to you…

Where do you do your best thinking? And how do you harness those ideas?

Design Boom reported on the most amazing subway architecture from around the world. For those looking to be inspired and think outside of the proverbial box, this is a good place to start. Astounding art and unexpected details will make your wheels spin…even if they’re a bit rusty!

I’m so happy I came across these beautiful floral designs on Oh Joy!‘s blog. Dandelion Ranch is located in LA’s Artist District and their creations are a sight to behold.

Lara McCulloch-Carter
Author of the Special Event blog ready2spark
Director of Marketing – Regal Tent Productions
Past-President – ISES Toronto
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Lara McCulloch-Carter

Author of the Special Event blog ready2spark

Director of Marketing – Regal Tent Productions

Past-President – ISES Toronto

. Follow me on Twitter

. Connect with me on LinkedIn

. Become my Peep at EventPeeps

. Befriend me at Events Network

Rule 1: Have a superpower -
What is a superhero without a superpower? There have been many a debate around dinner tables discussing ‘if you could have any superpower in the world, what would it be?’. The amazing thing is when you look at the landscape of superheroes…and there are thousands…they each have a distinct and unique power. I mean, how interesting would it be if there were two superheroes that shot webs out of their wrists? What about 5? 10? 50? Well this is the rut that many businesses put themselves in. They don’t think about what makes them different from the sea of companies who do the exact same thing they do.
Rule 2: Serve the people -
Would you be engaged by a superhero that could push a pencil faster than a speeding bullet? Probably not. Why? Because it’s not useful, helpful or relevant to anyone. A good superhero has to serve the people. So does a good brand. You have to stand for something that people need or desire.
Rule 3: Create your icon -
Superheroes usually own a color and an icon. What superhero do you think of when I ask you to visualize a red cape, blue body suit and a yellow crest with a big red S on his chest? Why Superman, of course. An icon not only helps you get recognized and identified but also remembered.
Rule 4: Be authentic -
Can you imagine Captain America pushing an old woman aside to jump on the subway? Of course not. When Captain America is in uniform, he is noble, strong, hard-working, just, and honest…the epitome of being All American. Being authentic is about staying true to who you are at all times.
Rule 5: Be approachable -
Many superheroes have alter egos. They make the character more interesting, more understandable and more approachable. And although this point may sound like a contradiction to my previous point, it’s not. It’s important for a brand to have depth. After all, perfect is boring and unapproachable. Find ways to add warmth to your brand – engage, build relationships, learn from your mistakes and be open to feedback.
One final thoughtAs Peter Parker’s (aka Spider Man) Uncle Ben once said: “With great power comes great responsibility”. So use your powers wisely.
Lara McCulloch-Carter
Author of the Special Event blog ready2spark
Director of Marketing – Regal Tent Productions
Past-President – ISES Toronto
. Follow me on Twitter
. Connect with me on LinkedIn
. Become my Peep at EventPeeps
. Befriend me at Events Network

I just finished designing these business cards and thought I’d share them with you. Unfortunately I’m sans camera, so these beauties were taken with my iPhone. I had tremendous fun doing the naming, gazelle illustration, brand design and business card layout.