Blog 1B

Mitch Ditkoff’s “14 Ways to Get Breakthrough Ideas” is a motivational way to help you organize your thoughts and ideas. He teaches you the mathematics of creativity. Thinking all the time and trying to be creative can be incredibly stressful. From the moment you wake up until the time you sleep, and sometimes even while sleeping, ideas are running through your head. Ditkoff explains how to control the stress of idea-making by taking breaks or trying different techniques. What I like most about Ditkoff’s suggestions, is how he reinforces the trial and error aspects of creating. The three prompts I found most appealing are prompts eleven, ten, and seven.


Prompt # 11 - Brainstorm

Prompt #11 really stood out to me. I’m not a ‘rugged individualist’ but when it comes to  creating, I like to have total control and full responsibility of the project. However, I think this is because the only time I’ve worked on group projects is in school. The groups are assigned, people are shy, some people aren’t committed and by the time you get comfortable with each other, the project is already being graded. Its a total clash. I am particularly shy in groups without really having any reason to be. I never fully surface my ideas to the group and I feel most members do the same. If groups were able to be chosen on our own, collaboration would be much more enjoyable and constructive because group members would be honest with each other. Unfortunately, the business world does not work like that and when it comes down to it, you will be placed to work with other creatives you may not get along with. For that reason, it is critical to be outgoing, constructive, and enthusiastic because one person escorted by these traits can make all the difference.

Prompt # 10 - Hang Out WIth Diverse Groups of People

I was really excited to see prompt ten. I agree with this prompt completely. It is very beneficial meeting and hanging out with diverse groups of people. One, it makes you a well-rounded human being. Two, it changes up your weekly routines. For instance, when you see the same people everyday, you start talking about the same things and start sharing similar opinions, eventually influencing each other for better or for worse. Three, you make connections. Being in a field that has a lot to do with who you know, its significant to be able to get along with, and relate, to all walks of life. Transferring from community college, it was easy to think of how many people you will meet, how everyone gets along, and everyone is down to hang. Well, its not like that. Most people get in there steady groups of friends and stay in their comfort zones until they graduate, and thats totally cool. However, I’m not really like that and never have been. Most college students here usually view “townies” as weird people. Two of the coolest dudes I’ve met here so far grew up and live in Athens, I celebrated New Years with them. Its really important to stretch your boundaries and branch out. Meet new people, its good for you.

Prompt # 7 - Listen to Your Subconscious

Listening to your subconscious. It seems way harder to tap into your subconscious than it sounds. I spend a large part of the day just thinking. My favorite time to think and go over my day is when I’m in the shower. Hot water and white walls, perfect conditions for thinking. The subconscious is a huge part of your actions, like why you decided to respond so negatively, why you responded so politely, why you always take a left instead of a right even though you will get there at the same time. Why? Well its our job as people to understand ourselves to our fullest amount, it just depends how far you want to go, or if you even want to try. Carl Jung believes that when you understand your conscious mind just as well as your unconscious mind, you will discover The Self. He also believes most people will never achieve The Self. Personally, I believe I have a pretty good grasp on how or why I react the way I do in most situations. I try to study my behavior and how I got there. Have I always reacted this way, has someone influenced me to think twice about it, has someone influenced me to think negatively about it? Analyzing  is like a chisel that starts the crack on your ten foot self portrait. You’re the sculptor. At your own pace, you chisel away. The more you chisel, the more you realize that a huge rock can be broken down to create a pretty wicked piece of art.

Prompt question #11

What is the topic of your next group brainstorm? Who will you invite? Who will facilitate? When?

The next time I will  be in a group brainstorm will be during the 48-hour shootout. I’m very excited for this. I’m doing it with my buddies who I’ve met through class. Real cool dudes and well-humored. We will receive the topic when the shootout starts. Its a total surprise topic but the team we have is real diverse and I think we will be able to create a pretty good short and if not, it will be fun making it. The shootout is the first weekend of February (if I’m not mistaken). Jimmy will be facilitating. He’s well-organized and has an apartment which will make this shootout much easier to work on. I’m pretty psyched to be be working with these people on such an active project.