How to Get Ideas

Most “idea” books lack humor; for advertising guru Jack Foster, humor is crucial to creativity. Featuring whimsical illustrations and a relaxed, witty style, How to Get Ideas starts by defining an idea as “nothing more nor less than a new combination of old elements.” Then it uses that definition as a springboard to discuss how to get ideas. The first seven chapters deal with techniques for conditioning the mind to be ripe and ready for idea creation. These range from “Be more like a child” to “Screw up your courage.” The remaining chapters explain the specific actions necessary to get an idea: defining the problem, gathering information, and purposefully “forgetting about it.” Finally, the book looks at ways to put the ideas in action. This revised edition contains two new chapters covering how to “rejoice in failure” (reframing defeat to generate powerful new ideas) and how to construct a life/work environment that encourages idea creation.

Having spent 40 years in advertising and coming up with new ideas every day, the author shows readers seven ways to condition the mind to produce ideas and four subsequent steps for creating ideas on command. 12 line drawings.

How to Get Ideas shows you - no matter your age or skill, your job or training - how to come up with more ideas, faster and easier. First, Jack Foster tells you how to condition your mind and become "idea-prone; " how to make the child within you and your sense of humor work for you; how to develop your curiosity, visualize your goals, rethink your thinking, combine different ideas, and overcome your fear of rejection. Then, Foster gives you a five-step procedure for solving problems and getting ideas, a proven procedure that takes the mystery and anxiety out of the idea-generating process, a procedure that works. Learn how easy it is to become more creative. Read the book you're holding.