Yes, it's a line from a Vanilla Ice song, but we're using it as a way to remind you to use the people around you to build on your ideas...

The classroom collaborative process called: Think, Pair Share (Lyman, 1981) works perfectly the world of Brainstorming (or IdeaSparking as we prefer to call it).

First, you generate ideas SOLO. Then you PAIR up with a partner and build on each other's ideas. Then, pair up with another pair and do the same. Keep going if you have a very large group. Then each group SHAREs their best idea with the room. Isn't that a much more friendly and respectful way to treat the brain?

ps: if you work alone, generate your ideas solo then ask a buddy over email to build on them with you.

There are some super useful tools out there to help you spark ideas or even just warm up to it::

Check out One Word - a quick little game you can play to get your creative juices flowing. If you've got an iPhone you should grab the Idea Generator (a shake of the phone throws up random words to spark your thinking) from the iTunes app store and also Dr Kawashima's Brain Exercise application.

A GIFT:: I've created a guided audio brainstorm you can use at any time. The only thing standing between you and fresh ideas is a few minutes and a blank piece of paper.

Think back to the last great idea you had. HOW did you get it? In most cases you'll find a new experience sparked your thinking - you related something NEW you were doing to a challenge you were facing an got an idea to solve it.

Try these new experiences and you'll be guaranteed to spark new ideas to solve your current challenge:

1. Eat something you've never eaten.
2. Change the radio station to the opposite end of the dial for a day.
3. At the newsagent next time, choose the magazine two rows down from your favourite. And read every page.
4. Go to a live event you've never been to - if you usually choose opera, choose a magic show.
5. Implement a NUDE food day at work - ask everyone to commit to creating as little rubbish as possible for one day.
6. Visit www.ted.com and view the first video that catches your eye.
7. Ask a mate to bring in a book for you from their bookshelf at home. Read it.
8. Ask a stranger who works in the same building as you to have lunch with you. Each of you will bring a business challenge. Discuss.
9. Do your exercise routine in reverse.
10. The next time someone asks 'How are you?' go one more step than 'Good thanks, you?'. Ask another question to find out something fresh.

Once you've had a new experience, spend a moment to imagine how that new experience might relate to your challenge at hand - you'll spark a new idea. Every time.

A few months ago we launched Ideas While You Sleep - a crowdsourced brainstorm completed by our Ideas Agents all over the world while YOU sleep - and since then:

• We've generated tens of thousands of ideas for hundreds of clients in many countries.
• We've signed up over 400 Ideas Agents in 8 different countries ranging in age between 15 and 82 to solve your business challenges.
• Your challenges have been as diverse as marketing ideas for a South African Port Wine company to business names for a womens networking group in New Zealand to product ideas for a water supply company to online enhancements for a Danish publishing company.
• Ideas While You Sleep was mentioned by the extensively visited Springwise site/blog (Very cool and new business ideas from around the world). We got a heap of new Spanish and German clients when mentioned on a Spanish marketing blog and a German site!
• We were also listed in the Top 5 Crowdsourcing Entrepreneurs article on a New York advertising agency blog.
• We were interviewed this week by Cameron Reilly from the Podcast Network who has half a million listeners. You can listen if you like. AND....
• We're super proud to announce that we've been listed as one of 24 finalists in the Anthill Cool Company awards for 2009!

Submit any business challenge to us by 4pm any business day and we'll get about 100 ideas back to you by 10am the next morning. While You Sleep.

http://www.ideasculture.com/ideas.php

Until next time - keep your suggestions, feedback and fresh ideas coming - we love to hear them..

We deliver ideas. Any which way you want them.

We can do it While You Sleep, we can do it WITH you or we can do it VIA you. Then we can help you choose the right one and bring it to life. Grab our funky brochure --->

We love listening, we love chatting and we love tea - so if you'd like us to drop by, let us know. Yvonne is in Sydney a few times in the next month, so please let us know if you're in Sydney and you'd like a visit.

Email us anytime: enquiries@ideasculture.com
or phone 1300 734 904.

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		Here’s a challenge for you – think of one thing you have used today. Like a teabag or soap or phone or toothbrush. Now write down 6 things related to that item. THEN write down a business challenge you're facing.. something you'd like a handful of ideas for. Now, go back to your list and use the random words to spark 3 ideas per word.... email us if you are having trouble getting started!