Brainstorm
Ever lost for ideas while working in a group? One of the most often-used technique for generating many ideas is Brainstorming. Alex Osborn, a partner in an advertising agency, developed brainstorming techniques years ago in 1941 to help his employees to come up with many, many ideas for their advertising business. To enable Brainstorming to be effective, there are certain rules to follow. One of the most important is that no one should make any judgment about anyone's ideas. There should be a FREE-FLOW of ideas (that's why Brainstorm is put under the WATER Element category!) and everyone's ideas are to be respected and taken into account.Let's go through the steps of setting up an effective Brainstorming session:1. Get into small groups of less than six (it was found to be more effective) and select a leader and a recorder (they may be the same person).
2. The leader must explain the focus topic and goals of the Brainstorming session. In short, he/she must make sure that everyone is clear on the topic being explored.3. The leader should spell out the rules of an effective Brainstorming session. These will include:
- There are no WRONG ideas!
- Everyone plays a part to contribute.
- No laughing and poking fun at people's ideas. No CRITICISM!
- Do not discuss or argue about the ideas given.
- The person in charge must record all ideas without any biasness.
And in turn, he/she will pass the ball to another member for his turn to give another idea. Whatever it is, there are no real hard and fast rules about this. As long as ideas are continuously flowing from each member, the objective is met.7. The recorder should write down all responses and enable the other members to see them. This help a lot in the brainstorming as sometimes, ideas of others can help spark more original ideas form the rest of the group.8. Usually after the Brainstorming session, the group will need to go through the results and begin to evaluate the ideas given. Certain questions to ponder upon include:
- Are there ideas that are similar?
- Can some of the ideas and concepts be grouped together for clarity?
- Are there ideas that are really impossible to use at this point of time (maybe due to lack of resources or other reasons)?
Ideas to start a business with less than $100 in the bank.2. Generate ideas to make an effective advertisement for a business.3. To improve sales of a new product.4. Generate ideas to get people to buy what I am selling (for example, Health Products) instead of flowers for Valentine's Day.5. To find ways to get rid of excess products (for example, food, flowers and others) that will be rotting in a week's time.Just a note for Solo Warriors: Brainstorming is usually done in a group for obvious reasons.
In any case, if you are ever caught alone with an IDEA FLOW blockage, you can still brainstorm alone by jotting down ideas on paper or laptop. The same rules apply and that is to jot ideas as they flow without considering whether they are good or bad. The evaluation of your responses can be done later after you feel that the flow of ideas is subsiding.The Stone Soup Legend There exists a tale, handed down from times long ago, of two travelers on a pilgrimage. Hungry and tired from a long day's journey, they come to a small, impoverished, medieval village, where they decide to rest by the side of the road. One of the travelers builds a small fire, upon which he places a large pot, while the other, having drawn water from the town well, fills the pot and places into the vessel a simple stone.
As the two men sit by the fire, bringing their "stone soup" to a boil, the local villagers become inquisitive of the curious antics of these strangers. Eventually, several townsfolk decide to investigate the matter and approach the two travelers to engage them in conversation.Shortly thereafter, there is heard the sound of merriment, as the visitors, who turn out to be quite friendly, share their tales of the lands and people they have met throughout their journey and pilgrimage with the local villagers.Finally, a young boy asks the travelers "But why, pray thee, are you boiling a stone?"One of the pilgrims replies, "So we may eat stone soup.""It must be terribly bland!" says an old woman. "But I have a cabbage, which will add some flavor!""And I, some carrots, which will add color!" says another villager."Some potatoes!", offers another, until, shortly, by the contribution of a little by many, a hearty stew was made, upon which the entire village and the weary pilgrims dined... and while doing so, shared their tales, talents, and camaraderie throughout the night.The very next day, the travelers (who by now could be called "strangers" no more), continued their journey, leaving the little town, and its people, behind. But the villagers never forgot them, and the lesson they had learned.
In fact, during the hardest of times, in such a time as this tale, that little village thrived, because the townsfolk never forgot how to make "stone soup"..
Dr. Alvin Chan is a Senior Research Consultant at First Quatermain. Please contact him at bizguru88@hotmail.com if you are reprinting his article online or in print.heartware2002@yahoo.comHow to Get the Best Price for Your House
The best price to sell your home is always determined by how you compare against your competition, the house down the street. If your property looks better than the next guy's the customer will buy yours. It all comes down to image, making sure it shows at its best. This is accomplished with minor repairs, some decorating and a lot of elbow grease. It's no different than a used car dealer shining up the cars inside and out.
You systematically go through your home, inside and out, room by room, and make it look great.OutsidePaint it, wash it, mow it and clip it. First impressions are lasting, and you don't get a second chance to make a good first impression. Look at your home from the street. If you can't see it through the trees, trim bushes so windows are completely exposed. Make sure your approach to the house is clear of overhanging foliage.
Wash the windows. If you have a blacktop driveway, put a fresh coat of sealer on it. Dress up flowerbeds with new shrub or flowers...
How to Get the Best Price for Your House
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Improve Your Memory - Now!
Remembering ThingsI remember a birthday party I went to as a child. There was a contest that involved looking at a table covered in 15 various items. After a few minutes, the things were taken away, and then we each got a piece of paper and a pencil. The object was to
write down as many items as we could remember. I struck out after seven or eight, but one little boy got all 15 items, and won the prize.Only years later did I learn why he was able to do that.
His father had taught him a simple technique that none of us other kids knew. All you have to do is tie the items together in an imaginative story. Imagine, for example, that you want to remember a list of the following things: milk, soap, forks, honey, and flowers.Create a story, and see it vividly in your head: You are in front of the bathroom sink, and you reach for the soap. The soap dish is filled with milk, so you wash your hands with that, then comb honey into your hair with a fork, pick up a bouquet of flowers...
Improve Your Memory - Now!
Flowers > Improve Your Memory - Now!
BrainJams Announces Inaugural Event in Silicon Valley
SAN FRANCISCO, CA (ContentDesk) December 2, 2005 -- BrainJams are a new type of event where technologists, non-profits, business people and community leaders come together to share their knowledge, experiences and ideas across traditional boundaries. BrainJams enable people to meet new friends/associates from diverse backgrounds and gain insights on their current projects, while contributing to the success of others.
The next BrainJams event will be held this Saturday, December 3rd from 9:00am to 5:00pm at SRI's famed campus in Menlo Park, CA.
The first half of the day centers on knowledge networking (aka: BrainJamming), which is similar to speed dating without all the flowers and romance.
Participants will have 24 one-on-one meetings lasting five minutes each, where they can talk with one another about what they are doing and share valuable insights from their personal experiences.
The attendee lead afternoon sessions focus on how people use emerging...
BrainJams Announces Inaugural Event in Silicon Valley
Flowers > BrainJams Announces Inaugural Event in Silicon Valley
Barclays Global Investors Top Alpha’s Ranking of Europe’s Largest Hedge Fund Families
NEW YORK (ContentDesk via ContentDesk Direct) January 25, 2006 -- Barclays Global Investors takes top honors as Europes biggest hedge fund manager, according to a new ranking published by Institutional Investors Alpha magazine. In Alphas Europe Hedge Fund 50, our third annual ranking of Europes biggest single-manager hedge fund families by assets, BGI moves up from fourth place in 2005 to No. 1 this year, with $13.0 billion in assets under management....
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Flowers > Barclays Global Investors Top Alpha’s Ranking of Europe’s Largest Hedge Fund Families
You Need To Know The Possible Hair Loss Causes
Hair loss causes range from simple to complex. Some of the simple causes of hair loss include recovery from major surgery. Such invasive medical treatments cause trauma to the hair follicles and large clumps of hair often come out when you are grooming your hair. Your doctor will advise you that this is normal and your hair growth will return to normal, but it could take 3 or 4 months. Since you know it is only temporary, these hair loss causes should not be a major cause for alarm.
Other...
Flowers Brainstorm You Need To Know The Possible Hair Loss Causes
Flowers > You Need To Know The Possible Hair Loss Causes
When Is A Cigar Box Not Just A Cigar Box?
(ContentDesk) June 16, 2004 -- It's not often that something plain and, by all cultural definitions, masculine is transformed into a beautiful fashion accessory.But that is the concept behind a new business started in Granada Hills, CA. Lisa Cody, founder and principle designer of The Cigar Box Diva is forging her way into the fashion accessory business.As one might guess by the name, these are no ordinary handbags; they are "cigar box purses", a fashion trend that has caught on in many parts...
Flowers Brainstorm When Is A Cigar Box Not Just A Cigar Box? purses
Flowers > When Is A Cigar Box Not Just A Cigar Box?