Today we look at an exercise called ‘Quota’ from the book Cracking Creativity by Michael Michalko.
Exercise
Take a piece of paper
Step 1: Choose five words at random (you can use a random word generator).
Let’s assume we get Bottle. Sky. Beetle. Hate. Pen.
Step 2: Make a grid-box of 7 columns x 6 rows (see below), and enter the random words in the first column.
Step 3: Now, under [1], write a one-word (or two-words) association with each random word.
Step 4-8: Repeat under…
[2]
[3]
[4]
[5]
[6]
Here’s what I had at the end of round six.
Now, I’d love to hear your experience on this, but I found myself stretched a lot more once I got to [4], and by [6] I had to even cheat, twice. 1
Why is that?
Because the earlier associations are top-of-mind. Thus easier.
As an example: Beetle as insect and as a car was not a mind-bender. But what then? I remembered a movie by Tim Burton, ‘Beetlejuice’, which went under [3]. And in the next round a book, The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner, in which beetles were crushed to make a potion, therefore ‘magic’ under [5].
By deciding on a quota of six associations beforehand, I could come up with unique and imaginative options.
And that is what you will find when you need to come up with ideas. Choose a quota beforehand (5 or 50 or 500 - depending on the objective, team-size, time-at-hand), and push yourself to come up with ideas, thoughts, associations, no matter how much of a stretch. You will find the output is richer and varied.
Try it!
You can use a search engine or ask someone. This is not a test and you don’t have to tell like I did. I can be anal sometimes.