Where Ideas Sometimes Come From--and How to Find Your Own

One of the most common things I hear from people who don't practice creativity regularly is: "Where do your ideas come from?"

I was in an editorial book job for many years where one of my main tasks was to come up with "new!," "original!," "fresh!" ideas every week, so I've had a lot of practice in the whole Idea Industry. Here are just a few cards I've created and how they were inspired:

People inspire me. In fact, the Card of the Week this week was originally created for a young friend of mine who lives with Type 1 Diabetes.  (You can check out the card HERE.)

Places inspire me. Several years ago, I traveled with some girlfriends to Georgia, where I saw fireflies for the first time.  I had to share these amazing creatures with the world, and they directly inspired this card HERE.

Clothing and fashion inspire me. Who does not love a great pair of red shoes? That inspired card lives HERE.

But what inspires YOU? Do you love flowers? Go sit in a garden or walk around a nursery and take pictures of your favorites. Or maybe you are crazy about food? Pack a little picnic or some treats and sit in a park or a bench (or your back patio)--enjoy the food and the atmosphere and see what comes into your head.

Always have something handy where you can jot your thoughts down or take pictures or even do a voice memo.

The most important thing to remember in this stage: DO NOT JUDGE YOUR IDEAS.

I mean it. There is time for that later and we will dig into that soon. But for now, when you are finding ideas to bring to life, you can not squash them before they've had a chance to wiggle around on the table a bit.

For today start becoming friends with the Ideas inside you just dying to come out.

Let's do this.