Barbara Sher's
brainstorming techniques


"I can't have my dream because of x"

You can do 2 things about this:
1- How can I get it without x
2- How can I get x

This means that the only time to go straight into brainstorming with question 2 is :

1 If you're 150% sure that x is the only way to your goal (there is no alternative to medical school. If you want to become a doctor)

or

2 If x itself is something you love for its own sake, like wealth or scholarship or professional standing. Then it's not really an obstacle at all - its one of your touchstones! with those two exceptions, never assume that conventional wisdom is correct until you've tried question 1.

Barb's brainstorming technique

Step 1: woolgathering
You suspend reality and bat the problem from here to the land of oz, accepting EVERY idea with uncritical delight until you've come up with some really fresh thinking.

Step 2 bridge building.
Bring the best of your windfall of wild ideas down to earth and put them into practical doable form. Your building bridges that extend between dream and reality, inspiration and action.

There are 3 different ways to do woolgathering

1 Brainstorming alone:
take pencil + paper write problem at top of page then write every idea that pops into your head no matter how far fetched or outrageous.
If you have trouble shaking off the habitual limitations in your thought, first l check and see whether a little hard times is called for. Discouragement or apprehension may be weigh you down.

2 Role-play brainstorming

3 Brainstorming with a group

1 - What's useful about this element?
2 - What problems does it raise and how to solve them?
3 - Further ideas