Not Only A Mindmap Will Give You Instant Solutions To Problems

A couple of weeks ago I read an article on a very interesting topic: creativity and inspiration. The article told me that most people wait to be inspired when they are looking for a solution. Still, this is something that happens often not when you need it. The flash of inspiration and creativity almost always happens when you don’t need it (but always too late). There is a much simpler solution to get instant solutions.

The technique I read about was developed by a Russian inventor, engineer and writer. He worked at a patent office and saw that many patents had similar solutions. By the way… yet another person who worked at a patent office who discovered something valuable – the other person I know who worked at a patent office is Mr. A. Einstein.

Anyway, the Russian inventor created a theory called Teorija Reshenija Izobretelskick Zadatsj. Translated, this is something like the Theory for Solving Invention Problems. He found that there are roughly 40 ideas you can use to solve a problem. This means… 40 ways to create instant creativity!!!

The basic assumption for his theory is that whenever there is a problem, there are 2 ideas which are counterproductive. The wonderful thing about his theory is that you can simply take the list of 40 ideas… and throw them at the problem you have.

Here are just a couple of the ideas you can use: dynamics, a little bit more or a little bit less, by-pass, change colors, asymmetry, the other way around.

You already know that a mindmap is a wonderful tool to get insight in a problem or situation. The reason this works is because of 2 things:

1. By taking the information outside your head and by putting it on paper, you create a different perspective and you create real distance between the problem and yourself

2. You can organize information much easier on paper or on your computer than in your head. The mindmap helps you to identify the key concepts and shows you how these interact.

Just by doing this, your mind will create a different perspective on the problem. The result is a different state of mind. This helps you to find a suitable solution.

Next time you are faced with a technical problem, an issue with people or something else that troubles you, you can choose between two solutions. The first one is to use the TRIZ method from the Russian inventor.

The other method is go to your favorite mindmap solution. Mindmaps are not just for creating overviews from your books. They can help you to create order in the issues which are troubling you.

Enjoy your next mindmap which brings you a practical solution!

Tags: creating overview, Growing, problem solving, Reflection