Work Tool: Iterative Cycle

Up, at 'Em, Repeat...

I've noticed that difficult tasks take more than one attempt to accomplish. For example, I usually have to struggle, fail, despair, and struggle again--at least three times--on automotive repairs.

Having the mindset that a worthy task requires multiple events is heartening. Keeps despair at bay. Chip away at the task, attempt by attempt, like carving a marble statue. I call it the Iterative Cycle.

Here are some ideas to keep the cycle going.

Overestimate Attempts

Guess the number of attempts needed (ex. three tries to locate spark plugs)
Add one to that number

Make Mantra

Come up with short phrase to keep the Iterative Cycle in mind (ex. "cars take several tries")
Repeat the mantra when a challenge arises

Have a Plan

Put together a folder of a commonly occurring challenge (ex. car oil change)
List the steps and tools needed
Have handy when challenge arises

Get Hand Dirty Fast

Start right away with first attempt (ex. open the hood and poke around engine)
Use tactile feedback to discover the biggest problems
Avoid paralysis in trying to think your way through the problem first

Low Stakes Exploration

Find opportunities to experience challenges outside an emergency (ex. help friend on car)
Pursue learning outside a direct need (ex. watch car repair videos)

Comments

Creative Tool: Idea Mutation

It's mutating out of control! Here is another wild method of improving the creativity of ideas through the process of introducing random 'mutations'. I call it Idea Mutation. Method: Start with an idea. Add it to a circle on the far left side of a piece of paper. That is round 1. Make two branches off the first idea. Each branch has a new circle. That is round 2. For each branch, roll a 10-sided dice and select the 'mutation' from the table below. For each branch, create a 'mutated' idea incorporating that branch's mutation. Continue branching and mutation ideas for subsequent rounds (3, 4, etc.). Modifications: Include different mutations (ex. Add Thrill, More Collaborative, Clearer, etc.) Add null mutation (no changes for certain branches) Change probability of mutations (same mutation for more than one number) Examples:

Creative Tool: Idea Bracket

Let the Best Idea Win. How to generate great ideas? Why not create an Idea Bracket ? It is analogous to a sports league play-off. Ideas are pitted against each other, with the winning idea moving on to the next round. The last idea standing is the winner. I do have a few additional rules. The Three M's : Modify, Merge, and Markup. These rules allow for both idea modification and saving sub-winner ideas. Simple enough, right? Let's try it out on some examples. Story Beginning Location Floating City and Haunted Graveyard merged into Floating Graveyard Screaming Wastelands modified into Blasted Wastelands Winner was Floating Graveyard and Sundered Titan merged into Floating Graveyard of Titans Artistic Inspiration Shack Brainstorming and Review Idea/Notes merged to Shack Review Ideas TCG View modified to TCG Mashup Shack Review Ideas marked for later Monster App and Walk and Song merged to Walk and Song with Monster App Priming Winner was T...

Full Length Dinosaurs Part 1

Prehistoric Doodles Away! I've finished up with a couple of intensive dinosaur-themed videos, Worst Dinosaurs ABCs and The Worst Dinosaur Tournament . Both involved making cartoon dinosaurs. So I decided to put those dinosaurs to another use! Here is part one of my dinosaurs doodles. Abrictosaurus Agrosaurus Barrosaurus Changchunsaurus Dannosaurus Echinodon Eucnemesaurus Ferganosaurus Gongbusaurus Huallasaurus Indosaurus Jeyawati Koutalisaurus Lexovisaurus Marlaguesaurus Napaisaurus

The Mark Williamson Creative Universe

Search This Blog