How we look at our challenges affects the ideas and solutions we generate. Often noted thinkers have said that if we will spend more time examining the problem we can more easily solve or resolve it.

So this week take some time to examine one of your problems in an easy non-anxiety producing manner so you can produce more ideas.

Write out your challenge or problem statement. Then replace as many of the words in the statement with synonyms. Replace one or two per statement or all of them. Write as many different or new statements as you can by substituting new or different words.

Sample Problem Statement:

Marketing new programs and services to new clients or markets.

MARKETING:

communicating, selling, marting, exchanging, vending, offering for sale, merchandising

NEW:

novel, fresh, modern, just discovered, strange, unheard-of, unaccustomed, unused, repaired, renovated, reinvigorated

PROGRAMS:

my thesaurus shows no synonyms for "program" yet other words for PROGRAMS are:

speeches, talks, presentations, break-out sessions, workshops, retreats, consulting, coaching, counseling, training sessions, experiences, classes, courses

SERVICES:

labor, work, duty, business, benefits, advantages, profits, gains, goods, uses, utilities,

CLIENTS:

dependents, henchmen (henchpersons), customers, patients, students, attendees, patrons, buyers, purchasers, parishioners, members

MARKETS:

places, marts, industries, businesses, people, groups, associations, institutions, organizations, company groups, occupations, fields, professions, positions, titles, demographic groupings

Now the CC is to write 6 to 12 different problem/challenge statements using one, two or more synonyms for words in the original statement.

Then read them over a few times and note possible new ideas or directions that the new statements produce for you.

May you experience some useful and creative break-thrus this week.