When you experience a creative block, it’s time to (almost) literally lose your mind. When your way of iterating isn’t working, it’s time to solve your problem with someone else’s way of thinking. 

This practical exercise is called…

What Would Brand X Do?

Your job is to consider a famous innovator, character, or business and create a solution based on their way of thinking. The goal is to completely leave behind everything you believe to be true about a problem, and step into the thinking patterns of another person (or brand…or superhero).

Tackle the issue with someone else’s imagination. How would they solve it? What type of outlook would they have? 

By “taking over the thoughts” of famous industry leaders, you’ll begin to envision solutions you couldn’t imagine from your own perspective. Partner their innovative genius with your untapped potential and improve upon an idea that has the power to revolutionize an industry. 

Example


Consider the following ideas:

  • How would Elon Musk create the next running shoe?
  • How would Spiderman build the next generation of autonomous cars?
  • How would you expect the Pope to innovate eCommerce?

What solutions immediately came to mind? When you step outside your own mental limitations and put on someone else's mind, you find new creative freedom.

When you’re really ready to step outside the rules of reality, combine unrelated concepts to expand the challenge. The more disconnected the person or character from the product you’re innovating upon, the more unpredictable your ideas will be.

It all comes back to you. You’re the true innovator. This exercise allows you to sidestep your own mental blocks by trying on a different perspective. The Innovator’s Handbook provides simple exercises just like this to help you break out of your comfort bubble and create your own unique brand of innovation.













Giveaway Offer

With my book officially launching next week on September 6th, and as a token of appreciation for the tremendous support the book has got so far, if you have purchased a copy of The Innovator's Handbook or do so before September 10th, please reply to this email and I will send you details on how to get one of three limited edition pins, which are based on the wonderful illustrations in the book.