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The World Needs New Ideas

Issues like gun violence, climate change, and fiscal crisis call for new thinking for workable solutions. Fortunately, there are tools available for just such thinking!

Each week I will post a new idea for addressing a social issue that's been in the news. I might post twice a week if I'm on a roll. The ideas will be practical - "The state could set up a no-interest loan fund for consumer cooperatives who are setting up renewable energy stations" - to cite one slightly odd example. This blog might give you some ideas you can use. If you can't use the ideas, maybe you can work with someone else who can.

And this blog will go beyond looking at problems. Who likes to think about problems all of the time? That's right. There are always opportunities out there for those who care to look, and then take decisive action. I hope some of my future ideas will help.

Where will these ideas come from? Well, some I will simply steal and adapt to the challenge at hand. Other ideas will come from my use of any one of a variety of brainstorming techniques. Some of the items on this list will be familiar:
  • Concept maps
  • Morphological analysis
  • Provocations
  • Random input
  • SCAMPER
If you know anything about the work of creative thinking gurus like Edward De Bono and Michael Michalko you will already have an idea of what I'm going to do. Never heard of those guys? No worries. I'll explain who's technique I used and where I got it from.

Check in next week for an idea. And please tell friends and colleagues about my blog! Thanks! The first ten people who share get a cookie!
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