What If

Creative Problem Solving Course

The question 'what if?' is a powerful one - especially when used with a good word list.

Several times now I have seen giant chairs. The most recent one was in a bar, being used by the host of a trivia contest. It was eight feet tall. Someone made and sold that chair, but how did he think of the idea? The simplest way would be to look at things and ask "what if it was bigger?"

That is the essence of the modifying word list. You look at things and ask, "What if it was..." and insert a word from the list. To show the technique in action, I just looked around the room and chose a table as a test subject. I look at the word list and ask "What if it was..."

Bigger. If it had leaves that spread from a central pivot, it could be opened up easily into a larger surface, like a hand fan opened horizontally.

Movable. The obvious idea here is to put wheels on it. Another possibility is a line of super light tables that can be carried from room to room easily.

Cheaper. I once used an old door as a table. Are there cheap and available materials that could be used to make doors?

Interesting. Make tables that are covered in family photos (or anything else you want). The top would then be encased in acrylic. Easy to clean too!

Divided. Four small tables that can be used on their own or connected into one large table?

Subtracted from. Take away the legs and it would be easier to clean under. Could it hang from the ceiling?

Hotter. A warming tray built into the center of the table might be convenient for keeping meals hot.

Happier. Use colors that evoke positive emotions. Make cartoon-covered tables for day-care centers.

Take notes as you do this, and develop or discard the ideas later. Most words won't give you useful ideas, but don't dismiss them without a few seconds of thought. Creative solutions can begin with unrelated thoughts. "What if it was boring?" may seem useless, but then it could lead to the development of a line of furniture based purely on function: simple and cheap.

For more creative solutions to specific problems we need to get our minds looking in new directions. The modifying word list is great for that. Again, you start with "What if it was..." and insert a word from the list. "It" can the problem you're trying to solve, or the situation or solution that exists at the moment.

For an example of the technique in action, we'll pretend you want a better job, and that you are a clerk at a bookstore. You aren't satisfied with the work, and it also doesn't pay well. You pull out the word list and ask "What if it was..."

Larger. That makes you think of a better position perhaps. It also makes you think of a larger store, where you might be paid more, or have more opportunity for advancement.

Smaller. The problem could be smaller if you got a raise, and found a few ways to make the work more interesting. Maybe a smaller store would pay even less per hour, but be open to your ideas for increasing sales, and pay you a percentage of profits.

Farther away. This make you realize that you have been too narrow in your search. It could be worth driving a little to get a better higher-paying job. Maybe it's even time to move to another town.

Closer. Could you get a job nearby and sell your car? The money saved would be like a large raise.

More difficult. Selling magazines by phone like your friend does would be more difficult, but he makes $5 an hour more than you. If you hate the job anyway, why not make more money?

Again, you should take notes as you do this exercise, and give each word a few seconds of thought. Creative solutions can begin with unrelated thoughts. "What if it was hopeless?" may seem useless, but it could also bring you to the useful realization that you need a business instead of a job.

The list here is a basic one. Use it as is, but remember that there are hundreds of idea-generating words you could add to it. Any adjectives, descriptive phrases, or words that can change your perspective can be potentially useful.

larger
smaller
farther away
closer
sooner
later
easier
more difficult
softer
harder
poorer
richer
wetter drier
higher
lower
longer
shorter
white
black
certain
uncertain
newer
older
calmer
more exciting
boring
interesting
more casual
more serious
divided
combined
subtle
extravagant
more common
less common
faster
slower
better worse
hotter
colder
added to
subtracted from
left alone
hopeless
stickier
happier
relaxed
imaginary
cheaper
more expensive
nothing
newer
older

What if this lesson was... longer? See my Ebook.

Problem Solving Power - Available at
http://www.IncreaseBrainpower.com/problem-solving-book.html

Problem Solving 101 | What If