The "Magic" 10-step Process to Creative Achievement

Written by Bruce Wesley Chenoweth

Did you ever wonder how it was possible for man to build the great pyramids? The Parthenon? Send men to the moon and back? Don't these achievements seem so astounding that you almost buy into the theories that "Divine Intervention" or "Magic" was involved? I propose to you that a sort of "magic" was involved, and that magic is available to each and every intelligent person on Earth. It is the "Magic" 10-step Process to Creative Achievement.

Creative achievement is basically a process of:

• Identifying an unresolved need,
• Isolating the problems that have stood in the way of it's fulfillment,
• Choosing the most appropriate solutions, and,
• Continuing action to apply appropriate solutions.

Earl Nightingale stated that "The first step in solving any problem is to define it." As much as I adored Earl Nightingale and most of his ideas, I respectfully disagree. I have noticed that the first step to solving any problem is to recognize it. For example, how many thousands of people grumbled about their loose sheets of paper becoming disorganized before it occurred to Samuel B. Fay to create and patent the paper clip? People tend to become so familiar with their problems that they don't even notice them---like not noticing air on a calm day.

Step two is very simple, but critically important. It is merely to acknowledge that a solution is possible, and that you can, and shall, define and implement it.

Step Three is to define it. The more you know about the problem and any related processes, the easier it will be to determine it's most appropriate solutions.  Even for experts in the field, this will usually involve a degree of research and study.

Fourth is to write it all out. Create a written synopsis containing everything you already know (and ultimately learn) about it. Expand intricate areas into finite detail that anyone can understand. This process will assist you in isolating subtle solutions later in the process. 

Fifth, research it. Gather information  from your own experience, from any books or other research papers that contain background and statistical data, from existing friends and business associates who know something about the area in which the problem lies, and, of course, from the Internet. Your findings may indicate the need for some additional testing or analysis to sort out differing reports of results or points of view  Continue to take extensive notes about everything that is pertinent to the project. This written material forms the foundation for your Project Action Plan.

Sixth is collaboration. Create a section in your Project Plan for listing the names of people and organizations that are recognized authorities on the problem. Then use the list to go "all out" for as many facts as you can find. After determining who can help you, arrange to meet with them and pick their brains for all the information they possess that can help you solve the problem. While doing this, take extensive notes of each bit of information they provide that is germane to the problem. Include everything you learn, even if you don't see at the time how it might help you isolate the solution.

The Seventh step in solving a problem creatively is what Earl Nightingale called "Individual Ideation." This is personal "brainstorming," --- thinking without any immediate repression of judgment, or, "with the brakes off" as Earl put it. Never attempt to decide if an idea is good or bad at the time — just record it the moment it comes to you. There will be plenty of time later for deciding which ideas are useful and which are not.

These four fundamental rules are the same for both individual ideation and group brainstorming:

1. No negative thinking allowed;

2. The wilder and sillier the ideas, the better;

3. The largest number of ideas is the essential objective; and

4. Combination and improvement of ideas is what you're after.

One silly idea frequently leads to another, very good idea. If some of your ideas seem far-fetched or impractical, all the better! Write them down! You're objective is to capture all the ideas you can possibly come up with.

The Eighth step is Group Brainstorming. This is where you begin to apply a bit of what Napoleon Hill referred to as "The Mastermind Principle" to work on the problem. This operates on the exact same rules as the individual ideation above, except there needs to be a positive-thinking leader who is willing to keep the group focus on the objective and enforce the rules to the point of excusing any members who cannot comply. Every member of the group must be in alignment with the objective.

The Ninth step is where evaluation begins. Once you have exhausted all the time you allocated to creative ideation and have all your ideas written down, begin to rate, evaluate and judge them. When you rate your ideas, measure them against these four yardsticks: effectiveness, facility, time, and cost. Most of the ideas you have may not be worth taking any action on, and that's why you must skillfully evaluate each of them.

And tenth: Once you have carefully evaluated your ideas and have chosen the most useful, begin immediately to take action. Enter your ideas into a "Project Action Plan" which includes:

a. who should do it,

b. when it should be done,

c. when to start, and,

d. how to do it.

 The best idea of all time loses all of its value if it is not put into action, so assign a deadline for each significant step along the way. This even becomes more important if it is critical when the new idea is introduced, such as at the beginning of the school year, etc.

 As the action step begins, new information will likely be uncovered which causes the project to change direction a bit, or cycle back to a previous step. This is usually a very good thing that will produce an even better outcome. Such apparent "setbacks" should be celebrated rather than to become a stimulus for frustration and thoughts of defeat.

 If a society can advance in just a few short years to the achievement of landing men on the moon and returning them safely to Earth by using this simple 10-step process, imagine the miraculous results that you can achieve with it during your lifetime.

When I was a young man, it was often said that "the sky is the limit." Now that the sky has proven to be a minor challenge, hopefully we understand that there are no limits, except those which we impose upon ourselves.