Ideas are often found in unexpected places and we’re all in an unexpected place right now.

by Alan Oram

What’s inspiring you? And where and when are you hearing ideas call you?

I believe it can happen anywhere and everywhere.

But it might be hard at the moment. Some of us will be busy juggling home and work commitments and feeling that you’re failing on both fronts. I’ve been in that place many times before but rarely is the voice in your head a fair reflection on everything that you are achieving.

With so much going on right now you may feel that you have to dig deep to find ideas.

It’s easy to tell ourselves that what we need is more time, resources and tools to be creative. Some of these things can help but those things aren’t a magic wand. The biggest weapon we have at our disposal is mindset. The belief that we can and should be creative in the way in which we approach our work. Now is the time for that more than ever because we’re all adapting.

I’m constantly seeing things that inspire me, demand my attention, make me question the world or that help me to see something from a fresh, unexpected perspective. Often this seems to come along just when I need it but this isn’t a coincidence, it’s the subconscious mind making connections - one thing colliding with another to create something new.

I feel lucky to experience this. Life and the world around us is intense right now and, in the words of the great philosopher Ferris Bueller...

“Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”

Taking a moment to acknowledge, notice and be grateful for the world around us can be a path to making your creativity come alive. This is even more important in these difficult times. Enjoying and getting the most from the things we have and not spending time concerned with what we don’t.

What are you doing differently right now and how can you use this to positively influence and impact your work?

I’ve started trying to collect the things that catch my attention and share them through our new blog which is called #ideaseverywhere. At the moment it’s mainly things I spot online but I’d love to expand on this. I’d also love to include what you find and make this much more of a collaboration, with a broader range of the things that inspire you, so feel free to tweet me anything you spot that might of interest.

The idea for the blog was born out of reading Dave Trott’s book, one + one = three. He shares anecdotes and short stories, some of which are referenced in my early posts. The book is full of what he has noticed around him, both professionally and personally.

I started using some of the examples I found in ideas and creativity workshops and realised that gathering more of this could be useful for others. I’ve never really been a collector but this, in many ways, has become exactly that. A scrap book of stuff I find.

In the process of doing this I’m learning about the things that capture my imagination. A few recurring themes…

Feel-good stories of creativity in action by everyday people make a difference to communities
Businesses that have a social heart and purpose and do things differently to make their vision come to life. Sometimes this starts as a small idea that grows
People that use humour and creativity to bring joy to others

There’s more too but these are the things that have been made clearer to me that maybe I wasn’t so aware of before.

What’s inspiring you? Maybe it’s the creativity of your kids that you are home schooling. Perhaps it’s your team working remotely? Or maybe your thoughts on how you adapt and innovate your business in this new world we’re living in.

Feel free to share anything with me @AlanHasIdeas and @comms2point0

Or take a look #IdeasEverywhere

https://ideaseverywhere.alivewithideas.com/

Alan Oram is creative director at Alive with Ideas