Bringing ideas to life is magic. As an inventor and entrepreneur, I know that feeling. Although many people think that great ideas come to us in great shape and without warning, innovators know that creation takes work – a lot of work.
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Whether you're forging your way into entrepreneurship or have found yourself in an innovation rut, here are five strategies to help you develop an innovative mindset and to get your mind spinning:
1. Let your problem be your North Star.
Inventors and entrepreneurs are results driven. Even though it's their solutions that make a strong product or company, every solution starts with a problem. This is the problem that should guide you. The best innovators will define their problems clearly and thoroughly before they even start thinking about how to solve them.
Before any new project, my first priority is to identify the problem to be solved (PTS). Once I've internalized the full context of a problem and simplified its complexity, I can usually refine the problem statement into one that presents its best solution.
And that goes for everything in life, not just for big projects. Do you want to better manage your time at work? Maybe you spend less of your day on emails? Name your PTS, find its roots, and solve it.
An innovator must learn to develop unambiguous, measurable, and actionable problem statements. Without one, your starting point is shaky, if not non-existent.
Related: How to write your personal mission statement
2. Do not force the inspiration; get ready.
Inventors know you can't plan your next big idea or creative sequence. Because you never know when inspiration is going to strike, you have to be ready when it does.
Your problem statements come into play here. At all times, I want to keep three PTSs in mind. It sparks my curiosity and fuels diversity, allowing me to solve a problem when I least expect it, whether it's in a business meeting or in the middle of the night.
For example, my company specializes in eye interaction for augmented reality and virtual reality technologies. One of my three PTS could identify a distinct eye signal. While watching Stephen Curry sink a triplet perfectly, I feel my eyes follow the arc of the ball, then settle as the ball spins into the net. I suddenly realize that the transition in the speed of my sight is exactly the distinctive cue I'm looking for.
I could never have predicted this realization, but I was ready for it. Keep your problem statements in mind and let them simmer. Inspiration won't surprise you if you're ready.
3. Know what you are listening to.
You already know how to listen, but listening aimlessly rarely works. Learn to listen intention .
There are a lot of speakers in the world – a lot of talks, seminars and general babels. At the risk of sounding a bit like some of those seminars, make sure your ear is tuned to pick up when someone is really ready to move forward with an idea.
Related: How to Turn Your Ideas into Action
The world is so full of words, and knowing which of those words will lead to action is beyond important. It will save you from wasting time on heartless endeavors.
4. Let your tasks be complementary and not competing.
Being an inventor or an entrepreneur is demanding. Both require even more gravel and elbow grease. I'm not going to lie and tell you it's easy, but it doesn't have to be overwhelming. Try to mix up your to-do lists and roles and make them mutually complementary.
People often think of things in separate, easily defined categories, but that's not the case. Ideas and projects cross-pollinate as they benefit from interacting with each other. I deliberately seek out these symbiotic relationships that develop between business, inventions, patents and entrepreneurship. This way, success in one area will benefit another.
5. Don't be lazy or comfortable.
Innovation requires agility and you can't afford to become complacent if you want to stay nimble.
For example, you have to think big to innovate, but you can't afford to ignore the details. People will notice even the smallest mistakes or shortcomings. The moment you say to yourself, “No worries, users will never see this,” you have opted for laziness. Trust me when I say the users are near-perfect reviewers. They will judge your creation with astonishing accuracy and let you know when it falls short.
You might be tempted to get to grips with your first idea, especially when it's your idea. It happens to everyone, but bite it in the bud when you notice it. This comfort inhibits growth. You must be willing to work towards your best idea, not just the first one that excites you.
Pitch your idea to people you don't know and take their feedback seriously. If it turns out that your idea doesn't quite fit your problem statement, take that great idea you just came up with, set it aside, and keep thinking. Act as your own defender of the devil and see your thoughts as your adversaries. When you let go of laziness and complacency, innovation becomes much lighter.
Sporadic inspiration is only a small part of innovation – the rest requires the work of the innovator, and it It's your mindset that fuels your efforts. Whether you're an inventor, entrepreneur or both, developing an innovative mindset should be your first step.
Related: A 4-question guide to unlocking your creativity
