The results of 4 weeks of training with this systematic approach were amazing, as I could barely come up with 3 new marketing ideas when asked for "10 new marketing ideas" at first, but later I was able to generate 30+ ideas in 20 minutes.

I've found that constraints are the most effective way to get ideas out of people, especially if you give them a challenging condition, like "reach 100 people with a budget of $100,000." I've seen firsthand that constraints bring out the best in people.

Now, I set myself a "creative mission for the day" every morning for five minutes, and it's simple exercises like "repurpose everyday objects in three different ways" and "think in reverse," but it adds up, and I've found that I naturally look at problems from different angles in my work.

If you feel like you're lacking creativity, don't expect to be a genius and start with small exercises. You'll see the difference sooner than you think!