It’s interesting to read (and see) about the Importance of Environment. That also might explain why my post titled: ‘Writer’s Workspaces that Inspire’ has been (and still is) in the Most Poplular List on my Blog.

I do think that my Best Ideas come from when I am Relaxed and than usyually – seemingly from out of nowhere – get Sudden Flashes of Insight. (btw. also wrote about the Importance of Relaxing & Laziness – with what some Historical Figures have said about that – on my Travel Blog)

Also connecting with others – especially when they are different than myself – can also frequently give me new Ideas.

I often get ideas come from the environment, and just everyday life. Sometimes when looking for a blog article topic, things I encounter, just seem to be great ideas which would fit as a good article idea, so I write about them.

Lying in bed is when so many ideas of mine come to me, the problem is I usually forget them by the next morning!

Tom, thanks for the kudos about the new site design.

Regarding your ideas, I think if you were truly interested in pursuing your best ones, you’d do it. Perhaps you’re subconsciously weighing the pros and cons of pursuing them and deciding it’s best to continue doing what you’re doing. You do go on some kick-ass hikes!

I’m impressed with your new site! Way to go! Nice job! Let’s hope it keeps inspiring us all to be creative and innovative, unafraid to take risks, and a continuing forum for sharing ideas.

I agree that good planning is the underpinning of creative outcomes and success – the ol’ “fail to plan; plan to fail” platitude. At my work, I must be in constant long-term strategic planning mode (I am a program director for UC Berkeley Extension), but in my private life I tend to falter. I have plenty of great ideas, but zero execution of them, it seems. I’m always finding a way to shoot down my ideas or avoid putting in the real work and effort needed to shepherd an idea or concept to fruition. I’ve often said if I ran my life like I run my job, I’d be a millionaire. So, what’s holding me back, I wonder. (Uh, the classic under-achiever sydrome?)

Also, as a counter to the long-term tediousness of planning, has anyone read Malcolm Gladwell’s Blink?

Matthew, I’ve had some very insightful conversations at Starbucks, both with people I knew and people I serendipitously met.

I’ve also learned a lot just by eavesdropping on conversations at coffee shops — some very interesting people come there to talk business and ideas.

This is a great video! like Steve I too wish I could draw that well (and that quickly!!!)

Interesting about coffee shops being such a developer of ideas. In fact Starbucks refer to themselves as 3 rd space – not work and not home. Normally whenever I go into a Starbucks it’s full of people with laptops. So maybe there’s some truth in that.

Matthew

Michele, I’ve had a few Eureka! moments, but most of my best ideas have gestated a long time and changed in the process, and they’ve been shaped by others, either through personal conversations or e-mails, or at times by reading a blog post, magazine article, or book.