INTRODUCTION TO THINK INSIDE THE BOX

ASKING SOMEONE TO “THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX” is like asking them to think outside their mind. There is no way to bring something into existence without drawing from something, anything, everything in your mind — consciously or subconsciously. We can create only from things we know … experience … remember. Pulling ideas out of thin air is magic, not creative process.

A basic truth of the creative process is that ideas are new combinations of existing elements. So, success comes from continually putting a high volume of high quality “stuff” inside our box, and practicing identifying, breaking and creating patterns between those things. That’s what allows us to create new combinations.

In a nutshell: Nothing in = nothing out. Thus, “Think Inside The Box.” It’s a metaphor for the creative process, the theme of my presentations and the focus of my blog.

Click here to learn more about the three principles and five phases of Think Inside The Box.

Think Inside The Box, like all ideas, resulted from many influences and borrows conceptually from many people.

(I’m particularly influenced by James Webb Young and his book “A Technique For Producing Ideas.” I make no claim that the entire concept is uniquely my own. However, the expression of this content, including headlines, descriptions, the red/black/white/gold trade dress, related logos and other graphic depictions is proprietary and may not be used without permission.)

Through my employer, Fleishman-Hillard, I’m available for presentations, trainings and keynotes on Think Inside The Box and related topics, and can be booked to facilitate customized half- and full-day ideation sessions with clients and organizations. Contact me to learn more.