Product Creation – Part Nine

I want to start off this session with a caveat … everyone works differently. So if you have your own way of fleshing out ideas, don’t try to force yourself to use this approach. Simply go with what’s comfortable for you.

Okay, here’s the process I tend to use. I always keep a notepad and pen handy – you can use a tape recorder as well – and whenever I get an idea I write it down. It doesn’t have to be perfect. It doesn’t have to be a complete idea. All it has to be is enough of an idea to get me intrigued with the possibilities.

Next, I transfer the idea to a sheet of paper. You can use whatever size, whatever color, lined or unlined paper that suits your tastes. I tend to use legal-sized yellow college lined paper. I write out the idea in the middle of the page and just start writing down every thought that comes to mind. It doesn’t matter where I put my thoughts on the page. I can connect them with lines and arrows, I can isolate them in circles … it doesn’t matter.

At this stage I’m not evaluating the quality. I’m just getting everything I can think of on paper. I don’t worry about logic, linear thinking, or organization. It’s simply a brainstorming session. No judgements are made at this stage.

You might start writing out a table of contents, then come up with product titles, or some salesletter bulletpoints. Just let yourself go with the flow. And run with it as long as you can.

If you need more paper, use more paper.

When you eventually run down, put it aside and let your thoughts simmer for a few days. When new ideas come rising up, add them to your paper.

Most important of all during this process is this: no pre-judging. Every idea is worth writing down.

Next time we’ll talk about fleshing things out.

In the meantime, you can get a head start this way:

Stop Trading Your Time For Dollars
and Start Trading Products For Dollars!

Product Dashboard

POSTED BY Rick on Nov 12 under Product Tools