Waiting for Your Muse

November 5th, 2009 · No Comments

muses In Greek mythology, the Muses were goddesses who served to inspire those in the arts and sciences. I often find myself wishing for a Muse who could inspire greatness in marketing. Unfortunately, being mythological, they aren’t easy to find.

You can get by without a Muse by finding ways to inspire yourself. Instead of sitting at your computer, waiting for inspiration to strike, try one or more of these:

Put yourself in new surroundings. If you usually work in your office, go to a museum or library. Have lunch at a restaurant you’ve been meaning to try. Take a walk in the park. Get yourself into a new environment.

Look for unexpected connections. If you are looking for new markets for your business, think of unusual ways your product or service could be used. Who has that need? Maybe they should be your market!

Listen to Mozart. Studies show that listening to Mozart can improve test scores, increase productivity and more. It couldn’t hurt.

Find an activity that relaxes you, and do it. It might be painting (portraits or the garage), driving, cooking, exercising, or anything you enjoy. As you relax and de-stress, you will free your mind.

Try a new activity. Work a puzzle, take music lessons, listen to language tapes, take up a craft or acquire another new skill. You’ll engage your brain in new ways. Studies have shown this actually creates new pathways in your brain.

Get together with friends or colleagues who can give you a new perspective. Start a group that meets regularly to talk out business issues, or just have an informal network you can call on when you need to brainstorm.

Pick up paper and pen and write down whatever comes to mind. It may be brilliant, it may be stupid, it may unrelated to what you are trying to do or it may be the answer you’ve been seeking. Write it down. Make random connections and keep writing. Your answer could show up on the page.

Don’t like to write? Record your thoughts on tape, then listen to the tape a couple of times.

Fill your mind with lots of different stimuli, stir, then simmer a while. The raw data will zip around inside your brain and make connections you may not have anticipated.

Sleep on it. Write down the first thought you have when you wake up in the morning. Your subconscious was working while you slept. You can even try programming your subconscious. Before you go to sleep, think about the question you want to answer. Tell yourself you want to wake up with the answer.

Be open for inspiration at unexpected times. The idea may not come at exactly the moment you want to beckon it. Accept creativity when it finds you.