The Secret to New Ideas
People often want change merely for the sake of change, whether
they are changes for the better or not. The human animal is
easily bored. Furthermore, change is necessary for those in
business, as it is the best aid to replacement and profit.
We have also been made aware by many books that obsolescence is
built into much merchandise to make it wear out long before its
time. Or new styles are introduced so different from the current
ones that one must abandon useful articles to keep pace. Much of
this is of course highly objectionable.
We find that many good ideas are abandoned for the sake of
change, such as the elimination of pockets in women's clothes,
or the use of small purses instead of spacious ones, stiff
collars instead of comfortable ones and so on.
On the other hand, an improvement by its very nature implies
change too. So whenever you want an idea, consider all the facts
and factors involved in your product or your subject, and see
what aspects you can change. Some of the possible changes will
doubtless seem foolish at first, but you may be able to find a
justification for them later on that would permit you to use
them. In any case there is nothing to lose in noting down
whatever you think of, even if it seems far- fetched.
There are, of course, many kinds of rearrangement. One may use
different sizes, different shapes, different materials or
colors; or the same for different purposes; or in a different
position, and so on ad infinitum.
The idea of interchangeable parts was first used by Eli Whitney
in stepping up production for weapons for the War of 1812. Many
years later Ford adopted it as part of his assembly line
production method. The idea had many other applications, even
down to basic dresses which can be used for different occasions
simply by the use of other accessories.
You can imagine the familiar thing in almost any new position.
Transposition from one place to another gave us the idea of
serving meals not in homes but in restaurants. The same process
of transposing gives us all sorts of outside services formerly
done at home-laundries, hospitals, garment centers, schools and
so on.
Which factors from one kind of service overlapping your own, can
be applied to yours? A sunroom has a glass roof. In New York,
some taxicabs have glass roofs to enable the passenger to look
up and see the tall buildings-same idea, different purpose.
Bathing caps for the swimmer are transferred to raincoat
outfits. An ocean-going luxury liner supplies much more than
mere passage. It draws for ideas upon restaurants, hotels, the
entertainment field. Any large business can be analyzed for such
overlapping of interests and can use them for idea sources.
A writer of articles may find in one magazine or trade journal
possibilities for similar articles for another field. How a
laundry found new customers may suggest that every business is
looking for new customers. The fundamental principles do not
vary much, and can be adapted to how other small business may
find new customers.
Change is the secret for getting ideas. And since change is
everywhere, simply keep your eyes open throughout your daily
life, and at any moment a spark of inspiration will give you
what you need to continue with your idea.