Restate the problem in different ways.
See if you can cross out six letters to make a single word out of the following:
C S R I E X L E A T T T E R E S
If you’re having difficulty, it may be that you need to restate the problem. Were you trying to cross out 6 letters? The real solution is to cross out the letters in the words “six letters,” which leaves you with a single word: CREATE.
You should almost always ask the following questions:
– What information do I have?
– What don’t I know?
– What can I extract from the known information?
– Have I used all the information?
– What additional information do I need?
– What are the parts of the problem?
– How are the parts related?
– Is this in any way like a problem I’ve solved before?
Remember, to think more creatively you must find ways to job yourself out of mental sets and habitual modes of thought. Michalko
Michael Michalko is the author of Creative Thinkering: Putting Your Imagination to Work, Thinkertoys: Handbook of Creative Thinking Techniques, Cracking Creativity: The Secrets of Creative Genius, and ThinkPak: A Brainstorming Card Deck.
htttp://www.creativethinking.net
Imagineer7's Weblog 