I try and find inspiration for ideas from everything. Someone I work with here mentioned having a dream about someone working at the Goldeyes Field and the idea of doing a Teambook handout came from it. We are now setting up a deal to do a handout this year, and maybe even a sponsorship deal for next year. From this spawned all sorts of sport team related deals. Before, I'd been stuck on print ads here and there, and maybe some TV/Radio... the usual stuff.

I find the idea process really fun. I try to lok at everything and think up a way that it could work for me. I find myself bringing a note pad and pen with me when I go places so I don't forget any idea. No matter what it is I write it down. I flesh it out and think it through later, and at that point, scrap it or take it further. Even the ideas that are "scrapped" are not actually gone. I put them in my own "Idea Database" so I can browse it later and maybe find inspiration for new ideas from the failed old ones.

I apply this to all the work I do. I used advertising as an example here, but I've done this with story ideas (I used to create story lines for do-it-yourself video games), design ideas and even coaching drills and plays. It doesn't matter. You never know what you can come up with from what seems like a totally unrelated or insignificant thought. Keep an open mind and see where it gets you.

- Scott