How to Unlock New Ideas

You’ve found the right problems.

You’ve framed them well.
Now — how do you unlock better, fresher ideas?

Because if you think about a problem the same way every time,
you’ll generate the same kind of solutions.

Smart innovators don’t just generate more ideas.
They change the way they think using structured prompts and alternate pathways to spark new possibilities.

Here’s how to unlock better ideas by guiding thought, not just adding more time or people.

Step 1: Reverse the Problem

One of the fastest ways to unlock new thinking is to flip the problem upside down.

Key Move:
Ask:

• "How could we cause the problem intentionally?"
• "How could we make this friction worse on purpose?"

Reversing assumptions often exposes hidden leverage points and overlooked solutions.

Step 2: Exaggerate the Extremes

Small improvements often lead to small ideas.
Exaggeration creates surprising breakthroughs.

Key Move:
Push the problem or opportunity to an extreme:

• "What if we had to make onboarding happen in 10 seconds?"
• "What if the customer needed zero training whatsoever?"

Exaggerated scenarios force unconventional, high-leverage ideas to surface.

Step 3: Borrow Solutions From Other Contexts

Great ideas often come from cross-context analogy, not pure invention.

Key Move:
Prompt:

• "Where else have we seen a similar challenge solved brilliantly?"
• "What if we borrowed solutions from airlines, gaming, healthcare, logistics?"

Looking across industries exposes adjacent solutions you can adapt and remix.

Step 4: Apply Constraint-Stretching Challenges

Constraints are rocket fuel for creativity when used smartly.

Key Move:
Use extreme constraints to spark bold thinking:

• "How would we solve this with no budget?"
• "How would we solve this with only 2 weeks?"
• "How would we solve this if we could only touch one part of the experience?"

Forced constraints collapse old thinking patterns and spark faster, sharper ideas.

Step 5: Run "Fresh Lenses" Mini-Sprints

New perspectives unlock new possibilities.

Key Move:
Pick different lenses and re-examine the problem:

• "What would a child see here?"
• "What would an expert outsider see (pick an inspirational inventor like Jeff Bezos or Sara Blakely)?"
• "What would a first-time customer notice that we miss?"
• "What would a customer never say about our product or service?"

Fresh lenses reframe the problem space and unlock hidden insights.

A Final Thought

Better ideas don’t come from longer brainstorming sessions.
They come from changing the way you approach the problem space.

If you:

• Reverse assumptions
• Exaggerate extremes
• Borrow from outside contexts
• Apply bold constraints
• View through fresh lenses

…then you’ll consistently unlock smarter, bolder, faster innovation ideas that others never see.

Because in innovation,

The best ideas aren’t always hidden deeper.
Sometimes, they’re just hidden sideways.

Coming Next in the Series:

How to Cross-Pollinate Breakthrough Ideas From Other Industries
👉 Learn how to systematically scan, adapt, and remix outside innovations into your space — and spark surprising breakthroughs.

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