Finding inspiration in random ways

I have a technique that I call "ends-to-means innovation". It basically involves three steps:

1. Experiment: Run a lot of small experiments while trying to reach a particular goal.
2. Discover: When some experiments inevitably prove successful, take special notice of the small tactical discoveries that they consist of. (I call these "local innovations.")
3. Repurpose: Think creatively about ways that these local innovations can be repurposed for different use cases. i.e. ask yourself: "how can these local innovations become general innovations?"

Here's an example.

My co-founder @csallen and I were going through a mutual rough patch of motivation a couple years ago. We set a goal of fixing this motivation problem. One experiment we ran was to have little check-in cycles with each other for accountability. The rules of the check-in cycles were as follows:

1. State what you're going to work on for the next 30 minutes (via Telegram DM).
2. At the end of the 30-minute period, DM a brief progress report to your co-founder.
3. Review your co-founder's progress report and, if applicable, give suggestions.
4. Rinse and repeat for the next 30-minute cycle.

This worked! While we used this system — this "local innovation" — neither of us failed to execute on our plans. Problem was, the system was kind of cumbersome, and it also relied on both of us to be working at the same time. Which wasn't the case most of the time.

So I asked myself: can I use the check-in cycle system without involving my co-founder? Then I answered my own question by experimenting: I wrote down (for myself) what I planned to do for the next thirty minutes, set a timer, and then "checked in" with myself when the timer elapsed. And the results were incredible: Solo check-in cycles were basically just as effective as collaborative check-in cycles. So I immediately implemented this solo check-in cycle system into my normal way of working. (I alluded to this "cycle" system in an article a couple weeks ago.)

So here's the same story as seen through the ends-to-means framework:

1. Experiment: We ran a lot of experiments to fix our motivation problems.
2. Discover: We discovered a successful local innovation in the form of collaborative check-in cycles.
3. Repurpose: I repurposed this local innovation into a more flexible and generally useful innovation: what I call a "plan-do-learn cycle."

To my delight, I would later discover that there was an entire community implementing a similar system of working called "interstitial journaling." But thanks to ends-to-means innovation, I didn't have to rely on someone else's inspiration to make my own progress.

Anyway, I'm going write a lot more about this soon.

I think a good way is just to see what problems your dealing with in life. And then also to see what existing products aren't doing well. Another is to look through App Stores and see where their gaps are. Part of being an entrepreneur is being curious, and just being open to new ideas.

I realize none of these are random though lol so you're probably familiar with them...

A random way is maybe to tape 12 ideas to a dart board and see which one your dart hits. Let fate decide, my friend.

Nice. Thanks for sharing.

These types of strategies for nurturing creativity are under appreciated within the broader IH communities. People are always looking for the shortest path to success, the recipe; and there’s an explosion of people selling and telling stories about how to discover that path.

In truth, the path is unique to each of us, and it’s more like a path of stepping stones in the dark, with the next stone hiding from the light until just the right time. At least, this is how it looks to me.

My own path has been long and meandering and it’s still pretty fucking dark to be honest, but that’s cool, I’m ok with it, there’s no rush.

We’ve all heard about “following your passion”, which might work for some, and we’ve heard about “finding someone else’s problem” ad nauseam, and we know that tends to be more difficult done than said, but as it stands for me, these days, it’s a case of “seeking novelty” for inspiration and enjoying the journey rather than fretting about how long it takes to reach the destination.

Welcome to IH, May your path be fulfilling and fruitful.

👣 🧘‍♂️ 🙏 🍌