Try Brainstorming – Part 1

for waging war you need guidance, and for victory many advisers. Proverbs 24:6

Solomon said, ‘Strategic planning is the key to warfare; to win, you need a lot of good counsel’ (v. 6 MSG). There are wise and experienced people around who are willing to help you, so get together with them periodically and brainstorm. Make sure everyone involved knows there are no limits, boundaries, or even budget constraints. The purpose is to get everything out on the table. You never know what your next big idea is, so don’t limit yourself to what you think is possible or affordable right now. Keep a list of the ideas you generate, and number them. That will help when you go back to review them, as well as give you some sense of how many ideas are being created. Another suggestion is to hang poster board on the walls and have people randomly write or draw their ideas on it. It keeps people moving, ideas pumping, and momentum marching forward. And this is a forum where criticism isn’t allowed. Remember, if someone gives you an idea and you call it stupid or unworkable, chances are, it will be the last one you get from them. And who knows, their idea may have been the big one that solves the problem, opens the door, and gives you a future strategy. Another word of advice: limit your brainstorming sessions to an hour or so. Alfred Hitchcock famously quipped, ‘The length of a film should be directly related to the endurance of the human bladder!’ It’s better to have shorter sessions, respect people’s time, thank them for their input, then ruminate on what you’ve discussed and get together again later. And always remember to pray – because no idea will last without it being in line with God’s will!

Prayer