As a beauty therapists it is just human nature to want to do things right. We follow procedures, so that we can complete our task in the correct order from A-Z. However we must not be afraid to trust our instincts and follow our own unique perspective. There is much room for growth and discovery when you listen to your Soul. You can find clues in your history and experience. Be bold and daring to bring your own authenticity and creativity to your work. Recognize that it is normal for every industry to revise and update their methods and philosophy.

SCAMPER is an acronym created by Bob Eberle to represent a set of idea-triggering questions. Some of these questions were originated by Alex Osborne, the advertising guy who invented Brainstorming. You can use SCAMPER as an excellent creative thinking exercise. Generate new ideas with it. Come up with groundbreaking new concepts. Revolutionize your business. Start scamper-ing!

S.C.A.M.P.E.R - here's the breakdown:

S = Substitute? What can I get rid of, eliminate, or subtract? Think about substituting part of your product/process for something else. By looking for something to substitute you can often come up with new ideas.

C = Combine? How can I combine X with Y? What would happen if I combine this idea with that idea? Combinations of related or unrelated ideas can achieve a new method or enhance synergy.

A = Adapt? What could we change?

M = Modify? = Magnify? Exaggerate? Distort?

P = Put to other uses? A new purpose?

E = Eliminate or minify?

R = Reverse? = Rearrange? A different order? Ask "What is the opposite of this?" to find a new way of looking at things.

For a complete education in how to use SCAMPER, refer to chapter 9 of Thinkertoys by Michael Michalko.

Combining Ideas for Creative Thinking Breakthroughs

The Scottish philosopher David Hume said all knowledge boiled down to two sources – impressions and ideas. Impressions are direct experiences, whereas ideas are just memories of impressions. The brain can sort and combine ideas into complex creations that do not exist in reality. For example, the idea of mermaid combines the impressions “fish” and “woman”. Robert Frost said “an idea is a feat of association.” Or Francis H. Cartier: “There is only one way in which a person acquires a new idea: by the combination or association of two or more ideas he already has into a new juxtaposition in such a manner as to discover a relationship among them of which he was not previously aware.” It is therefore a myth to think creating is about making something out of nothing. Rather ideas are born out of combining patterns of thought by uncovering, selecting, re-shuffling, combining and synthesizing existing facts, ideas and skills.  Ideas are nothing more than developing something new from old elements. It can be interrelating ideas together, which have not been together. For example a pencil (an old idea) combined with an eraser (another old idea) forms a new idea, put the eraser on top of the pencil. (New concept patented by Hyman Lipman) 

It's a misconception that some people are not creative. The brain has a million brain cells, and has huge powers of creativity. Many people are just not trained to tap into their brain's creative potential. Thinking up a great idea may not be instant. Ideas take time to grow. Ideas need nurturing and thought. Exploration, thoughts and ideas can spark new ways of thinking. New uses can be inspired by old ideas. For example Gabrielle Perret Johnson took inspiration from the hot stones full body massage and developed a hot stones facial. Bringing in her therapeutic perspective of gems and minerals, Johnson decided to incorporate a variety of gemstones and developed the Euro-Stone Facial. 

Get out of your rut of doing things habitually without thinking. Welcome new sensations, experiences and ideas into your life. To cultivate creativity it helps to broaden your knowledge base. Read at least one book per month about a subject you are NOT interested in. Listen to a type of music you would not normally listen to. Make your life richer by introducing yourself to someone or something new. Most people are just not oriented to do anything about their ideas, while others believe it would take too much of their time and money to follow through to completion. This leaves the market place wide open for the person who learns how to "Create" and take action on Profitable Ideas!

Article Source: SalonProfit - Transform your Salon & Spa! http://www.salonprofit.net