1. Intentionally Enter Default Mode Over Ideas

Thomas Edison, that prolific inventor with over 1,000 patents to his name, had a peculiar habit. When faced with a particularly stubborn problem, he would sit in his armchair holding a steel ball bearing in each hand, positioned above metal pans on the floor. As he drifted toward sleep, his muscles would relax, the bearings would drop with a clang, and he would awaken—not fully rested, but with his mind hovering in that liminal space between consciousness and dreams. In this twilight state, he found the solutions that had eluded his waking mind.

The mind, has at least two ways of going about its business. There's the sharp, focused beam you use when you're wrestling with a tricky equation or meticulously assembling a delicate machine. But then there's another state, a softer, wider gaze, where thoughts drift and mingle like clouds. This is the default mode. It's not about lazy thinking; it's about letting the mind make connections in the background. Neuroscientists have identified this as the Default Mode Network activation, a specific neural circuit that becomes active when we're not focused on external tasks.

To enter this state, one must step away from the fierce glare of concentration. Take your problem, load it into your thoughts, and then set your mind adrift on calm waters. A simple walk can do wonders, for the rhythm of the feet often untangles the knots in the brain (and is sworn by by Taleb and countless authors). A shower, that curious confessional where ideas seem to arrive unbidden, is another portal. And sleep, of course, is the grand entrance of the default mode, where the day's jumble is sorted and reassembled into surprising new patterns. Even that peculiar borderland, hypnagogia, as you drift towards sleep (perhaps with a gently held object ready to drop and rouse you), can be a treasure trove. Or try quiet meditation, not to empty the mind, but to observe its contents with a detached curiosity. Even music, listened to not as a task but as an atmosphere, can coax the mind into this expansive, receptive state.

2. Abstract and Generalize / Transfer Over Similar Problems & Solutions

When you stumble upon a solution, or observe a mechanism that works with pleasing efficiency, do not merely applaud and move on. Ask the impertinent question: Why? What is the deeper, more general & fundamental principle at play, the hidden architecture beneath the visible success? This is the act of abstraction – stripping away the details of a solution to reveal the essential more general form. For truth, like a seasoned actor, can play many roles, and the core idea that solves a puzzle in mechanics might, with a little understanding, illuminate a problem in economics or art.

Once you've grasped this underlying principle, this generalized truth, you can then perform the delightful trick of transfer. If a certain kind of leverage works to move a physical stone, what is its equivalent in moving an opinion, or a market? Generate metaphors for your current challenge: what is it *like*? List solutions to a problem and search for the golden thread that binds them; that thread is a generalization you can work into new solutions. Similarly, list related problems and see if their solutions whisper secrets to yours.

3. Composition / Recombination

Creation, very often, is not so much the conjuring of things from the void, but the startling new arrangement of things already known. It is the art of composition, of taking two or more concepts, perhaps ones that have never been properly introduced, and seeing what happens when they are brought together. Think of it as a kind of conceptual matchmaking (or more edgily, James Altucher's "Idea Sex").

First, gather your concepts (the "Compositional Basis"). Perhaps you make an idea list related to your area of interest. Then, hold these concepts in your mind, or lay them out before you like cards in a game. Ask: How do these relate? What if this idea were married to that one? What if this quality were applied to that object? This is recombination. Sometimes the result is nonsense, a comical mismatch. But other times, from the fusion of familiar elements, something entirely new and wonderfully unexpected is born, like a griffin from an eagle and a lion – perfectly logical in its own fantastic way.

4. Decomposition

Sometimes, a problem or a concept appears as a monolithic giant, too vast and imposing to tackle. The trick then is decomposition – the art of breaking the giant down into smaller, more manageable pieces. It's like a cartographer mapping a new continent, not by grasping it all at once, but by detailing its coastlines, its rivers, its mountain ranges, one feature at a time. You are, in essence, mapping out the space of the idea.

Often, decomposition is the best way to get handles on a problem. Whether it be intelligence or religion, decomposition can preceed optimization of every individual part into a stronger whole, or suggest new creative questions to ask about each part.

Break your subject into its component parts, and don't be afraid to do this in multiple directions, from different perspectives. A field like machine learning, for instance, can be decomposed into its constituent pillars: linear algebra, calculus, probability theory, computer science – each of which can be further broken down. A scientific topic might decompose into major papers, key categories, influential researchers, and pivotal conferences. Consider for what the strategists call MECE: Mutually Exclusive, Collectively Exhaustive. Each piece distinct, and all pieces together covering the whole. Sometimes, this deconstruction itself reveals an overlooked component or a surprising connection, and by optimizing one small part, the whole can be transformed.

5. Randomness

One wild creativity experiemnt of mine involved randomly selecting a page from a two randomly selected books in my library, immediately yielding stunningly fresh raw creative material.

Order and logic are splendid things, but creativity sometimes thrives on a dash of the unexpected, a jolt from the blue. Introducing an element of randomness can be like throwing a handful of differently colored pebbles into a still pond – the ripples interact in ways you couldn't have predicted. The idea is to specify some parameters, some loose boundaries, and then let chance fill in some of the details, forcing you to make new connections or find novel applications.

You might use a random word generator to provide prompts, challenging yourself to connect the word to your problem. Or use a random selector of powerful mental models to improve your thinking. The point is not that randomness will hand you a finished solution, but that it can break you out of familiar ruts, presenting you with starting points or conceptual collisions that your logical mind might have sidestepped.

6. Leading Questions

There exist questions whose frame imediately drives your intuition to a clear conclusion - how can you ask this question? A well-posed question is a powerful tool, a lever to move the mind. Leading questions are not about trickery, but about intentionally directing your inquiry down productive, if sometimes unconventional, paths. They are designed to provoke, to challenge, and to open up new avenues of thought.

Consider the relentless, childlike simplicity of the recursive 'Why?' – asking it repeatedly can strip away superficial explanations and reveal fundamental assumptions. Or, try questioning your answers: for every solution you find, ask what new questions it raises. Imagine the future where your problem is solved: what does that world look like? What steps must have occurred to get there? Then work backwards. Ask about the sacred cows: what are the beliefs in this area that are considered untouchable? What if they weren't true? Frame "what if" questions liberally. "How might we...?" shifts the focus to possibility. And don't forget to ask, "What questions do I even have about this?" or "What would someone entirely different, perhaps a poet or an engineer, ask here?"

7. Reframe / Question Assumptions

The way you frame a problem often dictates the kinds of solutions you can see. To reframe is to consciously change the lens through which you view the situation, and to question assumptions is to examine the very foundations upon which your current understanding is built. It is like stepping out of a house to realize it was only one of many possible designs, and that the landscape looks quite different from another window, or from no house at all.

There are many ways to reframe. Consider the distributional reframe: instead of one thing, what if there were many, or a range? The point in space reframe (or dimensional reframe): what if you added or removed a dimension, or considered it on a different scale? The operate-on-your-operators reframe: what if you changed the very tools or methods you are using? The generative reframe: how could this problem *produce* something valuable? Imposing or removing constraints (of time, money, resources, or even assumed laws of physics) can force radical reframes. Ask: What if I had to solve this with a tenth of the resources? Or with ten times as many? What if I had to solve it once and for all, for everyone? What are the absolute basic principles at play here? Sometimes, adopting a persona – what would a supervillain do? Or a saint? Or a child? – can shatter old frames.

8. Multiple Levels of Analysis

Reality is not flat; it has depth and layers, like a rich lasagna or a geological cross-section. To analyze a problem or an idea at multiple levels of abstraction simultaneously is to gain a more profound and nuanced understanding. It's like being able to zoom in on the intricate details of a single leaf while also seeing the shape of the entire forest and understanding how the two are related.

A classic example of this approach is David Marr's three levels of analysis for understanding information processing systems:

• Computational level: What is the system trying to accomplish? What is the goal or function being computed?
• Algorithmic level: How does the system achieve this goal? What representations and processes are used?
• Implementation level: How is the system physically realized? What physical mechanisms enable the algorithms?

This framework, originally developed for vision science, can be applied to almost any complex system or problem. By moving between these levels, you gain insights that would be invisible if you remained fixed at just one level.

Ask yourself: What is the bigger picture here (abstraction)? What are the smaller, constituent parts (decomposition)? How do these different levels interact and influence each other? If you are working on an object, also consider the meta-level: the process of creating the object, the tools used, the context in which it exists. By consciously shifting between these frames – from the microscopic to the macroscopic, from the concrete to the abstract – you can spot patterns, dependencies, and leverage points that would be invisible from a single perspective.

9. Think Ground Up, From First Principles

Often, we approach problems by looking at how others have solved similar things, or by relying on established conventions. This is efficient, but it can also be limiting. To think from first principles is to take a different path: to strip away all assumptions, all received wisdom, and to rebuild your understanding from the most fundamental truths you can identify. It is the intellectual equivalent of razing a building to its foundations and starting anew, asking at each stage: What is absolutely essential? What is undeniably true here?

For a given space or problem, ask: What is the ultimate, underlying goal? Forget current solutions for a moment. If you were to achieve that goal in the most direct way, what would that look like? Then, for that idealized solution, what are the core components, the non-negotiable elements required to make it a reality? This method forces you to question why things are the way they are, and often reveals that many "necessities" are merely habits or historical accidents, opening the door to radically simpler or more effective approaches.

10. Automation

While creativity remains a deeply human endeavor, automation can serve as a powerful amplifier for your creative process. Modern tools like AI can function as tireless collaborators rather than replacements for human thought.

Consider leveraging language models to generate ideas through continuous conversation—use them as inspirational bots that suggest novel combinations, or as systems that generate related questions to spark new thinking paths. Search engines and automated research tools can rapidly scan vast databases with queries optimized for different parameters, freeing your mind from information gathering.

More ambitious applications include AI systems that evaluate idea novelty, bots that connect your concepts to implementation requirements, or virtual environments designed to stimulate ideation. Some researchers are even exploring the "geometry of ideas"—using algorithms to map patterns in creative thought or tracking neural activity during ideation to understand what triggers breakthrough moments. The goal isn't to automate creativity itself, but to delegate the mechanical aspects so your mind can focus on what it does best: making the inspired connections that machines cannot.

11. Thought Habits / Mental Models

Daily, I train my mind with the most powerful mental models using How to Think.

The mind, like a garden, can be cultivated. Certain thought habits and mental models, consistently practiced, can make the soil of your intellect far more fertile for the seeds of creativity. It's about shaping the way you instinctively react to information and challenges. For instance, making it a habit to jot down idea lists whenever a question arises, or to habitually brainstorm around any new piece of information, builds a reflex for idea generation.

12. Invert

One of the most surprisingly powerful maneuvers in the thinker's toolkit is the simple act of inversion. If you're stuck on how to achieve a goal, try thinking about how you would absolutely guarantee failure. What would you do to prevent the goal from being reached? This adversarial perspective can illuminate hidden obstacles or critical success factors you might have overlooked. It's like finding the path by first mapping all the places you shouldn't go.

This principle of inversion can be applied to almost any technique or assumption. If a common belief is "more is better," ask, "What if less is better?" If the focus is on starting something, consider what would happen if you focused on stopping something. If everyone is looking for similarities, search for differences. By turning ideas, goals, or problems on their head, you often shake loose new perspectives and unlock unconventional solutions. It is the grand paradox that sometimes, to find the light, one must first understand the shape of the darkness. What if you did the opposite?

13. Activities

Thinking is not always a purely internal, motionless affair. Sometimes, engaging in specific activities can act as a catalyst for creative thought, providing structure, stimulus, or a different mode of expression that unlocks new ideas. These are not passive states, but active engagements that work the mental muscles in different ways.

We've mentioned list creation under time pressure. The act of writing itself, especially free writing over a topic or prompt without immediate concern for perfection, can unearth thoughts you didn't know you had. Brainstorming, in the sense of a rapid "thought dump," gets ideas out into the open. Try defending a difficult or unpopular position; the mental gymnastics required can be surprisingly generative. Drawing or sketching concepts, even if you don't consider yourself an artist, engages a different part of the brain. Giving a speech to the air, articulating your thoughts aloud as if to an audience, can clarify and refine them. And even playful improv games, with their emphasis on spontaneity and building on others' ideas, or debates can be a wonderful training ground for flexible, creative thinking.

14. Social Solutions

Creativity is not always a solitary pursuit. The human mind is exquisitely tuned to interact with other minds, and these interactions can be a powerful source of new ideas and perspectives. Tapping into social solutions means leveraging the collective intelligence, diverse experiences, and collaborative potential of others.

This can be as straightforward as crowdsourcing ideas for a particular challenge. It certainly involves reading books and articles on your topic, to understand what others have thought and said. Engage in discussions: discuss things with others, especially those who might have different viewpoints. Don't just talk; listen. Check social media or online forums for differing discussions and unexpected angles. A particularly potent technique is mapping idea generation for other people – trying to solve their problems or generate ideas for their projects can unlock insights applicable to your own. And crucially, make an effort to work with other dissimilar people, individuals whose backgrounds, expertise, and ways of thinking are different from yours. It is often at the intersection of diverse perspectives that the most novel ideas spark.

15. Other Assorted Gems

Beyond the more structured techniques, there lies a collection of valuable attitudes and approaches – let us call them assorted gems – that contribute mightily to a creative mind. These are perhaps less of a step-by-step process and more of a way of being, a stance towards the world and towards one's own thoughts.

• Original Seeing / Childlike Mind: Try to look at the world with fresh eyes, as a child might, before assumptions and categories have hardened. This is deeply linked to questioning assumptions and returning to first principles. What if you didn't "know" what something was for?
• Merely Observing Without Judgement: Practice seeing without immediately interpreting or labeling. Allow the raw data of perception to enter before the mind rushes to fit it into a pre-existing box. This, too, is linked to questioning assumptions, for our interpretations are often laden with them.
  • Allowing Uncertainty: Resist the urge to fill a gap in understanding prematurely with an inadequate theory. Be comfortable with not knowing for a while. This patience avoids the trap of confirmation bias, where you only seek evidence for your first, possibly flawed, idea.
• Alternating Observation and Theory: Recognize that both are necessary. Cycle between closely observing reality, gathering facts and noticing details, and then stepping back to create theories or hypotheses that attempt to explain those observations. Then, test those theories against further observation. It is a dance between the concrete and the abstract.
• Potential Adds to Reframing:
  • Noting What Is Absent: Sometimes the most important clue is what *isn't* there. Train yourself to look for gaps, omissions, and silences.
  • Obsessively Studying Details: While big-picture thinking is vital, sometimes profound insights are hidden in the minute, overlooked details. A relentless focus on the specifics can reveal anomalies or patterns missed by a broader gaze.
  • Focus on Anomalies: When something doesn't fit the pattern, when an observation contradicts the prevailing theory – pay very close attention. Anomalies are often the signposts pointing towards a deeper understanding or a revolutionary new idea.
• Thinking Visually: For many types of problems, especially in engineering, physics, or any domain dealing with spatial relationships or complex systems, thinking visually is paramount. For a mind like Leonardo da Vinci, drawing and thinking were almost indistinguishable. Michael Faraday, a giant of experimental physics, famously took lessons in drawing to better visualize and communicate the invisible forces he was uncovering. Sketch, diagram, imagine in three dimensions.

Create Your Own Creative Toolkit

As you explore these various techniques and approaches, pay close attention to your own mental processes during moments of insight and creative breakthrough. What patterns emerge? Which techniques resonate most deeply with your unique cognitive style? When you have a genuine "aha moment," pause to examine what led to it—was it a particular question you asked, a constraint you imposed, or perhaps a mental state you entered? By becoming a careful observer of your own creative process, you can identify your personal creativity triggers and deliberately cultivate them. Over time, build a personalized toolkit of techniques that reliably spark your imagination. The most powerful creative systems are those tailored to your individual mind, refined through conscious practice, and deployed with intention. Make creativity not just a happy accident but a deliberate daily practice—a muscle strengthened through regular, mindful exercise.