“There’s no shame in failing. The only shame is not giving things your best shot.”

Robin Williams

If you only rely on analytical thinking, you limit your ability to come up with creative solutions. But tapping into
creative–or “right-brain” thinking–isn’t as easy as flipping a switch.

You may have noticed I’m trying something new with my blog. I’ve started illustrating all of my posts. I’m experimenting with styles and media and expect I’ll eventually find a groove that works. What I am finding is the act of drawing often leads to new ideas. Many times I have drawn the illustration before writing a single word of my post.

The beauty is you can do this as well. You may not illustrate blog posts, but you can draw your problem.

“There is no more powerful way to prove that we know something well than to draw a simple picture of it. And there is no more powerful way to see hidden solutions than to pick up a pen and draw out the pieces of our problem.”

Dan Roam, The Back of The Napkin

“I can only draw stick men.” You might say.

Great! Simple drawings are sometimes the best. Drawing forces your brain to crystallize problems and solutions into visual form. Simple shapes and drawings will provide clarity and remove some of the complexity our analytical minds get caught up in.

Next time you’re stuck on a problem, try using the “other side of your brain.” Use a white board, a flip chart, a sheet of paper, or even the back of a napkin to draw from the genius inside you.

You might be surprised what you discover.