This works for me (when I have the time): - keep a notebook with you all the time. Get in to a "mode" where you collect ideas (shitty or not :) ). Similar to t

This works for me (when I have the time): - keep a notebook with you all the time. Get in to a "mode" where you collect ideas (shitty or not :) ). Similar to to the photographers look when walking through the city you might end up seeing ideas you where not open to see before. - Get out of the house. Go ta a cafe, to the river, woods etc. Helps focusing and "doing work". - For finding ideas I use sort of a systematic exploration (prefer a keyboard over a notebook for that one). I guess it helps that I enjoy doing this. Systematic Exploration: - find constrains or focus - see what fits - once you found something explore in depth Constrains/Focus: - I'm good at UI and computers - I'm fascinated by the nature of information - I won't be able to build AI Possible Fit: - I can see problems in organizing information, maybe there is something. Explore: - So what is "organizing information"? Writing down, re-organizing, consuming again. How do they relate? If I can record everything, is that good? Nope, need to be good for consumption or my knowledge doesn't help at all... - So what might be wrong is a lack of focus on later consumption when taking notes, how can we improve that? Where do people take notes, can I modify that environment? Here we are getting closer to a product... There is more approaches to the exploration, I could also start with: What costs time and effort in my work? Can I make it more efficient? Also get used to 98% of the ideas not working out or having flaws when sleeping over them for a night. You will get better at ideas and once you have one worth perusing it will also give you new ideas or morph into another one (nothing ever goes as planned).