01
The real problem isn't you — it's your method
When you're stuck, the instinct is to push harder: stare longer, drink more coffee, wait for inspiration. That almost never works, because a blank page isn't a willpower problem — it's a method problem. The people who reliably produce ideas aren't more gifted. They've just stopped relying on inspiration and started reaching for a named technique — a small, repeatable procedure that forces new combinations your tired brain wouldn't reach on its own.
This cheatsheet collects 22 of the best-known idea-generation methods, grouped so you can scan, pick one that fits your situation, and get moving in under a minute. Each comes with one worked example. You don't need all 22 — you need the one that unsticks you today.
This cheatsheet collects 22 of the best-known idea-generation methods, grouped so you can scan, pick one that fits your situation, and get moving in under a minute. Each comes with one worked example. You don't need all 22 — you need the one that unsticks you today.
02
Start here: the 4 fastest methods (from the video)
If you only learn four, learn these. Each takes seconds to run and works on almost any kind of problem.
- SCAMPER — run any idea through seven prompts: Substitute, Combine, Adapt, Modify, Put to another use, Eliminate, Reverse. Example: stuck designing a coffee shop? Reverse it — what if the customer made the coffee? (Self-serve roastery.) SCAMPER was formalised by Bob Eberle in 1971, building on Alex Osborn's idea-spurring checklist.
- Random constraints (Oblique Strategies) — give yourself one arbitrary rule and obey it. Example: "use an old idea," "do the opposite," "work at a slower pace." The card deck Oblique Strategies (Brian Eno & Peter Schmidt, 1975) does exactly this — a random rule knocks your brain off the track it was stuck on.
- Biomimicry — ask how nature would solve it. Example: need something to stick without glue? Nature already solved it — Velcro was invented after George de Mestral looked at a burr stuck to his dog. When you're stuck, ask: how has nature already handled this exact problem?
- Inversion — instead of asking how to make it good, ask how you'd guarantee it fails, list every way, then avoid them. Example: writing a talk nobody will remember? List what would make it forgettable (no story, too many slides, no point) — then do the opposite. The terrible answers point straight at the good one.
These four alone will get you out of most blocks. The other 18 below are for when you want a different angle.
03
Combine & transform what you already have (5)
These methods generate ideas by re-mixing existing material rather than inventing from scratch.
- Random-word association — pick a random noun and force a connection to your problem. Stuck on a logo? Random word: "anchor." → a brand built on "the thing that holds you steady."
- Forced connections — jam two unrelated things together. "Library" + "gym" → a quiet co-working space with a fitness membership model.
- Analogous worlds — ask how a totally different industry solves your problem. How would a hospital handle your customer onboarding? How would a pit crew?
- Mash-up / recombination — take two products you like and merge their best parts. Spotify's playlists + a recipe app → shareable "meal playlists."
- Attribute listing — list every attribute of the thing, then change one at a time. A mug: material, handle, size, lid… make the handle detachable → a stackable travel mug.
04
Change your perspective (5)
Blocks often come from looking at a problem from a single fixed angle. These force a new one.
- Six Thinking Hats (Edward de Bono) — examine the problem six ways in turn: facts, feelings, risks, benefits, creativity, and process. Stops you arguing one angle to death.
- Role-storming — solve it as someone else. How would a 7-year-old / a pirate / your biggest competitor approach this?
- The 5 Whys — ask "why?" five times to reach the real problem before you solve the surface one.
- Zoom out / zoom in — restate the problem one level bigger, then one level smaller. "Sell more coffee" → "give people a reason to leave the house" (bigger) → "fix the 4pm slump" (smaller).
- Reverse brainstorming — brainstorm how to make the problem worse, then invert each idea into a fix.
05
Add or remove constraints (4)
Constraints are creativity's best friend — too much freedom is paralysing. These add or strip them on purpose.
- First-principles — strip the problem to its physical truths and rebuild from there, ignoring "how it's always done."
- Constraint-adding — invent a brutal limit. "Solve it with no budget," "in one sentence," "by Friday." Limits force decisions.
- Subtraction — remove a core feature and see what's forced to change. A phone with no buttons → the touchscreen.
- The 10x / 10th question — ask "how would I do this if it had to be 10x bigger?" then "…10x cheaper?" Both break incremental thinking.
06
Generate volume, then refine (4)
Sometimes you don't need a clever method — you need to outrun your inner critic with sheer quantity.
- Brainwriting — everyone writes ideas silently first, then shares. Beats out-loud brainstorming (no loudest-voice bias).
- The 100 ideas drill — force yourself to list 100 bad ideas. The first 20 are obvious; the good ones hide after 50.
- Timeboxing — set a 10-minute timer and don't stop writing. Urgency silences the perfectionist.
- SCAMPER + a worksheet — run the seven prompts as a checklist so you never skip the one that works.
Method credit: SCAMPER (Bob Eberle, 1971; Alex Osborn, 1953); Oblique Strategies (Brian Eno & Peter Schmidt, 1975); Six Thinking Hats (Edward de Bono); biomimicry (popularised by Janine Benyus, 1997); 5 Whys (Sakichi Toyoda / Toyota). These are established, widely-taught techniques — not a guaranteed formula. Pick one and test it on a real block this week.
07
How to actually use this when you're stuck
Don't read all 22 and freeze (that's its own kind of block). Do this: (1) name your problem in one sentence. (2) Pick ONE method that feels least obvious for your situation. (3) Run it for five minutes with a timer, writing everything down — no judging. (4) If nothing lands, switch to a method from a different group above. The point isn't the perfect technique; it's having any structured way in, so you're choosing a tool instead of waiting for lightning.
Save this page (there's a Save-as-PDF button) and keep it where you work. Next time you're stuck, you'll have 22 doors instead of one wall.
Get the next drop
New AI build guides + the occasional bonus template. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
By submitting you agree to our Privacy Policy & Terms. Unsubscribe anytime.
You're in — check your inbox to confirm.
Frequently asked questions
What's the fastest way to break a creative block?
Stop pushing harder and pick a named method. The four fastest are SCAMPER (run your idea through seven prompts), random constraints (give yourself one arbitrary rule and obey it), biomimicry (ask how nature already solved it), and inversion (ask how you'd guarantee failure, then avoid those things). Each takes under a minute.
Is SCAMPER a real technique?
Yes. SCAMPER is an established creativity checklist — Substitute, Combine, Adapt, Modify, Put to another use, Eliminate, Reverse. It was formalised by educator Bob Eberle in his 1971 book and builds on Alex Osborn's idea-spurring checklist from Applied Imagination (1953).
What are Oblique Strategies?
A deck of cards created by musician Brian Eno and artist Peter Schmidt, first published in 1975. Each card carries a single oblique instruction (like 'use an old idea' or 'do the opposite'). You draw one and follow it — the arbitrary constraint breaks the rut your thinking is stuck in.
How does biomimicry help with creativity?
Biomimicry means solving a human problem by copying how nature already solved something similar. Velcro came from a burr stuck to a dog; high-speed train noses were redesigned after a kingfisher's beak. When stuck, asking 'how has nature handled this?' opens a whole library of tested solutions.
Do I need to learn all 22 methods?
No. You need the one that unsticks you today. Learn the four fast ones first, then dip into the other groups (combine, change perspective, add constraints, generate volume) when you want a fresh angle. The cheatsheet is a menu, not a curriculum.
Why do constraints make me more creative, not less?
Total freedom is paralysing — infinite options means no decisions. A constraint ('solve it in one sentence,' 'with no budget,' 'by Friday') narrows the field so your brain can act. That's why methods like Oblique Strategies and constraint-adding work: they hand you a limit to push against.