http://www.braintrainingsecrets.com/ Increase Your Brainpower http://www.braintrainingsecrets.com/ http://www.braintrainingsecrets.com/meditation_relieve_stress_and_live_longer.php For hundreds of years sages, wise men and yogis have practiced meditation and extolled the benefits. In today's hectic world there is no better time to take up meditation. What is Meditation? In simple terms, meditation is quietening your mind. If you stop for a moment and watch your thoughts you will notice that you are always thinking. You may be worrying about this and that, planning something, replaying earlier events or conversations. All the time your mind is an incessant chatterbox. With meditation you can clear your mind, quieten and even stop, the chatter - and reap enormous benefits. Why Meditate? The benefits of meditation are immense. Practising meditation... http://www.braintrainingsecrets.com/brainstorming_for_small_businesses_how_to_turn_your_business_inside_out_using_reversals_and_humour.php The other day I got one of my business clients to brainstorm how she and her staff could improve their small business. This is a process that I encourage my long term clients to do at least once a year. The method I coached them in uses reversals to create insights about their company: the reversals help you to see problems from a new perspective and to encourage you to raise sensitive issues that you are usually too polite to mention. What are the typical reversal questions? There are five questions that I typically ask at some time on our two hour session: 1. How can you make things much worse? Look at making your existing situation worse. When you have enough ideas, reverse... http://www.braintrainingsecrets.com/is_meditation_for_you.php What Is Meditation? There are various types of meditation - such as TM (Transcendental Meditation), mindfulness meditation, and from the Eastern tradition, Zen meditation and Buddhist meditation. Meditation uses such diverse methods as: Formal sitting in which the body is held immobile and the attention controlled. Expressive practices , in which the body is let free and anything can happen. e.g., Siddha Yoga. The practice of "Intentional Living" meditation is doing all you do mindfully and without stress. Being in the moment and enjoying the process of "doing"! Meditation will enable one to focus on quieting the busy mind. The intention is not to remove stimulation... http://www.braintrainingsecrets.com/planning_dream_wedding_receptions_part_1_the_art_of_brainstorming.php Planning a dream wedding reception is not difficult. Any bride can do this. You can do this. All you need to do is follow these simple steps and you will be on your way to creating a wedding reception that will pop with personality and panache! You are going to engage in some fun brainstorming. Step 1: Get a nice big doodle notebook. Like the kind artists use. Newsprint paper or fine drawing paper... the choice is yours. There are options to fit any budget. If your budget is super tight, look around the house for something or pick up a roll or two of newspaper print from your local newspaper. Many newspapers give the end rolls away for free. The amazing thing is there is always... http://www.braintrainingsecrets.com/what_is_good_meditation.php When learning to meditate seekers often ask. “how do we know when we are meditating well.” This is a good question to ask because for a beginner it is difficult to know what to expect. Meditation can lead to profound experiences, for example Hindu scriptures give details about various states of meditation known as Samadhi in which a seeker may lose all sense of personal identity. However a beginner should not really think about these elevated states. Although everyone has the capacity to attain such states. in practical terms in takes many years if not lifetimes of practise. If we harbour expectations of attaining enlightenment in a very short space of time then are meditation will never... http://www.braintrainingsecrets.com/meditation_and_hypnosis.php "Meditation is merely hypnosis without suggestion.." -is what most hypno-therapists will tell you. And whilst this in some (very few) instances may well be true, it is unfortunate that this view is promulgated, as this only describes a very limited aspect of meditation, and does not consider the phenomenal number of forms of meditation that are in fact out there. It also does not consider the true nature of most forms of meditation. To illustrate this I would suggest that one consider the incredible number of guided meditations that are offered, sold, and promoted by various profit and not-for-profit organizations. Of course to fully understand the impact of this one has to consider the... http://www.braintrainingsecrets.com/meditation_equals_serenity.php Meditation is a practice that involves focusing on an object, a sound or your breath. The idea behind meditation is to focus or concentrate your thoughts on one relaxing thing for a sustained period of time. Usually 15 - 30 minutes will do. It is important to know that there is no experience that should be desired during meditation. You should begin your meditation by sitting comfortably in a cross legged position, when possible. This method is best known in the West as zasen, or sitting meditation, of Zen. Sitting in meditation helps quiet your mind and leaves you feeling clear, peaceful and relaxed. Benefits of: Although Benefits are not sought, many benefits are achieved from... http://www.braintrainingsecrets.com/brainstorming_for_your_digital_information_product.php How many times have you read, "Come up with your own Digital Information Product (D.I.P.) and watch the cash start to roll in?" For most of us the problem lies in trying to come up with that product or service. Wouldn't you agree? One of the reason ezines are flooded with the same ads and web sites around the Internet are clogged with the same products, WE are ALL trying to cash in on the D.I.P. Rage, without having our own products. If you have been in Internet Marketing any length of time, you know by now that Instant RICHES are just a Pie in the Sky, and you laugh at ads like: $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ This incredible, 100% NO-COST money making system... http://www.braintrainingsecrets.com/meditation_why_meditation_and_how_does_it_help.php The stressful lives we lead today take their toll on our health. Mental stress and physical fatigue drain us of our positive energy leaving us depleted physically, mentally and emotionally. Considered to be part of alternative medicine, meditation is fast gaining popularity amongst conventional medical practitioners as well. Patients are increasingly being advised to meditate for sometime in the day, which is believed to have a positive effect along with the allopathic medicines prescribed for a number of medical conditions. What is meditation? Meditation is a technique that helps us focus and calms the mind resulting in relaxed and restful state of physical and mental being.... http://www.braintrainingsecrets.com/meditation_easy_tools_for_success.php Do you want to learn how to meditate? Have you tried to meditate but you keep falling asleep? Or you're not sure you are doing it right? Do you keep thinking about other things while you are trying to "clear your mind"? First you need to decide what type of meditation you want to do. There are basically two types of meditation - active and passive. Passive meditation is clearing the mind of all thoughts. You can then allow your "inner voice" or "minds eye" to speak to you. Passive meditation is good for reducing stress, increasing creativity, or just getting in some quiet time. Active meditation is when you keep your mind active by working on a particular problem in your life or... http://www.braintrainingsecrets.com/how_to_solve_problems.php Do you ever need to find some good ideas, or come up with a solution for a persistent problem? Learn some simple problem solving techniques, and start applying them. Choose a few of the methods below, and get in the habit of using them in your personal life and your business. Problem Solving Techniques 1. Clarify what a successful solution is, and that will guide your efforts. In fact, sometimes just clarifying the desired outcome will suggest immediate solutions. 2. Get opinions and/or advice from several people. They might have good ideas, and you'll be sure you're not overlooking the obvious. Also, you clarify a problem when you explain it, and that may help in itself. ... http://www.braintrainingsecrets.com/meditation_techniques_for_time_pressed_executives.php Meditation, quite rightly, has an image of relaxation, peace and quiet, and many may interpret this as meaning meditation can only be for those who have time to laze around half the day. For this reason, those people, such as business executives, who live a pressured life with little or no time to spare, may assume that meditation can never have a place in their lives. That is a shame, as meditation techniques can be quite flexible and quite easy to fit in to a busy day. The benefits of meditation can be so great to somebody under pressure, that even a few minutes occasionally may bring a noticeable benefit. For a busy executive to have reached their position in life, they are likely to be... http://www.braintrainingsecrets.com/mindfulness_meditation_a_cure_for_anxiety.php For those people who are really dedicated to getting over their anxiety, meditation can be the key. The are literally thousands of types of meditation, and many books, CDs and Videos out there which will tell you how to meditate. I’m going to ask you to forget nearly all of those. All meditation will relax you, but that in itself is not a solution to anxiety, panic attacks, and phobias. Most meditations seem to take you away from the present moment and take your concentration away from your body. Such escapism may bring temporary relief from anxiety but will not free you from it, and meditating through anxious moments is hard. Enter Mindfulness meditation. So, why is Mindfulness... http://www.braintrainingsecrets.com/how_to_conduct_a_successful_brainstorming_session.php Brainstorming: When you and your group or improvement team wish to generate as many ideas as possible in as short a time as possible. It’s Powerful It’s Quick It’s Fun It’s Misused However simple we think this tool is, if we do not set the groundrules, or fail to follow them, we will be very disappointed with the outcome. Some team members may even be fearful to contribute fully – giving safe, guarded inputs. This is NOT what Brainstorming is all about! Before a project or improvement team can make decisions, it's important to examine as many options as possible. Brainstorming is one of the easiest, creative ways to generate a list of ideas through getting... http://www.braintrainingsecrets.com/how_to_use_brainstorming_to_solve_your_money_problems.php Advertising executive Alex F. Osborne first coined the word "brainstorming" in the early 1940's. Since then literally millions of ideas, products and services have been created. Every institution from Fortune 500 companies to Universities and Government agencies, have used the principle of brainstorming. Fact: For every product in your home or office, chances are a person or group of people brainstormed about it. They brainstormed on how best to create, market, sell, manufacture, advertise, or distribute it. This is how powerful brainstorming is. One of the best things about brainstorming is that it can be used by anyone. You don't have to be a C.E.O or army general. You can... http://www.braintrainingsecrets.com/guided_meditation_to_make_you_whole.php Guided meditation is a form of stress relief that is conducive to relaxing the whole body, in part by finding a way of peaceful and calming relaxation from within the body. Guided meditation may utilize soothing photographs or scenarios to enhance the ability of the mind to relax and guide the body to a point of relaxation so that the person in meditation can find a true sense of inner peace. Quite often, guided meditation will be accompanied by soft music or sounds of nature. One of the keys to successfully having a session of Guided meditation is finding an area where the one meditating will be free of distractions. Any outside interference will prevent proper concentration and make the... http://www.braintrainingsecrets.com/om_sweet_om_the_art_of_meditation.php Instructions on how to meditate abound. Most schools teach one (or a combination) of three main meditation techniques, namely mindfulness meditation, concentrative meditation, or analytical meditation. Mindfulness meditation involves paying attention to the processes of the mind in order to become aware of the continuous flow of sensations and feelings, images, thoughts, sounds, smells, and other mental activity. The trick here is to be aware of the mental processes as they occur without becoming involved in them. The meditator sits quietly and simply witnesses whatever thoughts come up. She does not react to or identify with any thoughts, memories, worries, or images that arise in her... http://www.braintrainingsecrets.com/benefits_of_doing_yoga_to_improve_your_meditation.php It sometimes sounds confusing that Yoga can benefit you in meditation, as meditation is only a part of Yoga. However, in modern scenario, Yoga-Asanas are often referred to as Yoga in short and people often mean postures when they say that they are practicing Yoga for meditation. The basic benefit of Yoga-Asanas is to keep your body fit for the requirements of meditation. If you are not feeling well physically, you will find it hard to relax your mind and attaining the bliss that comes naturally with meditation. Body should work with the mind so that one can reach up to the level of soul, where the extreme bliss rests. Yoga meditation, or Meditation supplemented with Yoga-Asanas, is... http://www.braintrainingsecrets.com/you_can_increase_your_brainpower.php What Do You Think? Can you solve problems easily? Can you learn new things efficiently? Can you increase your brain power? Whatever you think and feel about these questions, those thoughts and feelings will have an effect on your brain function, because brain power and psychology are intimately connected. Expectation Checkmate in four moves, the book said, so I looked until I found it. I love chess puzzles, and I used to think those elegant solutions were not often possible in real games. Then it occurred to me that they probably are there, but that without the expectation of finding them, I settled for less worthy moves. I find the elegant ones more often now. A man I know spent... http://www.braintrainingsecrets.com/brainstorming_with_props_goodie_bags_and_the_wsj.php When developing new strategies or products, coming up with unique ideas is often a struggle. It is one of the reasons why, in any industry, there is so much repetition. One way to generate new ideas and "get the creative juices flowing" is by brainstorming using props. There are several ways to incorporate props into a session. Two of my favorites are the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) and goodie bags. ~~~~~~~~ What is Brainstorming? ~~~~~~~~ According to dictionary.com, brainstorming is: 1) A method of shared problem solving in which all members of a group spontaneously contribute ideas or 2) A similar process undertaken by a person to solve a problem by rapidly generating a variety of... http://www.braintrainingsecrets.com/women_business_4_tips_on_brainstorming_business_ideas.php The number of women owned businesses in the US increased by 43 per cent between 1997 and 2006, almost double that of all businesses. In the UK, about 20,500 new businesses were started by women in the first quarter of 2006, an increase of more than 30 per cent from the same quarter last year. The rising trend in women starting their businesses is a worldwide phenomenon. According to a study by three prominent women's business organizations the National Foundation for Women Business Owners (NFWBO), Catalyst, and The Committee of 200, women who launch their businesses are primarily inspired by an entrepreneurial idea. Entrepreneurship offers the opportunities to implement entrepreneurial... http://www.braintrainingsecrets.com/meditation_a_course_to_pave_your_happiness.php A busy executive took leave to attend a meditation course conducted by a well-known saint. At the end of the course, he told the saint, “Revered Sir, I agree that meditation gives peace of mind. It takes out lots of pressure out of our mind. And you say that I need to do meditation at least one hour daily. Sir, we business executives are very busy people. I am unable to spare one hour for meditation!” The saint replied, “The purpose of meditation is to make your mind pressure-free and pave way for your happiness. If you don't find time for your happiness, continue to live the miserable life!” Meditation is the best thing that can happen to an individual. Its positive effects are... http://www.braintrainingsecrets.com/meditation_guide.php There is absolutely no way I can possibly tell you about all the different types of meditation in just one article. My intention is to tell you about some of the general benefits of meditation the different types have in common and introduce you to a few popular forms of meditation. Many people have never tried meditation and they truly do not know what they are missing. Our world is full of sounds, sights, and other distractions. We are bombarded with these things every day of our lives. Meditation allows you to escape from this for awhile. A chance to truly relax Through meditation can you truly get to know yourself, organize your thoughts, relax, and even improve your health. That... http://www.braintrainingsecrets.com/health_benefits_of_meditation.php Meditation is one of the top-10 alternative therapies used by the U. S. population. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine reports that 8% of Americans use meditation as a health tool. No longer just for Buddhist monks and New-Age types, meditation is now appealing to mainstream business professionals, medical doctors and even health care companies. This is a result of the growing evidence which supports that meditation can promote physical healing. Meditation may be spiritual for some, but the practice is not necessarily religious in nature. There are many meditative approaches but regardless of the technique, medical research indicates that the... http://www.braintrainingsecrets.com/brainstorming_your_website_topic_questions_to_ask_yourself.php Do you want to start a website but aren't sure what topic or niche to begin with? Many people start with a concept that's near and dear to their heart- their passion, whatever that may be. This is a good idea for someone new to internet business. Why? For a couple of reasons. 1) You're more likely to have the needed "sticktoitiveness" necessary for success. If it's a topic you feel strongly about then you're not as likely to get bored. You're already sharing your views on the subject with other people, you're just not earning income from your knowledge. 2) You probably already know a lot about the niche. You're already a bit of an expert on the topic and can talk about... http://www.braintrainingsecrets.com/meditation_advice_for_the_beginner.php Maybe you've heard about the wonderful benefits of meditation; "It will relax you, center your thoughts, allow you to escape from your stressful day". Why wouldn't you want to take part in such an activity? The truth is - most people never reap the considerable rewards that a quality meditation session can offer. After a few unsuccessful attempts, these individuals give up and conclude "meditation doesn't work". If you don't believe meditation can work for you, I'd like to offer you a bit of perspective via the following exercise: Go to a music store that sells pianos (if you can play piano, substitute this instrument with one you've never played before). Sit down at a piano and play... http://www.braintrainingsecrets.com/meditation_a_beginner_s_guide.php Meditation: A Beginner's Guide by Christin Snyder *The material presented in this article is provided for information purposes only and is not intended to diagnose or prevent any illness. In my article “Self-Healing Basics” I briefly discussed meditation and it's important role in whole-being wellness. Meditation has an abundance of benefits, but can appear daunting to newcomers due to the many misconceptions surrounding it. Through this series of articles I will explore the art of meditation in depth- addressing misconceptions, highlighting the benefits, answering frequently asked questions, and also sharing different techniques. I believe very deeply in the power each person has to... http://www.braintrainingsecrets.com/using_brainstorming_to_find_keywords.php Use brainstorming technique to produce relevant keywords: -to write something new -to choose a domain name or an article/ebook title -to choose the best keywords for a website -to develop new web pages in an existing site brainstorming mainly consists of two parts: 1. Produce -every word you think, write it down -every word is ok -every word you see surfing that hits you, write it down -type all the domain names you can imagine and see who is already using those keywords and how -I would divide keywords on the net in two kinds: ROOTS and RELATED for example "ebook" is the root and "write" "publish" "promote" is the related Then you can develop it further just making a related word... http://www.braintrainingsecrets.com/meditation_music.php Meditation music can significantly enhance your meditation session. Gentle sounds and rhythms can help you to achieve a deeper state of calm, peacefulness and relaxation. It is well established that sound and rhythm can create mental and emotional environments. As early as the 1920s, researchers were making connections between music, enhanced mental alertness, concentration and imagination. Music has the capability to directly affect our physical being. Many cultures ascribe to this tenet. For example, according to the principles of Indian music, human beings are composed of sound. The vibrations inherent in sound can either bring us into greater accord with the vibrations of the... http://www.braintrainingsecrets.com/the_oreo_solution_to_creative_problem_solving.php The commercial starts off with music by Tchaikovsky and three little ballerinas dressed in pink. It’s time for a break. They get out glasses and milk. They pour what milk they have into three glasses and sit down to enjoy Oreos and milk. But, oh my gosh, there’s a problem. The glasses are thin and tall and the milk is so far from the top. They can’t reach the milk, even with their tiny little fingers, to dunk their cookies. What can they do? The solution: they pour all of the milk into one glass and take turns dunking their Oreos. The Oreo Solution: instant gratification can stimulate simple decisions. How often do we brainstorm, and plan, and theorize, when a simple solution will do?... http://www.braintrainingsecrets.com/brainstorming_for_unique_party_favors.php Often when planning the party or special occasion festivities it is easy to overlook the planning of party favors. To avoid the last minute rush to find something – anything – that could pass as a party favor, consider some of the following unique party favor ideas: A Box of Good Fortune – Regardless of whether you are holding a party for birthday, wedding, engagement or even New Year’s Eve, a Box of Good Fortune is a fun way of saying thank you to your guests. Take a small gift box (about the size for jewelry) and insert “lucky” items. You may wish to include a silk flower, lucky dice, a fortune telling scroll, a palm reading diagram, lucky penny. Tie the box closed with red ribbon... http://www.braintrainingsecrets.com/use_meditation_to_relieve_stress.php Meditation is a form of alternative medicine that promotes relaxing and mental calmness through the use of controlling or suspending thoughts for a certain period of time. Since meditation involves physical and mental relaxation, it's a great way to relieve stress. When some people hear about meditation as a way to relieve stress, they laugh and think it's a bunch of baloney. They think that meditation is not a viable solution to eliminating stress. But research has shown that meditation works and is a practical technique for stress management. The most notable research on meditation's usefulness in relieving stress was done in 1968 by Dr. Herbert Benson of Harvard University. He... http://www.braintrainingsecrets.com/brainstorming_on_demand.php Technical feasibility is usually based on verified data and should contain sufficient information so that the evaluation may be made into financial statements. In other words, technical feasibility tends to review existing technology in well known conditions. Sometimes, we need to make a decision about future functions of a product or possible environment, which is not always obvious. Guessing may help, the only question is "how?" What do we normally do when we have no information about something? We begin by thinking, this may be with a group of people. In a technical world it is also called Joint Application Development or a JAD session, that sometimes resemble brainstorming. There is... http://www.braintrainingsecrets.com/introduction_to_meditation.php Meditation has been practiced throughout the world for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. It is generally accepted that the practice originated within the Eastern religions, more particularly within Vedic Hinduism. The chief aim of meditation is to allow the individual to discover a place of inner peace and quiescence. It is a form of personal and spiritual development that acts to free one's mind from the trappings of the physical plain of existence. In many cases, the act of meditation is an effort to reacquaint oneself with the higher powers. The motivation behind the act of meditation differs from person to person, but it would appear that meditation is performed... http://www.braintrainingsecrets.com/meditation_why_just_sitting_there_isn_t_just_sitting_there.php Meditation: Why Just Sitting There Isn’t Just Sitting There At first you might not think this is a tool for creativity. Meditation does typically involve sitting quietly by yourself for a period of time. No computers or pens or pads of paper included to record your inspiration. So how can this help you as a writer or an artist? Meditation is an excellent tool to increase your focus, to stimulate creativity, to reduce stress. Meditation has been shown in a number of health studies to have numerous health benefits, including lowering blood pressure. Even doing something to help reduce the stress in your life might help you focus more on your writing, hence lead you to more creative writing.... http://www.braintrainingsecrets.com/boost_your_child_s_brainpower_with_sudoku.php In less than a year the Sudoku bug has infected huge numbers of the UK population, and it is fast spreading across the world! Why has a simple logic puzzle become so popular, and how can your kids benefit? Sudoku puzzles were first published in the US in the 1970s and are sometimes known as "Number Squares". They have been popular for many years in Japan, where the name "Sudoku" (meaning "single number") was coined. The current craze was started late in 2004 when a UK newspaper started publishing the puzzles. Within weeks the puzzles were picked up in other newspapers and Sudoku became the pastime of choice for commuters, parents - and even kids! From a parent's point of view, Sudoku... http://www.braintrainingsecrets.com/tips_for_better_meditation.php Meditation students often come to me and ask what they can do to improve their meditation. Success in meditation is not the result of any one single factor but depends on sustained and systematic effort over a period of time. However, there are a few tips for meditation, that will help you to improve your performance, regardless of the meditation method that you follow. 1. Prepare your body for meditation Your physical condition has a tremendous influence on your mind. This is true for your day to day activity, but even more so when it comes to meditation. You can prepare your body for meditation by eating the right food, and by coming to meditation with an empty stomach. Eating the... http://www.braintrainingsecrets.com/stress_meditation.php Too much stress? You need a simple stress meditation. Of course, learning to meditate might intimidate you, and it's tough to find the time for daily meditation. A solution to both problems is a meditation you can learn right now, that will take a minute to do each day. An Easy Stress Meditation When you breath through your mouth, it expands your chest. Breath through your nose and you'll notice how your abdomen extends. Nose-breathing causes the diaphram to pull air to the bottom of your lungs. This delivers a good dose of oxygen into your bloodstream and brain, and it also tends to relax you. Breathing through your nose is healthier, and it's the basis of this... http://www.braintrainingsecrets.com/features_and_benefits_brainstorming.php This is it what I use BEFORE I begin to write any marketing copy or launch any new product or service. You can complete this with the by-hand method listed here or use the form that I've created (available in the FORMS section of our web site, http://www.abundancecenter.com/forms/main.htm). I complete this exercise even when I think I'm sure that I have it done. The mind plays some funky games, by redoing this exercise, my thoughts zone into what I'm working on, and my mind becomes razor sharp. In other words, if I am writing marketing copy and I do this every day for many different projects, even though I did the exercise yesterday for the same project, I repeat it without looking at the... http://www.braintrainingsecrets.com/meditation_to_relieve_stress.php The Connection between Mind and Body The ancient practice of meditation has long been known as a way to heal the mind and body. In times of mental or physical stress, human beings have turned to the powers of meditation to quiet the mind and repair the body. There is a strong connection between the mind and the body, and when one is in pain, the other suffers also. Meditation can help establish a balance. Research has shown that meditation can have a beneficial impact on the health of an individual, and these positive effects are not limited to the body. When practiced regularly, it can greatly contribute to the health and well-being of not only the body but also the mind. In today’s... http://www.braintrainingsecrets.com/7_tips_for_meditation.php Through meditation we can bring about greater peace of mind and powers of concentration. The length of time we meditate is not as important as the focus we give during our meditation. If we can meditate with a silent mind for 5 minutes we can bring to the fore our own divine qualities of inner peace and inner happiness. This is an inner joy independent of any outer success or outer prosperity. When offering meditation classes for the <A target="_new" href="http://www.srichinmoycentre.org/">Sri Chinmoy Centre I offer these 7 tips which will help us to meditate more successfully. 1. Quiten The Mind The Goal of meditation is to go beyond the mind. Meditation cannot be done by thinking.... http://www.braintrainingsecrets.com/how_to_prepare_for_public_speaking_with_brainstorming.php You may not have much time left to prepare for your public speaking. So what are the things you will for your public speech? Here are some pointers that you can use: 1. Brainstorming 2. Short-term goals 3. Long-term goals 4. Evaluation 5. Reflection Start with brainstorming. If you are in the process of writing your speech you will need to brainstorm the topic. For the next 10 minutes I want you to write as fast as you can, what you want for this speech. Once you are finished you will read aloud the notes you wrote down. As you write however, do not concern yourself with precision rather write down every thought that comes from your mind on the speech topic. ... http://www.braintrainingsecrets.com/brainstorming_for_enhanced_results.php This powerful technique for problem-solving and idea generation puts you in touch with imaginative capabilities by tapping into ideas that might be buried or just waiting on the edge to be released. The primary purposes of gathering to brainstorm are to take a flexible look at solving a problem, overcoming an obstacle, creating a plan for a new endeavor, and overall increasing the power of teamwork. With greater openness - communication and cooperation among the participants tends to increase. More than one possibility, solution, or perspective is put forth which enhances the probability that a better end product or service will result. Once people are encouraged to share ideas without... http://www.braintrainingsecrets.com/brainstorming_mystery_writing_style.php You have the germ of an idea, a story to write. But you aren't sure how to go about fleshing it out. How do you get your hero out of your mind and onto paper, solving the mystery you've come up with? One way to flesh out an idea is to ask yourself questions about your character and story to get a better feel for where you want to go. It's called brainstorming and it is a technique used by a lot of writers today. Here are some questions you can ask yourself about your mystery story. 1. Who dies and how? Or, if not a murder, WHAT is the focus of the mystery? You need to have a clear idea of what you want to write. A murder story is told differently than a straight mystery. If you are going... http://www.braintrainingsecrets.com/brainstorming_techniques_as_new_product_development_strategies.php When developing new products and strategies, coming up with unique ideas is often a struggle. It is one of the reasons why, in any industry, there is so much repetition. One way to generate new ideas and "get the creative juices flowing" is by completing brainstorming exercises using props. There are several ways to incorporate brainstorming into a new product development session. Two of my favorite techniques are skimming business publications and utilizing goodie bags. What is Brainstorming? According to dictionary.com, brainstorming is: 1) A method of shared problem solving in which all members of a group spontaneously contribute ideas or 2) A similar process undertaken by a person... http://www.braintrainingsecrets.com/depression_self_help_with_meditation.php A young lady I had seen, suffered with Post-Natal Depression. She was advised to take antidepressant medication for an indefinite period of time by her psychiatrist. She wanted to have another baby but was advised strongly against it because of the medication and the possibility of having depression again if she had another baby. She agreed to use meditation as an important part of her treatment. After finishing her treatment involving meditation, she became pregnant. In time,she gave birth to a baby. For a short period, lasting for less than a week, she was exhausted. While in hospital she was again advised to see the psychiatrist for medication. But because she had been meditating... http://www.braintrainingsecrets.com/brainstorming_your_way_to_riches.php A great deal has been written about the group thinking concept. Members all participate in solving problems, coming up with new ideas or dreaming up new products. (Many heads are better than one?) They discuss the product, idea, or problem with each person throwing out their thoughts on the subject regardless of how ridiculous it may seem. This is supposed to generate a vast pool of knowledge, including the answer to what the group is trying to find. Each idea is written down by one of the group and eventually the puzzle is supposed to fall in place and the solution found. Another method is for you to do your own private brainstorming, using a tape recorder. When it is... http://www.braintrainingsecrets.com/how_to_manage_stress_through_meditation.php Stress is often referred to as the curse of modern era. Meditation is one of the proven methods for stress management. Meditation is a natural healing therapy, famous for its multifarious effects on a person. The routine practice of meditation therapy in the daily life has been seen to remove most of the ill effects of stress. The reasons of stress include busy schedules, change in working patterns and revisal of the relationship concepts. However stress management techniques are given much importance because of the serious impact of stress in the physiological, psychological and social aspect of the person. The relevance of meditation in stress management is mainly due its capability to... http://www.braintrainingsecrets.com/six_types_of_meditation.php There are so many different types of meditation. How many? Who knows, but enough so that you can find the one that's right for you. To get your search started, here are six types of meditation you can try. 1. Breath watching. Can meditating be as simple as paying attention to your breath for a few minutes? You bet. Relax in whatever position works best for you, close your eyes and start to pay attention to your breathing. Breathing through your nose gets your diaphragm involved and gets oxygen all the way to the bottom of your lungs. As your mind wanders, just re-focus your attention on the air going in and out of your nose. Just do this for several minutes, or longer as you get used to... http://www.braintrainingsecrets.com/brainstorming_for_new_ideas.php Brainstorming is a great way to come up with new creative ideas. For years it’s been considered most effective when people brainstorm in a group, but research is now showing this is not necessarily so. Dr. Paul Paulus, psychologist at the University of Texas Creativity Lab, after 14 years of studying the science of creative brainstorming, has discovered that individuals working alone, without the fear of looking foolish in front of their peers, generate twice as many ideas as those working in a group. This is great news for anyone wanting to create new ideas for abundance and wealth. Some important traditional techniques include: letting your imagination run wild, going for a quantity of... http://www.braintrainingsecrets.com/a_20_minute_vacation_the_amazing_health_benefits_of_meditation.php Meditation is gaining mainstream acceptance as a beneficial preventive health program. Once thought of as only for eastern monks practicing in remote caves in the mountains of India, today everyone from busy executives to students are enjoying the practical results of daily meditation. Meditation is one of the better-studied alternative therapies, and it has been shown to provide a wide range of health benefits. More and more doctors and hospitals are recommending meditation as an effective stress buster and useful support for patients of heart disease and many other chronic and acute conditions. Meditation can help you "Take a 20 Minute Vacation" without physically going anywhere.... http://www.braintrainingsecrets.com/brainstorming_children_s_picture_book_ideas.php When I speak to writers' groups and writers' classes, the questions I hear most often are about writer's block and how I come up with my ideas. I'm a screenwriter, but ever since a little girl came into my life, my heart for writing has been in children's books. If children are part of your life, you have a boundless source for children's book material, even if you don't realize it. Want a children's book idea? Try this: think of one of your child's problem behaviors. Do you have one? Good. Now think about what concerns you about that behavior. Sure, the behavior is annoying. But think about how it might play out negatively for your child rather than you. For instance: let's say your... http://www.braintrainingsecrets.com/meditation_a_simpletechnique_to_relax_and_calm_you.php Meditation is easy to do and can give you an instant feeling of calmness and relaxation. Here we are going to outline a simple meditation technique that can be practiced by all, with 5 - 20 minutes to spare each day. This mediation technique is simple and very effective and only takek you a few minutes to learn and will help you relax away from the stresses of everyday life. What is meditation? A definition accepted in most dictionaries for meditation is, continuous and profound contemplation or musing on a subject or series of subjects of a deep or abstruse nature. This is really reflection. Meditation generally involves where one consciously discounts ... http://www.braintrainingsecrets.com/you_didn_t_use_brainstorming_to_select_your_measures_did_you.php Introduction When Alex Osborn invented the creativity technique called brainstorming, I wonder if he had any idea just how extensively business would apply it. Almost every meeting employs some kind of brainstorming event, but there’s one meeting that really should leave it off the agenda: the performance measure selection meeting. There are 5 common ways people select performance measures The selection of performance measures has never really been treated as anything more than a trivial, and often pesky, decision brought around by the annual business planning workshop. Usually people will take the fastest route to finalising a list of performance indicators in the KPI column of their... http://www.braintrainingsecrets.com/why_late_night_brainstorming_could_be_e_s_p.php I’m sure at some point in your life; you have awaken from a dead sleep, scurried to your office or kitchen to grab a notepad and pen, and wrote down something inspirational. You spent all day trying to come up with ideas, but nothing worth keeping. Yet, at the moment when you are not thinking about anything and your mind is clear, it hits you like a ton of bricks! Is this just by chance? Or does it go a little deeper, to the point of phenomenon? One theory I have is that when the day is done, you have finally started to wind down, and are no longer thinking about problems at work or with your family. At this point, perhaps when you are lying in bed about to fall asleep, your mind... http://www.braintrainingsecrets.com/what_is_meditation_how_to_meditate.php Meditation is a group of mental training techniques .You can use meditation to improve mental health and capacities, and also to help improve the physical health. Some of these techniques are very simple, so you can learn them from a book or an article; others require guidance by a qualified meditation teacher. WHAT IS MEDITATION Most techniques called meditation include these components: 1. You sit or lie in a relaxed position. 2. You breathe regularly. You breathe in deep enough to get enough oxygen. When you breathe out, you relax your muscles so that your lungs are well emptied, but without straining. 3. You stop thinking about everyday problems and... http://www.braintrainingsecrets.com/top_ten_brainstorming_techniques_for_business_success.php We experience creativity every time a fresh idea pops into our minds. We recognize creative imagination in everything from a pastel painting to a business plan. By trying these ten tips, you will discover some amazing creative abilities that may surprise you. 1. Substitute someone else's perspective for yours. How would a teacher, lawyer, actor, artist, explorer, journalist, psychologist, engineer, homemaker, child, or accountant approach your idea or subject? Don't know? Ask them! 2. Look at your idea through the eyes of a critic. For each idea, make a list of all criticisms that may arise. Try to develop as many solutions as possible for overcoming obstacles or repairing weaknesses... http://www.braintrainingsecrets.com/top_secret_brainpower_algorithms.php Brainpower algorithms is my own term for the rules that we develop to help us think more efficiently. There are examples from every area of life. Salesmen more effectively sell once they are trained to smile and match the pace of the buyer's speech. Real estate investors can more easily analyze a property if they have a mental checklist that they run through. Writers think in terms of headlines that "grab" the reader by using words like "top secret." Universal Brainpower Algorithms Some of the most useful rules of life are simple questions that cut through the clutter in our minds and point to the most essential aspects of things. Consider the question "What would (insert hero here) do?"... http://www.braintrainingsecrets.com/the_secret_to_effective_brainstorming.php Have you been in a "brainstorming" session where each person just defended their own ideas? Worse is when people don't suggest ideas at all, for fear they'll be attacked. That's no way to brainstorm. Brainstorming is using the power of many minds, and ideas should flow freely and trigger other ideas. How do you make that happen? The Key To Good Brainstorming You have to have a good leader to have good brainstorming. The leader isn't there to impose his will, though, but to stop the imposition of anyones will. His role is to stop criticisms, arguments, and even strong opinions, at least in the first part of the session. A brainstorming session needs to be spontaneous, open and... http://www.braintrainingsecrets.com/the_diy_guide_to_brainstorming.php If you and your team are looking for a technique that’s pretty well guaranteed to solve all your problems, and come up with ideas you’d never think of on your own, then you can’t do better than good old-fashioned Brainstorming. When done correctly, Brainstorming is all of the following: simple, quick, productive, effective, developmental, teambuilding, and, perhaps most of all, fun. The technique has been around for a long time. It was first used by Alex Osborn, an advertising executive of the 1950’s, who laid down the following 5 rules when performing a brainstorming session: 1. no evaluation of ideas 2. wild ideas to be encouraged (in fact, the more, the better) 3. quantity of... http://www.braintrainingsecrets.com/ten_problem_solving_techniques.php Do you ever need to find some good ideas, or come up with a solution for a persistent problem? Learn some simple problem solving techniques, and start applying them. Choose a few of the methods below, and get in the habit of using them in your personal life and your business. Problem Solving Techniques 1. Clarify what a successful solution is, and that will guide your efforts. In fact, sometimes just clarifying the desired outcome will suggest immediate solutions. 2. Get opinions and/or advice from several people. They might have good ideas, and you'll be sure you're not overlooking the obvious. Also, you clarify a problem when you explain it, and that may help in itself. 3.... http://www.braintrainingsecrets.com/six_benefits_of_meditation.php Meditation is invaluable for many people. Think of meditation as the opposite of a frazzled, stressful lifestyle. Learning to meditate is easy, and you will find the advantages of meditation can be varied, so meditation can help anyone in any walk of life. First, meditation can help you significantly reduce pain. Many people who are in harsh physical pain will look to meditation as a way to release their minds and bodies from experiencing this pain, and most doctors recommend meditation as an alternative medicine. For those of us who suffer from chronic discomforts, such as backaches or arthritis, meditation is a great way to forget the pain altogether for a few minutes and reduce the pain... http://www.braintrainingsecrets.com/secrets_of_effective_brainstorming.php Have you been in a "brainstorming" session where each person just defended their own ideas? Worse is when people don't suggest ideas at all, for fear they'll be attacked. That's no way to brainstorm. Brainstorming is using the power of many minds, and ideas should flow freely and trigger other ideas. How do you make that happen? The Key To Good Brainstorming You have to have a good leader to have good brainstorming. The leader isn't there to impose his will, though, but to stop the imposition of anyones will. His role is to stop criticisms, arguments, and even strong opinions, at least in the first part of the session. A brainstorming session needs to be spontaneous, open and... http://www.braintrainingsecrets.com/random_word_brainstorming.php When I was first exposed to this method, I was somewhat skeptical. The occasion was a brainstorming evening to generate new ideas for my book's title. As our group gathered, A hypnotherapist colleague of mine, suggested this innovative brainstorming approach. With the topic identified beforehand, the process began with a member of the group being asked to open a dictionary to any page. He then randomly selected a common noun, which was written on a flip chart. Each person was asked for a single word that he or she associated with that noun. The group was then asked to suggest associations between each of these words and the topic, accelerated learning. The words flowed in amazing... http://www.braintrainingsecrets.com/problem_solving_this_simple_process_helps_identify_creative_solutions_to_difficult_problems.php Five years ago, a couple of instructors that I was working with and I were brainstorming about different ways to promote our training programs more easily. Up to that point, I had spent my entire career in training focused primarily on helping individuals become more successful by helping them strengthen certain skill sets such as public speaking, management skills, and selling skills. We noticed that out of our classes, about 80% of participants were individuals, about 15% came with a friend, and about 5% came as a group. We knew that these groups who attended together leveraged the results of the programs significantly, because they held each other accountable for implementation of the... http://www.braintrainingsecrets.com/problem_solving_techniques_for_business_and_life.php Learning a few good problem solving techniques can improve your bottom line and your life. Do you ever run out of good ideas, or go around in circles trying to come up with a solution for a persistent problem? Maybe you just need to learn some simple problem solving techniques, and then start applying them. Choose one or two of the methods below, and get in the habit of using them in your personal life and your business. Using Your Unconscious Mind Let your unconscious mind do your problem solving. Outline a problem in your mind before going to sleep, and tell your brain to go to work. Einstein had good luck with this technique, sometimes getting the "ah-ha" insight... http://www.braintrainingsecrets.com/problem_solving_a_simple_process_to_identify_creative_solutions_to_problems.php This five step process can help you quickly and easily solve even the most complex problems. Five years ago, a couple of instructors that I was working with and I were brainstorming about different ways to promote our training programs more easily. Up to that point, I had spent my entire career in training focused primarily on helping individuals become more successful by helping them strengthen certain skill sets such as public speaking, management skills, and selling skills. We noticed that out of our classes, about 80% of participants were individuals, about 15% came with a friend, and about 5% came as a group. We knew that these groups who attended together leveraged the results of... http://www.braintrainingsecrets.com/negotiating_is_creative_problem_solving.php Every person negotiates every aspect of their lives. No one can negotiate until they understand the situation. Wherever there is conflict there is a problem to be solved. This involves getting two or more people to agree on something. Problem solving is an essential skill of any effect negotiator. Problem solving starts with defining the problem. Overcoming a problem cannot be accomplished until the problem has been identified. Often the issue that appears to be the problem overshadows the actual underlying cause or causes of dissension. To resolve the problem the real causes of dissension must be addressed. Mediators observe closely how each of the parties reacts to ... http://www.braintrainingsecrets.com/mindfulness_101_should_meditation_be_taught_in_college.php A recent article published in The Chronicle of Higher Education about teaching meditation in college has created a great deal of buzz. Several media folks contacted me for my opinion, and they were surprised by my response. I am sure there are plenty of meditation teachers who are grinning on their cushions at the notion of meditation being offered at universities for academic college credit. Not me. I think it is a misguided idea--and I'd like to suggest a much better one. It's not that I don't wholeheartedly believe that meditation is a powerful way to reduce stress, increase concentration, and develop greater awareness and compassion. It's not that I don't agree that college... http://www.braintrainingsecrets.com/mind_maps_brainstorming_for_business_success.php In the business world, people often hear the term "Think outside the box", with little or no explanation as to how to actually do that. Everyone is just expected to know how, figure it out, or find another job. Brainstorming sessions often lead to a slew of ideas from a group, but with little or no structure, it's difficult to tell what ideas are worth pursuing and which are wasting space. There is a brainstorming strategy that, when used with a couple of other follow-up methods, will allow for creative thoughts to come from the group and still home in on the ideas that will actually benefit the overall goal. The three steps of the strategy are mind maps, t-analysis and action plan... http://www.braintrainingsecrets.com/make_brainstorming_work_for_you_not_against_you.php I enjoyed the Martha Stewart apprentice show (not sure why "America" didn't like it). Even the frustrating parts of the show caught my attention, in an inquisitive, "here's something to learn" kind of way. Week after week, Martha's apprentice nominees started a new project by gathering with their team to come up with ideas of how to implement their new task. Each team wanted to come up with something that was better than the other team so that they would be declared the winner. And week after week, I observed mismanaged brainstorming and evaluating, resulting in frustrated team members and lukewarm ideas. What did they keep doing wrong? One week, team member Leslie from... http://www.braintrainingsecrets.com/live_longer_with_exercise_and_meditation.php Many people link meditation with exercise, since the ancient Hindu practice of yoga includes both. You can meditate without exercise, just as you can exercise without meditation, but by combining the two, you can achieve great results. Exercise and meditation are both great ways to heal your body and spirit and promote a healthy lifestyle. As one of the five principles of yoga, meditation works best with this type of exercise. Meditation is also associated and works well with other Eastern forms of exercise, such as Tai Chi. First, learn special meditation techniques to begin your exercising program. When you meditate, learn to focus on your breathing. This control of breath becomes very... http://www.braintrainingsecrets.com/live_brainstorming_session.php In Berlin a restaurant opens for anorexics and in Buffalo a lawyer with a stutter wins a court case. When everything you're working on has gone stale and your own initially promising concepts are starting to annoy you, you need a brainstorming session to get to the missing bits or new ideas. The papers provide ample ideas for jump starts. A stutterer in a court case or an anorexic going to a restaurant that has opened especially for them must have no problems with ideas to keep them going for at least two weeks after their memorable experiences. Brainstorming is trix galore, right? Really, you're doing nothing new. Our mind plays on us all the time, wherever we are, whatever we do. It... http://www.braintrainingsecrets.com/learning_transcendental_meditation.php It is not difficult to learn transcendental meditation. If you are looking to escape from the whirlwind of ringing cell phones, traffic snarls and screaming kids, transcendental meditation can provide a peaceful getaway from the craziness of everyday life. In 1958, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi formally introduced his transcendental meditation technique. Since then, he has written several books, lectured and toured extensively all over the world and trained over 40,000 teachers. Transcendental meditation is now practiced in the workplace, at home and in medical settings. In addition, doctors and health professionals are increasingly prescribing transcendental meditation as means of combating... http://www.braintrainingsecrets.com/innovation_management_brainstorming_management_why_people_hate_to_brainstorm.php Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation whilst innovation can be defined as idea selection, development and commercialisation. There are distinct processes that enhance problem identification and idea generation and, similarly, distinct processes that enhance idea selection, development and commercialisation. Whilst there is no sure fire route to commercial success, these processes improve the probability that good ideas will be generated and selected and that investment in developing and commercialising those ideas will not be wasted. One common method in the problem identification and idea generation phase is the use of brainstorming. In fact, it... http://www.braintrainingsecrets.com/improve_your_brainstorming_skills.php Here are some tips to help you become better at brainstorming. It’s easier to brainstorm earlier in the day because your energy levels are usually higher. You should also make sure that you are in a comfortable place with lots of natural light. A good place is a coffee shop with large windows. DONT sit in a room with florescent lights. These will suck the life out of you and you’ll fell less alive than in a room full of sunlight. There are a number of implements that you can use for brainstorming - a white board, pencil and paper or even an audio recorder - but my favorite tool is a software program called FreeMind, which allows you to create tree charts from your thoughts. It’s also... http://www.braintrainingsecrets.com/i_m_a_businessperson_i_don_t_need_to_be_creative_or_do_i.php You may think you don't need to be creative. But creativity can help you do a better job of what you do. Just look at the military. Who would think that stand-up-straight-and-stick-the-gut-in military needed to be creative? All they do is follow orders - or so we think. But the US military was one of the first modern organizations to realize that innovation could help them. They organized an elite team to investigate innovative giants as well as all creative problem solving methods and techniques. They then applied these creativity techniques to "NATO military, intelligence and political problems," getting inventive solutions to new as well as old dilemmas. You may not think you need to... http://www.braintrainingsecrets.com/how_to_practice_creative_imagination_for_problem_solving.php Engaging in creative imagination is a practice that follows a specific process. To do it successfully, keep in mind that for centuries in ancient times, it was performed as a sacred ritual, with great reverence and according to explicit rules. Today imagination is no longer considered the gift of Muses, but seen as a mental function studied by scientific research. However different our approach to it may be, the process of tapping into our creative imagination today follows exactly the same steps as in the Greek religion almost three millennia ago. The steps described below will help you complete the exercises at the end of the chapter. 1. Define the Problem With Which You Need Help.... http://www.braintrainingsecrets.com/how_to_create_successful_ideas_through_brainstorming.php The most successful companies are the ones that are constantly coming up with new and innovative ways of doing business. They are always searching for the one great idea that will launch a successful product line or cut costs in difficult times. Progressive and savvy companies know that great ideas aren’t developed in a vacuum and that ideas can come from anyone in the organization. Taking a cue from their colleagues in advertising, they implement brainstorming sessions to encourage employees to express their ideas. Brainstorming spurs employees to develop solutions for a problem in a freewheeling and exciting group atmosphere. The result of a successful brainstorming session could be a... http://www.braintrainingsecrets.com/five_tips_for_successful_brainstorming.php Corporate brainstorming often fails because participants don’t enter into it in the proper spirit. There are two phases of the creative process: the imaginative phase and the practical phase. The first thing to remember in phase one of a brainstorming session is this: all ideas are good. No matter how lame they may sound initially, write them down without comment. You must establish an unthreatening environment in order to get your participants to loosen up and start throwing any ideas out. Consider these tips for better brainstorming: First, identify the problem. It is often best to outline this ahead of time in written form so that everyone comes to the session with the problem... http://www.braintrainingsecrets.com/effective_brainstorming.php Most managers simply herd some people in a room with a flip chart and call it a brainstorming session. Yet there is a definite process that maximizes the size and quality of the idea pool. While there are hundreds of valid techniques for doing this, below are just some of the important concepts leaders should consider. a) The sum of ideas produced by individuals acting alone is greater than the sum of ideas produced by those individuals acting as a group. Further, the diversity and novelty of ideas produced by individuals acting alone is greater than produced in a group. This means that asking group members to think of a set number of diverse and novel ideas before the session and then... http://www.braintrainingsecrets.com/creative_strategies_for_brainstorming_for_business_success.php We experience creativity every time a fresh idea pops into our minds. We recognize creative imagination in everything from a pastel painting to a business plan. By trying these ten tips, you will discover some amazing creative abilities that may surprise you. 1. Substitute someone else's perspective for yours. How would a teacher, lawyer, actor, artist, explorer, journalist, psychologist, engineer, homemaker, child, or accountant approach your idea or subject? Don't know? Ask them! 2. Look at your idea through the eyes of a critic. For each idea, make a list of all criticisms that may arise. Try to develop as many solutions as possible for overcoming obstacles or repairing weaknesses in... http://www.braintrainingsecrets.com/creative_problem_solving_following_your_stream_of_consciousness.php Having trouble finding a solution to a nagging problem? Try a well-known journaling technique called stream of consciousness--you may be surprised at the creative messages you receive from your inner self. Take the case of Shana, an online journaler who had a problematic relationship with a co-worker. When Shana allowed herself the “scary” experience of stream of consciousness journaling, she quickly realized her intensely emotional reaction to the co-worker was, in fact, related to a similar situation with an ex-spouse. In both situations Shana felt like a doormat--but until her journaling, she didn’t realize the two were connected. Stream of consciousness is a style of writing... http://www.braintrainingsecrets.com/creative_problem_solving.php Copyright 2005 Stephen Pierce So, you have a problem that you need to solve quick. You have agonized over this issue for hours, days, months, or even years and you still can't resolve it. Well, don't worry my friend; the answer is already within you. You simply need to call forth your creative energy in order to bring the answer into your focused mind. How do you do this? It is easy. You simply utilize creative problem solving, that's how. Creative what? Creative problem solving. You see, creative problem solving is the powerful act of utilizing internal out-of-the box creativity to solve everyday problems. Creativity that is already inside of you and the good news is that it can be done... http://www.braintrainingsecrets.com/concept_combination_for_creative_problem_solving.php There are many creative problem solving techniques used by inventors to come up with new solutions to old problems. For sheer innovation, though, it's hard to beat the technique of concept-combination. Just start combining ideas and things, and voila, you're having fun - and maybe creating something new. Innovation or Inovation? Combining the concept of search engine misspellings with article writing gave me "inovation." What good is that? Well, now that I've used the misspelled word twice, the thousand people every month that type "inovation" into search engines can find this article. "Search engine" combined with "people," could lead to the first search engine devoted entirely to... http://www.braintrainingsecrets.com/brainstorming_the_key_to_wealth.php Advertising executive Alex F. Osborne first coined the word “brainstorming” in the early 1940’s. Since then literally millions of ideas, products, services and solutions have been created and improved on. Every institution from Fortune 500 companies to Universities and Government agencies have used the principle of brainstorming. They’ve use it to create everything from new ad slogans, and medical breakthroughs, to how to get your child to eat more peas. Fact: For every product in your home or office, chances are a person or group of people brainstormed about it. They brainstormed on how best to create, market, sell, manufacture, advertise, or distribute it. This is how powerful... http://www.braintrainingsecrets.com/brainstorming_secrets.php Have you been in a "brainstorming" session where each person just defended their own ideas? Worse is when people don't suggest ideas at all, for fear they'll be attacked. That's no way to brainstorm. Brainstorming is using the power of many minds, and ideas should flow freely and trigger other ideas. How do you make that happen? The Key To Good Brainstorming You have to have a good leader to have good brainstorming. The leader isn't there to impose his will, though, but to stop the imposition of anyones will. His role is to stop criticisms, arguments, and even strong opinions, at least in the first part of the session. A brainstorming session needs to be spontaneous, open and... http://www.braintrainingsecrets.com/brainstorming_getting_new_ideas_for_your_business.php The human brain is the most amazing highly complex computing machine people have. It is the one responsible for everything that happens to your body. However, no matter how much a person thinks or how much you use your body, most people only uses less than 10% of the their brain capacity. In businesses, thinking of new business ideas is critical to remain competitive in the world of businesses. As a manager or as the owner of a company, you would want your staff to think of new business ideas every now and then in order to keep up with competition. If you are in the beverage business, you will want new ideas and new flavors to get more customers. This is why brainstorming is one of the... http://www.braintrainingsecrets.com/brainstorming_effectively.php BRAINSTORMING: The basic tool used in generating many possible solutions to a problem is brainstorming. To use the brainstorming process effectively requires following a prescribed set of rules very closely. These rules are: 1. No positive or negative comments are allowed during the brainstorming phase. 2. Positive or negative non-verbal evaluations are discouraged as well. 3. A group member may ask for clarification if the member does not understand a given suggestion, but it is important to avoid any questions that are directed to “how” or “why” of the idea. In other words, the person suggesting a solution is not to be asked to defend the idea! 4. “Far out” or amusing suggestions are... http://www.braintrainingsecrets.com/brainstorming_don_t_cloud_your_mind.php The brain is one amazing device. It's the centerpiece of the body, seemingly everything goes through the brain. Probably all the great inventions that have come through history, were originally inside someone's brain. Many studies have been done on the brain and the prevailing thought, is that most people use less then 10% of their brain capacity. Maybe the fact that people don't use their brains as much as they should, is why brainstorming was created. Brainstorming was the creation of Alex Osborn. Osborn was an ad exec. and he realized that normal business meetings, weren't creating the type of new ideas that he needed from his employees. He wanted to find a better way for each... http://www.braintrainingsecrets.com/brainstorming_create_that_million_dollar_idea.php There are many ways to stimulate your creative juices, and to get the ideas flowing. Most authors have their favourites which are usually tried and tested and work for them. Maybe the best known is brainstorming. Brainstorming is a powerful technique which can create new ideas and solve problems. It can be done in a group, with a partner, or alone. When used in a group setting, it motivates and develops a team spirit. It often involves group members in bigger management issues and allows the team to work together. When used as part of a team, a flip-chart, allowing all participants to see what is happening, and what is being produced, is essential. On a one to one basis, or alone,... http://www.braintrainingsecrets.com/brainstorming_an_aid_to_writing.php Brainstorming can be made easy with the use of the these simple graphic organizer tips. The three types of graphic organizer brainstorming strategies that we will be looking at are: the T Chart, the web and the cause and effect. This is only the beginning of brainstorming in a way that will make you a concise and detailed writer. The T Chart is typically used in comparing things. For example, at the top of my paper I may write "Robin" and "Golden Retriever". I would draw a line under the two words I wrote side by side. I will then draw a line, vertically, down my paper in between the two. On one side I will write the characteristics of a Robin. I might say it flies, has feathers,... http://www.braintrainingsecrets.com/brainstorming_a_good_vacation_spot.php So you want to go on vacation - but how do you decide where? This is often one of the biggest problems, and can lead to family infighting. Everybody wants to go someplace else - but you need a way to choose. First, you should decide whether you want to do a "repeat" or not. This will just sort of depend on your personalities - some people like to go to the same place. They enjoyed it, they thought it was fun, and they'd like it to be a "second home" of sorts. Others are interested in finding something new - the point of a vacation for them is to get away from their routines, not start up a new one. Make a family decision and stick with it - everyone should be able to find at least a few... http://www.braintrainingsecrets.com/brainstorming.php Brainstorming is a much used, and much abused process. "Let's have a brainstorming session" someone says, and before there are 4-5 ideas out on the table everyone is arguing about the merits of each, evaluating and judging every comment made. It drives us mad, and it should drive you mad too. That's because there are fundamentally two different types of thinking: The first is 'divergent', creative, imaginative, playful, fun and great for generating ideas. The second is 'convergent' analytical, judgmental and a terrible basis for generating ideas (but good, of course, for evaluating ideas). The point is that you can't do both at them same time. Brainstorming is about 'divergent'... http://www.braintrainingsecrets.com/brainpower_for_the_overwhelmed.php Walk into the room and can’t find your keys? Or forget why you entered the room in the first place? Wondering what has happened to your short-term memory? Feel overwhelmed by information, people, to-do lists and demands on your time? You very well could be suffering from SADD-situational attention deficit disorder, a term coined by Anderson Consulting Institute for Strategic Change. Specifically, most of us are now in situations in which we are bombarded by so many demands for our attention that our brains close down. It’s a phenomenon of our time. Our brains, evolved over eons to respond to our environment and each other are exponentially being taxed by the growth in information and... http://www.braintrainingsecrets.com/beyond_brainstorming_large_groups.php When leaders, consultants and managers require ideas, they automatically tend to herd people into a room and conduct a (usually ineffective) brainstorming session. One reason for their ineffectiveness is a failure to consider the impact of group size. There is a pervasive belief that creativity is enhanced in larger groups. However, significant data indicates that large groups are detrimental to creative output. Some of the arguments against large groups are: a) The sum of ideas produced by individuals acting alone is greater than the sum of ideas produced by those same individuals when acting as a group. b) Large groups dilute ideas. c) Symptoms of group think increase as a... http://www.braintrainingsecrets.com/better_brainpower_through_exercise.php Can you boost brain power with exercise? Several relevant studies were reported on at the annual Meeting Of The Society Of Psychophysiological Research in Montreal recently. The findings showed both immediate benefits from exercise, as well as long-term effects. Exercise seems to help your brain work more efficiently and actually make you smarter. In one study, the thinking ability of subjects was tested. After the tests, they ran on a treadmill for thirty minutes. Then, when their hearts returned to normal resting levels they took the follow-up tests. For all tests the subjects were connected to an elctroencephalogram (EEG), in order to track their brainwaves. The first thing researchers... http://www.braintrainingsecrets.com/benefits_of_guided_meditation.php Guided meditation is used by many people not only to relax from a busy day but also to tune into their own bodies and minds. Since days have become more stressful, the world has become more crowded and more worldly problems have risen, many people are finding comfort, safety and bliss in a few minutes of guided meditation a day. With the help of a guiding voice, many people who are new to meditation have found it easy to achieve a much needed quiet moment during the day. Guided meditation can help the user to focus his or her thoughts and block out any distractions in order to experience the pleasure of silence for a moment during the day. The voice assists the user and keeps his or her on... http://www.braintrainingsecrets.com/a_one_minute_meditation.php Maybe learning to meditate intimidates you, and in any case it's tough to find the time for daily meditation. The solution to both problems is an easy meditation you can learn right now, that will only take a minute to do each day. An Easy Meditation Technique Breathing through your mouth expands your chest, but if you breath through your nose you'll notice how your abdomen extends. You see, nose-breathing causes the diaphram to pull air to the bottom of your lungs. This delivers a good dose of oxygen into your bloodstream and brain. It also tends to relax you. Breathing through your nose is healthier, and it's the basis of this one-minute meditation. You simply close your eyes, let... http://www.braintrainingsecrets.com/5_tips_for_successful_meditation.php Meditation is an art that takes a certain degree of consistency, but almost anyone can find time to meditate, no matter how busy your days may be. Meditation takes little to no preparation time if you follow a few rules, so in less than a half hour, you can meditate and continue on with your normal daily schedule. Remember, meditation is all about being relaxed. First, find a convenient and appropriate place and time for meditation. Many people choose to participate in a class or meditate with a more experienced person (commonly known as a guru). However, if this is not possible, you can still meditate and achieve great results. The place you select for meditation should be away from... http://www.braintrainingsecrets.com/12_surefire_brainstorming_techniques.php Writers, students and anyone else will occasionally need an idea or two. While you may have times when ideas come with little or no effort, there will be times when the fountain of creativity seems to have dried up. Have no fear, however. Even if you’re not feeling particularly creative, you can still think and reason. By thinking clearly and using the following techniques, you’ll find an endless supply of ideas. Free-writing – Just write. Don’t worry about format, topic, or anything else. Just write, about anything at all. It might be a description of your kitchen ceiling, or a diatribe about the lack of parking spaces at your local veterinarian’s office. The important thing is that...