This presentation offers helpful insights on the biggest myths of “idea-making”, how to identify the enemies we all have inside that stifle our creative thinking, and proven practices to be your own idea ninja. Presented by Eric Hughes,V.P. Creative Director at Mad Genius, on 2/4/2012 at the 2012 Capital Gains Conference sponsored by AAF Jackson.

1. Where Do All Those Ideas Come From?

2. Eric Hughes V.P. Creative Director 20+ years in the biz (gasp!) Wal-Mart, McDonald’s, blah-blah OneShow, National Addys, ditto on the blah-blah

3. Here’s where to find this presentation! madg.com/news Scan it to Download!

4. Let’s Bust This Myth Right Now

5. Let’s Bust This Myth Right Now Edison didn’t invent it. He perfected it. (After 1000s of “failures”.)

6. The Lightbulb Lesson Quantity before quality.

7. Not so much this… For A Lucky Few, Ideas Come From A Brighter Place

8. As this… For A Lucky Few, Ideas Come From A Brighter Place

10. No, we’re not changing the world.

11. But one good marketing idea can …

12. Give you a fun career > sell products > create jobs > feed your family > put someone through college > who might just be the next …

14. So let’s be at it! awesome

15. Your inner Judge Idea, Know Thy Enemies

16. Your inner Sloth Idea, Know Thy Enemies

17. Your inner… must I say it? Idea, Know Thy Enemies

18. Inner Idea Ninja! (Kinda little, huh? But VERY observant.) Attack them with your…

19. Know what makes great ideas great by copying them exactly , then add your twist. Idea Ninja Move 1: Be An AWESOME Cover Band

20. Idea Ninja Move 1: Be An AWESOME Cover Band http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mr4HffbAUTk

21. Idea Ninja Move 1: Be An AWESOME Cover Band & Add Your TWIST Y es, it can be revolutionary. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYJWm2ko55Y

22. Yep, a “cover band.”

23. I do it every day. Like… today. Idea Ninja Move 1: Be An AWESOME Cover Band

24. Some “bands” I cover… Idea Ninja Move 1: Be An AWESOME Cover Band http://www.commarts.com/exhibit http://ihaveanidea.org/home.php http://laughingsquid.com/

25. “ Bah! That’s not original!”

26. “ Ever heard of Humphrey Davy? Hi-ya!”

27. Idea Ninja Move 1: Be An AWESOME Cover Band < Humphrey Davy covered by… Thomas Edison >

28. Idea Ninja Move 1: Be An AWESOME Cover Band < Humphrey Davy covered by… Thomas Edison >

29. “ Understand EXACTLY what makes something brilliant, cover it, & add a meaningful twist. Hi-ya!”

30. Idea Ninja Move 2: Be A Brain Surgeon Short term memory!

31. Idea Ninja Move 2: Be A Brain Surgeon Converts short term memory to…

32. … long term memory – a.k.a galaxies of idea starters stored everywhere! star wars FARMING bullfighting art history

33. “ Slow down. Where are we going? Me sleepy.”

34. “ What if you used your WHOLE brain to brainstorm?” Welcome to intergalactic thinking. Hi-ya!”

35. Luggage company found innovative product line… FARMING … here

36. You know at least 5 things about EVERYTHING! FARMING COWS PIGS SCARECROWS CORN SILOS

37. CEO: “We have no new ideas” Monahan: “Let’s try Farming.” Seasonal Storage Plastic attic storage boxes! FARMING COWS PIGS SCARECROWS CORN SILOS

38. star wars FARMING art history bullfighting Idea Ninja Move 2: Be A Brain Surgeon

39. star wars Idea Ninja Move 2: Be A Brain Surgeon http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R55e-uHQna0

40. “ Use the infinite galaxies already stored in your brain to make unexpected leaps that solve problems (a.k.a. ideas). Hi-ya!”

41. Idea Ninja Move 3: Make The Blank Sheet Smaller

42. Let’s play Name The Movie! Roman General’s family killed by Caesar’s evil son. Fights as slave in Coliseum to attain revenge!

43. Let’s play Name The Movie! Street-smart stowaway on huge boat wins girl from rich jerk. Iceberg!

44. Let’s play Name The Movie! Young orphan on remote planet joins rebellion to defeat evil empire led by (gasp!) his Father.

45. Idea Ninja Move 3: Make The Blank Sheet Smaller If a whole movie fits on a sticky note, can’t one idea?

46. Idea Ninja Move 3: Make The Blank Sheet Smaller If 1 idea can fit on a sticky note, how hard can it be to fill in 20 sticky notes?

47. Idea 1 Idea 2 Idea 3 Idea 4 Idea 5

48. “ Ooh! Idea #4 would be cooler with 6 hours of Photoshop!”

49. “ The first five ideas are short-term memories. Let’s try Intergalactic thinking!

50. Idea 1 Idea 2 Idea 3 Idea 4 Idea 5 Idea 6 Idea 7 Idea 8 Idea 9 Idea 10

51. “ Most of those are lame. But #10 is good enough.”

52. “ Good is the enemy of great. 5 more! Hi-ya!”

53. Idea 1 Idea 2 Idea 3 Idea 4 Idea 5 Idea 6 Idea 7 Idea 8 Idea 9 Idea 10 Idea 11 Idea 12 Idea 13 Idea 14 Idea 15 Idea 16 Idea 17 Idea 18 Idea 19 Idea 20

54. “ Me hungry. Sushi then nappy?”

55. “ We slept last night. 5 more then lunch! Hi-yah!

56. Idea 1 Idea 2 Idea 3 Idea 4 Idea 5 Idea 6 Idea 7 Idea 8 Idea 9 Idea 10 Idea 11 Idea 12 Idea 13 Idea 14 Idea 15 Idea 16 Idea 17 Idea 18 Idea 19 Idea 20

57. A decent creative team gets here:

58. Edison’s team got here:

59. “ Think prolifically on smaller paper. It is impossible to have 100 bad ideas. You have done well, Grasshopper. Sushi?”

60. “ Yay sushi! Then nappy?”

61. Idea Ninja Takeaways Quantity before quality. Know the enemies inside you. Be an awesome cover band. Use your WHOLE brain to brainstorm. Make the blank sheet smaller.

62. Here’s where to find this presentation! madg.com/news linkedin.com/company/mad-genius facebook.com/madgsocial twitter.com/madgsocial