Making Your Thoughts Visible & Thinking Fluently

Hi everyone, and welcome back to my blog!!

This week we will go over two other Creative Thinking Strategies, and without further due, let's get to to it.

The first strategy that I will go over is called:

"Making your Thoughts Visible"

The strategy was revolutionized by science, by making thoughts visible with drawings and diagrams. In this strategy, language takes a secondary role. We use it to describe rather than make.

I'm actually a visual learner, which makes this strategy perfect for me.

The technique that I used for this strategy is called a Mind Map, and it helps us associates things we would have never thought of. In short, is the representation of thoughts through key words.

For this technique, I had to choose a word or phrase that describes the essence of my project, then write key words as quickly as possible, connect them, organize them, and revise them.

The technique itself was one of the first I created for my business venture, which is a website that will sell handmade Nicaraguan products, and will allow me to share my culture with everyone.

In it I chose the theme of "Nicaragua", and wrote the many things that reminded me of my country and that I would like to share with everyone. The cluster of themes are as follow:

• Tourism: Volcanoes, Lakes, Masaya Granada, beaches

• Art: handmade vases, clothing, jewelry, paintings, furniture, hammocks

• Culture: folklore, Hipicas (yearly festivities), Purisimas (celebrated in December to celebrate Virgin Mary), the people

The technique allowed me to narrow down the products, and goal I want for my business, and what I really want to share with everyone. Art in Nicaragua is depicted in our everyday life, from the furniture we purchase, to the clothing we wear, to the art itself. Paints made by Nicaraguan artists depict our culture, and our values, and I cherish that. 

As someone who moved to the United States as a child, I share two cultures, and I want my American culture to know why I am in loved and proud of my Nicaraguan culture, and I want to do this through a website where I can sell the many things I enjoyed as a child. 

The technique is not just what I cherish of Nicaragua, but is the representation of my business, and what I want it to be. Being creative is difficult sometimes, and having a visual allows me to visualize my goals. What you see in this technique is my goal for my business, and is something I plan on doing. 

My second strategy of the day is:

"Thinking Fluently"

Thinking Fluently means being open to a variety of thought processes and perceptual patterns. But thinking fluently has steps, and they are as follow; first, we need to defer judgment, second, generate as many ideas as possible, third is record your ideas, and lastly, to elaborate or improve upon those ideas.

Technique for Thinking Fluently is the SCAMPER:

Everything new is some addition or modification of something that already exists.

For this technique I will use the main portion of my business which is Importing Products

•  Can I Substitute something?
  
• Yes, I can substitute the products by purchasing handmade items made in the United States
• 
  
•  Can I Combine it with something?
  
• Yes, I can combine it by importing products from other countries in Central America
• 
  
•  Can I Adapt something to your subject?
• Yes,  include products that are made by low-income artists, and part of the profit will be given to them in order to help them better themselves financially. 
• 
  
•  Can I Magnify or add to it?
  
• Make the business a  non-profit, where the products that will be imported will benefit a child in Nicaragua, and each product will contain a letter of gratitude from the beneficiary. 

•  Can I Modify it or change it in some fashion?
• Instead of importing, hiring Nicaraguan born artists, that are currently residing in United States to make the products. 

•  Can I Put it to some other use?
  
• Import products sent by Nicaraguans to families residing in the U.S.
• 
  
•  Can I Eliminate something from it?
  
• The import of fragile products, such as vases. This will reduce the lost of merchandise through mishandling. 

•  What happens when I Reverse it? 
  
• Export products made in the United States to Nicaragua. They will be targeted for middle and upper middle class. 

The strategy and technique opened my eyes in the direction where I want to  take my business. As an individual who always enjoys helping others, and being part of non-profits, I am interested in adapting a portion of the SCAMPER technique. I would love to work with low-income artists, and create a partnership where I will be selling their products, and a portion of the profit would be given to them. 

Even though I have a profound love for Nicaragua, I am aware of the difficulties people face because of inequality, and the lack of jobs, and giving an artisan the opportunity to make an honest living will not only change my life, but their lives as well. 

Thank You For Reading Today!! Catch You Next Time!!

Best Regards, 

Ana Guevara