Successful real estate tycoon Donald Trump shared some of his innovative process in a recent Entrepreneur magazine article:
Sometimes I ask myself, “What else can I include in my thought process to make it more comprehensive? Is there anything I can add that might enhance the project or idea I’ve got spinning around in my head? Many times, I will tell myself that something isn’t quite right yet, because that automatically opens the door for more ideas to enter. I ask myself, “What am I not seeing? What else is possible? Sometimes the answers wind up being innovative ideas. It’s not necessarily some secret process, but it is a process, and it requires concentration.
Closing your mind after your initial idea leaves too many good options still on the table. Keeping an open mind and asking questions has certainly worked for Donald Trump. Question your decision or idea. Will it hold up over time? Is it absolutely as good as it can be?
Don’t close yourself off to good ideas that may be right in front of you. Even after you have made a decision, stay flexible because inspiration may strike and give you a reason to change your decision.