Brainstorming Ten Ideas

Do you know who James Altucher is?

Among other things he is quintessential salesman. He snookered me out of a healthy chunk of money for training programs that I was not ready for and should never have bought, especially on credit. Live and Learn

He is however a very interesting person. A hugely successful business man, investor, author, stand-up comedian, chess player, and sometimes a very wacky progressive thinker.

In his book, "Choosing Yourself" which I have on Audio has some really good ideas.

Ten Ideas Every Day

Among them is a recommendation for "ten Ideas every day" unqualified ideas on any subject, for any reason, for anyone. Especially yourself. But the idea is that it trains your brain to think and be creative. Whether or not they are used by you or anyone else, he says. there will inevitably be a few good ones among all the obvious throwaways.

For example my 10 ways to fix America. A flat tax, Repeal the 17th Amendment, Return to the gold standard. Legislate a cap on consumer interest rates. Limit Corporate money into Campaign donations. Term Limits for Congress, Do not allow entries into the congressional record that do not happen on the floor. Do not allow riders to legislation added after a bill is passed. Abolish the separate retirement plan for members of Congress. Require a majority ratification by congress for Executive Orders.

Ok, I realize all of those have volumes of books written on the subject. They all have "argument" points pro and con, and I'm not proposing a debate here. The point is, as an example, I had to think really hard to come up with that list.

Altucher says you can, and should, do that with anything, with something. Every day. On a write and toss scrap of paper you carry in your pocket just to keep your brain sharp. 10 Ideas for your neighbor, 10 things Trump should do. 10 Things Trump should not do. 10 Things I hope no one ever finds out. 10 things I wish everybody knew. 10 Things I want to invent... 10 books I want to read. 10 Things I would never buy. 10 things I want. Oh and don't forget, 10 Things I need to do. Today.

So there's another list of 10 things.

Obviously you can't really do that exercise if you spend too much time, or any time for that matter trying to pre-qualify them. Sometimes the crazy ones, or funny ones, might end up being the impetus for something useful, or hey, even life changing.

Besides, I've noticed it;s a lot easier to have good ideas for someone else. No? Like people with no children always have the best ideas about how you should raise your half dozen.

Ok, here is your assignment.

Write this list for yourself. You might even come up with a few really good ones.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!