Forget about an idea marathon.

If you're like most people, you do your creative thinking in bits and spurts. When you need ideas, you jump right into thinking about it, and go as hard as you can for as long as you can.

In the end, you end up with a bunch of ideas--and then get to sit back and relax.  At least until you need to be creative again.  Then the cycle repeats itself.

There's nothing wrong with that.  It's fast, it's fun and it's easy.

Idea sprints are fabulous.  Nothing can beat the rush of having tons of ideas exploding so quickly into being!

Idea marathons, however, aren't so great...

Not long ago, I wrote about how committing to coming up with 100 ideas for a single challenge in one sitting is probably one of the most painful mental exercises you can do.  Completing that list definitely isn't something that you can just do on a whim. 

Making a list of 100 is no flash of brilliance, it's a test of sheer will.  A challenge to see if you can keep putting one foot in front of the other for as long as it takes.  It is a marathon.

"But wait!" You're probably asking about now.  "Wasn't the marathon created to honor a Greek hero who died after running that distance?"

It sure was! 

Lucky for all of you though, I've recently reconsidered my support for an idea marathon.

I now recommend that everyone does a idea ultra-marathon!

You can thank Ben Casnocha for this, by the way.  He pointed me to an interview in Runners' World with a man who has been running ultra-marathons for 25 years.

Tim Twietmeyer, who has won the grueling 100 mile Western States Endurance Run five times, confesses that running a 50 mile race takes 3 times the effort of a 26 mile race.  And he says a 100 mile race takes 3 times the effort of a 50 mile race.

I'd say this holds true for coming up with ideas too.  That 25th idea will come a lot quicker than your 50th idea... and those last ideas will definitely be a struggle.

But Tim and many other ultra-marathoners agree that a 100 mile race can actually be easier on their bodies than a regular marathon.

Why's that?  Because in a marathon, runners go at a constant pace on pavement for around 4 hours.  That's really tough on their bodies.

In an ultra-marathon though, runners change it up.  They vary their pace--sometimes even walking a bit, they stop at aid stations to refill water bottles, they eat. 

The course frequently goes over varied terrain... even up and down hills!  All those things help by requiring different muscles to move into play--which is huge.

Idea ultra-marathons are easier in the same way.  If you're simply focusing completely on coming up with ideas for a challenge, you'll get exhausted pretty quickly.

What you need to do is to consciously change it up.

Do some fast bursts of brainstorming to see what ideas pop into your head.  Then squeeze some additional ideas out.  Then try a creativity exercise or two to jump-start your brain again.

If you need to, take a short break.  Don't start something else, but give your mind a little time to recover.

And just like the ultra-marathoners, you'll be in bad shape if you don't give yourself time to eat and stay hydrated.

Changing it up is the key.  You'll gain nothing by forcing your brain full speed ahead into exhaustion.   By varying the intensity and the focus, however, you'll come up with ideas a lot easier, and won't be brain-dead when you're done.

That doesn't mean it's easy.  It's still an ultra-marathon!  But it can definitely be done.

So, anyone want to get started?

Comments

[James Todhunter]

Good observations, Katie. I posted some commentary on this piece on InnovatingToWin.com. Let me know what you think. Join the Innovating To Win community when you visit.

[Josh Schroeder]

Hi Katie,

Have you read Jump Start Your Brain by Doug Hall?