Machines do not, at least do not yet, have ideas.
Ideas come from people, they are social things, emerging from social situations.
We often find technical solutions to problems, but are they ideas?
It seems to me that they are more the progressive peeling of the onion, until you get to the core when a solution presents. By contrast, ideas do not come from the onion, rather, they come from seeing the onion in some sort of new context that delivers a new and unexpected outcome, not connected to the original.
Research demonstrates that men are more likely to show up on the autism spectrum than women, the ratio being about 4:1.
On the other hand, women are more social than men, their brains are more likely to ‘see’ things from the perspective of others. Empathy in the jargon.
This is consistent with my observation over the years that women are better marketers than men, in terms of the idea generation, but less likely to implement to a plan without deviation. A gross generality, proven often in my experience by the numerous exceptions.
It is just more likely that women will come up with something from ‘left field’, a connection of seemingly unconnected items, than men.
However, the lesson is that ideas have a genesis in social interaction, curiosity about others, and emotive understanding of a different perspective. The more interaction there is, the more fertile the ground from which ideas emerge.
Idea farming is not dissimilar to any other sort of farming. Both require prepared and fertile ground, a willingness to take on some risk, local knowledge, technical expertise, lots of feedback, and appropriate catalysts.
Then comes the more mechanical process of implementation.
None of this is easy. If it was, everybody would be doing it. When you need to add a bit of experience and ‘idea farming;’ expertise, let me know, I just may be the catalyst you need.
