It's been about 2 months and I have not been able to get my creative wheels turning for two projects I am working on. Before the holidays I was an idea factory, but now, nothing.

What do you all do to get your mojo back? Brainstorm with others? Meditate? What?

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2008 E350 4matic / Black/Anthracite

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Gone but not Forgotten:
2001 E430 4matic, 206,xxx miles, Black/Charcoal
1995 E320, 252,xxx miles, Black/Grey
1989 260E, 223,00 miles, Black/Black

Drugs and alcohol used to work for people I know.

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01 Ford Excursion Powerstroke
99 E300 Turbodiesel
91 Vette with 383 motor
05 Polaris Sportsman 800 EFI
06 Polaris Sportsman 500 EFI
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Red
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Yellow
04 Tailgator 21 ft Toy Hauler
11 Harley Davidson 883 SuperLow

Revisit your ideas to date on the projects. Sparks have to begin somewhere....

The projects are done as far as the development goes (been working on them for 2 years). It's a marketing initiative now and probably not as much a creative issue as "How to Proceed" now issue.

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2008 E350 4matic / Black/Anthracite

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Gone but not Forgotten:
2001 E430 4matic, 206,xxx miles, Black/Charcoal
1995 E320, 252,xxx miles, Black/Grey
1989 260E, 223,00 miles, Black/Black

Night out on the town, bar to bar. Bring a pencil and pad. Seriously, you wouldn't believe how many good papers have come out of that method...

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TC
Current stable:
- 2004 Mazda RALLYWANKEL
- 2007 Saturn sky redline
- 2004 Explorer...under surgery.

Past: 135i, GTI, 300E, 300SD, 300SD, Stealth

What sort of projects are they?

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1982 300GD Carmine Red (DB3535) Cabriolet Parting Out
1990 300SEL Smoke Silver (Parting out)
1991 350SDL Blackberry Metallic (481)

"The thing is Bob, its not that I'm lazy...its that I just don't care."

I don't do creative.

Maybe try getting high?

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Has this happened before?

Sudden rush of ideas in a short period and then nothing for a much longer one?

If so that's an indication that you go at it too hard in the productive periods and you need to take a rest!

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1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!

an impending deadline always helps.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

@tbomachines: Night out on the town, bar to bar. Bring a pencil and pad. Seriously, you wouldn't believe how many good papers have come out of that method.. |
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I do coffee shops and it helps but I keep regurgitating the same old stuff.


@Fulcrum: What sort of projects are they?
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One is a very localized retailer daily deal advertising product. Developed and successfully tested w/merchants last year. Now preparing for a larger marketing push. The other is, again, a localized matchmaking service that actually meets and verifies every member. The web technicals are done; some trial members are online; the pitch to additional members is what’s being developed.


Hatterasguy: Maybe try getting high?
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Cannabis is proven to be a creativity booster. Just ask Sean Paul, Shaggy, Snoop Dogg, etc. But seriously, I did a project with a local high school class about 10 years ago where they had to come up with a marketing plan for an electronic currency. All the kids did good work but one was especially on the mark, to ythe point, and even humorous. The teacher later told me he was a stoner. I told her his brilliant work made me want to go out and get high right then.

@Army: Sudden rush of ideas in a short period and then nothing for a much longer one? If so that's an indication that you go at it too hard in the productive periods and you need to take a rest!
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I’ve been resting for 2 months. But it is possible I simply have run out of ideas, have everything I need, and simply need to assemble them into something workable.


@t walgamuth: an impending deadline always helps.
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Interesting you should say that. A contract assignment I am working on will expire in May and renewal, I discovered, yesterday, I is unlikely. There is my deadline.

__________________
2008 E350 4matic / Black/Anthracite

------------------------------------
Gone but not Forgotten:
2001 E430 4matic, 206,xxx miles, Black/Charcoal
1995 E320, 252,xxx miles, Black/Grey
1989 260E, 223,00 miles, Black/Black

I once attended an all day sale seminar in Long Beach, CA. The motivational speaker said something I've never forgotten: I hear people say; "I do my best work under the pressure of a time deadline." The fact is; "you do your ONLY work when under pressure."

sit down with 5 pieces of paper and a pencil. draw, no matter how bad, 5 concepts. if you can only think of 2 or three, draw 5 anyway no matter how crazy. the crazy ones will spark a not so crazy idea and lead you down a different path, the first few are just to get the run of the mill ideas out of your head

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1982 300CD Turbo (Otis, "ups & downs") parts for sale
2003 TJ with Hemi (to go anywhere, quickly) sold
2001 Excursion Powerstroke (to go dependably)
1970 Mustang 428SCJ (to go fast)
1962 Corvette LS1 (to go in style)
2001 Schwinn Grape Krate 10spd (if all else fails)

As crazy as it sounds, I get a lot on inspiration in the shower. I've come up with many creative solutions and inventions that way. I don't think you can just "invoke" creativity because I find that I have to be totally thinking about something else when inspiration comes.

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-Evan


Benz Fleet:
1968 UNIMOG 404.114
1998 E300
2008 E63


Non-Benz Fleet:
1992 Aerostar
1993 MR2
2000 F250

We used to say 'Throw it out there and see what sticks'.

Try and find a group of people who have been in your shoes and discover what they threw and what stuck.

See if there is a group in your area known as SCORE, the Service Corp of Retired Executives. Their service is free, and they have all been there and done that.

Are you just a little bored with it all?

It sounds that way to me - no offense meant!

__________________
1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!