A lot of very successful students I know are also recreational drug users. I think most/all outgrow this by the time they reach PhD since you need to sort of think creatively/analytically/critically all the time rather than just in short spurts, but I think a lot of "out of the box" types get started that way. For me personally I never got into it (getting to PhD the hard way?).

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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

Here's another thought while we're brainstorming.
I have always been told that perfectionists have trouble completing a project because they know it won't be perfect and it's preferable (to them) to view it as incomplete than complete and imperfect.
Don't know that to be your case but in my life I've had to consciously and forcefully push forward to the end knowing that with an inexact science (as yours sounds to be) the final product cannot be perfect. I just have to be satisfied that it's the best I got.

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1983 M-B 240D-Gone too.
1976 M-B 300D-Departed.

"Good" is the worst enemy of "Great".

Yes, brainstorming-- Meeting up with people that have similar interests. Clearer your mind the better, booze won't help. LSD could, but it's illegal.

I used get a lot of creative ideas when I'm in the process of getting ready for bed or about to fall asleep. If I didn't write stuff down, I'd usually forget it by morning. If you're the same way, may be worth it to keep a pen and paper by your bed in case you get ideas then too.

I find rubbing one out in the shower to be very therapeutic. It really clears the mind and helps to regain focus.

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1980 300TD-China Blue/Blue MBTex-2nd Owner, 107K (Alt Blau) OBK #15
'06 Chevy Tahoe Z71 (for the wife & 4 kids, current mule) '03 Honda Odyssey (son #1's ride, reluctantly) '99 GMC Suburban (255K+ miles, semi-retired mule) 21' SeaRay Seville (summer escape pod)

pawn it off on a subordinate, then when it all works well, take all the credit...

"Look at me, jerking off in the shower... This will be the high point of my day..."

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-Evan


Benz Fleet:
1968 UNIMOG 404.114
1998 E300
2008 E63


Non-Benz Fleet:
1992 Aerostar
1993 MR2
2000 F250

Read the first two pages of "The elementary mechanisms of Synectics." It's all about giving your mnd an enema where the crazy stuff is the norm

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Strelnik
Invest in America: Buy a Congressman!

1950 170SD
1951 Citroen 11BN
1953 Citroen 11BNF limo
1953 220a project
1959 180D
1960 190D
1960 Borgward Isabella TS 2dr
1983 240D daily driver
1983 380SL
1990 350SDL daily driver alt
3 x Citroen DS21M, down from 5
3 x Citroen 2CV, down from 6

My creative juices for what they are tend to be spontainious in nature. Either available or not depending on so many variables I cannot define them.

Sometimes a challenge of enough merit will activate the process in me as well. I am all too well aware when it is working. Conversly if something is bothering me the ability usually stays dormant. I actually supress creativity to some degree just to enable a normal life as well.

I never tried LSD. Way too scary.

I think drugs don't help the thinking process. You may FEEL yoiu are more creative but that great idea you drew when stoned? ...when you clear up it turns out to be a meaningless rorscharse blob. (What do you see....oh man, it's a beautiful butterfly!)

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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.

That is 100% true. Every idea/solution for the past few years has come to me in the shower. As long as I am thinking of a problem when I get in, a solution comes within moments.

This morning I realized that an implementation issue is one issue I need to resolve, specifically, redundant customer databases.

Last summer I wanted to use a common database for all our customers, regardless of which of three different products/services they were utilizing, each under different brands. Using Toyota/Lexus as a metaphor, a colleague insisted that it would be confusing for Lexus customers to be redirected to a Toyota web page (even though it is the same company). I agreed and we created a second database for customers subscribing to our second service.

This morning (in the shower) I realized that, rather than build a separate database, to instead have the users submit, and carry forward through the process, a data flag unique to the specific service they are subscribed to when they access their data records. This flag/widget would tell the database script to display web pages with the specific brand’s design elements, while accessing a common data file.

So, that’s one major problem that just became minor.

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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

I am bored with inactivity. But I won't move until problems that I know will trip me up later are not addressed now.

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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

Wow this thread sure devolved fast.....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIvmXTlgi6I


Hmm, so marketing. What is the process? Someone brings you an idea and you have to come up with a plan to market it?

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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."

That's me.

I want internal, consistent perfection but external flexibility to adapt to changing needss and environments. For example with the database example I cited above.

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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 definitely am looking for two or three "elves" to help implement my blueprint. I am a good "architect" but once the design is done I have no interest in building it. That is best left to others.

__________________
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