How I get new ideas

Twitter was my main tool for finding new ideas in October 2010. A reader asked where I browsed, and I explained how other people’s links and views could spark my own thinking.

Twitter inspiration from people I followed

First, I found people I admired or thought had interesting opinions. Then I looked at whom they followed.

That was particularly useful when they’d chosen contacts out of genuine interest. If someone followed everyone back, the list was less helpful for finding relevant things.

I mixed different sources

I followed people, media outlets and technology magazines. I was interested in e-commerce and technology, among other things, but also wanted views that could challenge my own ideas.

I opened links that interested me and shared some onwards. I used it a bit like reading a newspaper over coffee.

I saved longer stories for later

When something needed more time or a bigger screen, I sent it to myself and read on at the office. It might be a long article, pictures or a presentation.

That’s my working method from 2010, when the service was called Twitter. My point was to choose sources thoughtfully and make room for inspiration; the description of buttons and features is from back then.

Also read about keeping up with new technology.

My original profile reference from 2010: Thorborg on Twitter.

Historical project reference from 2010: Amino’s exchange rates page.

I thought Twitter was idiotic at first too

A guy wrote asking where I browsed when spending a few hours online looking for inspiration. It’s a good question. I do it because other people’s ideas and perspectives spark my own thinking. I might pick up an idea or improve one of my own concepts. I share my experiences of turning ideas into businesses in Iværksætter til jeg dør.

My best tool for that is Twitter. But if you’re thinking you’ve tried it and it’s idiotic, I actually felt the same at first. That changed when I found a way to use it that made sense to me.

Start with people you already find interesting

I found Richard Branson and Gary Vaynerchuk, among others. I also found good Danish voices and other people I admired or thought had interesting opinions.

Then I looked at whom they followed. Sometimes you’re disappointed. A big brand may follow everyone back, and then the list doesn’t tell you much about who’s actually interesting.

I only follow people I’m interested in myself. My list is public. If you’re interested in e-commerce, technology and some of the same things as me, you can start by looking at whom I follow on my Thorborg profile.

Then go a step further and see whom those people follow. You can easily spend an entire evening on that.

Spend a few hours finding your sources

My suggestion in the video is to spend three or four hours gradually exploring different profiles. Perhaps find two, three or four hundred accounts you think are interesting.

They don’t only have to be individuals. I also follow Wired and Danish media such as Børsen, Berlingske, Jyllands-Posten, EPN, Politiken and Information. I have lots of different sources.

Then I look at what they post and follow links that grab me. I retweet some. So if you follow me, you also get some of the links I think are great.

Much of the inspiration for what I come up with arrives through Twitter that way. The tweet itself is often just the route to an interesting idea elsewhere.

A coffee, my iPhone and some thinking time

I often use Twitter on my iPhone. At lunchtime or over coffee, I put my feet up and read at leisure, much as I’d read a newspaper.

If I find something I want to spend more time on, I email myself the tweet. When I return to the office and open my inbox, a couple of links are waiting to explore.

That’s practical for reading a big story, viewing beautiful pictures or looking at a PowerPoint presentation or PDF. Then I can use the computer instead of trying to get everything from the phone’s screen.

It’s one way I keep up with what’s happening and stay informed about good ideas. It isn’t more complicated than finding interesting people and giving yourself time to see what they share. The idea is free. Enjoy.

Best wishes, Martin