“Spiderman, Spiderman, does whatever a spider can. Spins a web any size, catches ideas just like flies.” GUY WEBSTER (with A slight alteration)
Try this the next time you have a task to complete or a problem to solve. It’s a technique for quickly collecting ideas and organizing them, called Idea Webbing. It’s a cross between brainstorming and mind-mapping. Just as Spider-Man transverses a forest of towering skyscrapers by rapidly shooting webs from building to building, you’ll be firing out webs of ideas that can be researched and acted upon later.
After establishing your objective and jotting it down, begin spinning a web of related topics to be researched. Along the way, tack on options and/or details to each topic. In the following example, you are trying to decide whether or not to buy a dog. Items requiring further research might include the cost of a backyard fence, the best breed of dog to buy, grooming requirements, ongoing expenses, etc.
Once completed, start working your way around the web, collecting information on each topic. In the end, you’ll confidently make an informed decision. And, perhaps, save the day!
Adapted from Jumpstart Your Creativity by Shawn Doyle and Steven Rowell