what exactly can i do to have a more creative perception? is it just the process of letting the idea incubate and try to think of it differently or is there something else that i ought to consider when stretching my creative limits?

one thing i would suggest (and this article is such a huge generalization but more to come soon) is to simply take basic components of your everyday routine and try to do them differently. evaluate your current situation and notice if it's really working for you or if it's that way because you are used to it.

some people might be born and raised in the same city their entire life and find that moving to another region or even just traveling outside of their home brings them a more enriched way of thinking. or maybe you have roast and potatoes every single sunday for the past year and its time for a new dish to shake things up a bit. :) little by little, tiny changes can snowball into a bigger change.

I have found that one of the main reasons that I am somewhat creative (in my opinion) is because it is intrinsic for me to question the norm. I naturally question why things are the way that they are. This has helped me in my profession because coming up with innovative ideas and solutions comes without having to sit down and decide to think up a great new idea. I find people that demonstrate this trait very appealing to associate with because they live deliberately. They don't follow the beaten path just because it is in front of them. And often they come up with great ideas that inspire me to give birth to a great idea of my own.
I have also found that creating analogous relationships is a great way to increase creativity. Use other ideas, solutions, art, or literature, (or anything that seemingly has nothing to do with your project) and make connective comparisons to what you are working on. I think the vigorous collection of info and incubation that Jenny mentions above is crucial. Here is one quick example:
I was put in charge of designing a four-story atrium that needed multiple freestanding columns to support the roof. I studied animal bone structures in order to understand how they support the other systems of the body. Once I have obtained an “elementary� understanding of the bone structure, I used that understanding through analogy to innovate the way I designed the structure of the atrium. The comparative relationship helped me develop an innovative structural system that created an inspiring space. This would have been difficult for me to think of initially. I am sure this can be done with anything from - creating art - to starting a business - to the way you wash your car. Has anyone read any good books about exteremely creative people? I would like to learn more on how other people extract creativity.

brian~i love your example! it's exactly what i mean when i say to myself, "use your resources" drawing on what i already know and letting that information cross over into other fields or areas in my life...that's brilliant! and i must say, very leonardo da vinci of you to connect bone structure and architecture in that way.

i will have to go through my own collection of books and write up some reviews, or post a list on here if you are looking for some good creative reads.

and seth, that link is perfect for generating business ideas!

benreedjohnson

Get some attributes or characteristics of a business you are interested in...lets say a shoe repair shop for example. List them (this will be rudimentary)
1) Located in an old barn
2) Only repairs on boots
3) Has two employees
4) Markets in newspaper
5) etc.

Then change the attributes to something original that may work better or that fits your personality or style.
1) Move location to a strip mall
2) Repairs all shoes and has orthotics
3) Hire 4 employees (all family for tax breaks)
4)etc.

This is another way to make something better. The very first thing I said when the iPod came out was...when can I put movies on it...I didn't have the resources and I figured they would eventually come out with one, but you get the idea!

A real life example:
What do you expect in a salon? Some nice lady to greet you, make an appointment and cut your hair. Here in Salt Lake another place took it to the extreme. It's called bikini cuts. You get where this is going. They are quickly spreading all acroos Utah and I'll bet they enter your town in the next decade. The waiting room is filled with massage chairs and big screen TV's. They definately cater to the male gender. No, I haven't been, nor will I ever (the whole topic is another can of ethical worms). It's used as an example. Maybe the shoes store will cater only to athletes or whatever, just another way to think about it!

benreedjohnson
I got it from a book called "The Brain Jogger". It's an old book from 1986. It has a whole list of stuff you can doto become a more creative thinker. Maybe someday I'll write a worthy blog about the methodology presented therein.