Chapter 144: Get Creative

How AI Can Help You Generate Fresh Ideas, Faster

Happy Workflow Wednesday!

Whether you're working on a new campaign, writing a report, or planning your next big thing, brainstorming can be equal parts exciting and exhausting. Some days, ideas flow effortlessly. Other times? Total blank. That’s where AI comes in. AI-powered brainstorming tools are like having a creative partner who’s always ready to throw out fresh ideas, spark new directions, and help you push past mental blocks. If you’re looking to get more out of your brainstorming sessions—solo or with your team—let’s talk about how AI can unlock your next creative breakthrough.

WHY BRAINSTORMING GETS STUCK

Even the most creative minds get stuck sometimes. Maybe you're overwhelmed by too many options. Maybe you're stuck in the same thought patterns. Or maybe you're just tired. Traditional brainstorming techniques can hit a wall when you're working solo or under pressure. AI brainstorming tools provide a fresh perspective, offering suggestions, rephrasing prompts, or remixing ideas in ways you might not have considered. Instead of staring at a blank page, you get momentum—and sometimes, that’s all you need.

TRUE STORY

Meet Dani, a content strategist tasked with pitching new article ideas for her company’s blog. Normally, she’d gather her team and start a whiteboard session. But working remotely and under a tight deadline, she felt stuck and uninspired. Dani turned to an AI brainstorming tool, feeding it a few keywords and asking for angles, questions, and titles. Within minutes, she had a list of creative, on-brand ideas ready to run by her team. The best part? The process sparked new concepts she wouldn’t have come up with on her own.

TOOLS YOU CAN USE

1. ​ChatGPT: Idea Generation Partner: ChatGPT can help you explore new directions by prompting fresh angles, rephrasing questions, or expanding on vague thoughts.
2. ​MindMeister: AI Mind Mapping: Use AI to build and organize ideas visually, making it easier to connect concepts and find unexpected associations.
3. ​Copy.ai: Creative Writing and Content Prompts: Generates blog topics, headlines, brand taglines, and campaign ideas—great for marketers and creators.
4. FigJam AI: Team Brainstorming and Collaboration: Integrated with Figma, FigJam’s AI-powered features help teams ideate and collaborate in real time with smart sticky notes and idea prompts.
5. ​Magical: Rapid Idea Snippets and Brainstorming Templates: Offers fast, AI-generated responses to brainstorming prompts and helps organize your thoughts into shareable formats.

LET'S AI CHAT

You: "I have to come up with a new campaign idea by tomorrow, and I’m totally blanking. Can you help me brainstorm?"

AI: "Of course! Let’s start with what you already know. What’s the campaign about—what’s the goal, who’s the audience, and what kind of tone are you going for?"

You: "It’s a social campaign to promote our new eco-friendly packaging. Audience is Gen Z, and we want it to feel clever, positive, and shareable."

AI: "Got it. How about we start with a few taglines or themes? For example: 'Trash the Trash Talk,' 'Wrap It Up, Sustainably,' or 'Packaging with a Purpose.' Would you like some visual content ideas too?"

You: "Yes! I’d love something that could go viral."

AI: "Alright, how about a TikTok challenge where users show their ‘before and after’—products they switched from non-eco to your packaging—paired with a trending sound? Or a visual quiz: 'Can you guess which of these will biodegrade in 6 months?' I can also help script captions if you want."

You: "This is actually giving me a ton of direction. Can we turn this into a pitch deck outline?"

AI: "Absolutely. Let’s organize the campaign objective, target audience, messaging ideas, content examples, and metrics. I’ll draft the structure—ready?"

You: "Yes, let’s go!"

YOUR TURN

Creativity doesn’t have to come from thin air. With AI by your side, brainstorming becomes less about pressure and more about play. Whether you’re flying solo or ideating with a team, AI tools can help you push past blocks, uncover new perspectives, and bring your best ideas to life. Start with a prompt, follow the flow, and let the tools amplify your thinking. You’re more creative than you think—and AI’s just here to give you that extra spark.

HIT ME UP

What’s your go-to method for brainstorming? Have you used AI tools to generate ideas or unblock your creativity?

Let us know what’s worked (or not!)—we’d love to feature your insights in a future Workflow Wednesday.

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Nikola Harper, Editor, Workflow Wednesdays, 10xYOU​

PS: You can always email me directly at nik@10xyou.us​

PPS: Like newsletters? Here are others you might enjoy.

PPPS: Check out Ben's latest book, Write A Book In One Day. I'm so jealous! I'm working on my own book using some of his techniques. If you are interested in reading a book on getting more productive with AI, let me know. Love to hear what's important to you.

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