Imagine this. You’ve been asked to draw a picture of your favourite plant.

You’re given 100 different coloured pencils.

You sit down to draw the picture; but you don’t start, because there are 100 colours and you’re not sure which to use first.

Instead, you build your boundaries; you give yourself 1 hour to complete the picture; you decide to use only green and brown and black pencils; you establish the picture will be outlines of the plant, with no shading.

Congratulations, you’ve started your picture.

Boundaries help you think.

Boundaries help you be creative.

Next time you’re struggling with a creative problem, try this:

—  Create a deadline.
—  Establish a restriction.
—  Decide on a direction.
—  START.