What with writing blogs, podcasts, internal newsletter columns, and agency promotional copy, I’ve been saying a lot lately: “I need an idea.”

Here’s a technique I use when I’m stumped. I call it “metaphor.”

Here’s how it works. State your problem. Say you’re trying to come up with ideas to improve your marriage. (If you’re reading this, Marsha, don’t worry, it’s just an example). Next, spy any object—say a pencil. Then simply apply the characteristics of the inanimate object—in this case the pencil—to your problem, thereby improving your marriage.

Here’s the way your internal dialogue might go:

“Wow, is this a stupid exercise.”

“Hey, don’t be so negative. Give it a try.”

“Fine. Okay. What characteristics does a pencil have?”

“Well, it’s pointy”.

“Applying that characteristic to my problem . . . let’s see. . . well, I could get to the point faster. That would help.”

“Good. What other characteristics does a pencil have?”

“It’s got an eraser . . . I can erase all the mistakes that were made . . . forgive and forget!”

“It’ll break if I bend it too much . . . better not put too much pressure on the marriage or it could break.”

“This pencil has a number 2 on it. . . I should put her needs first and make myself number two.”

And so on. You’ve just generated four ideas to improve your marriage.

One of the keys to creativity is stimulation. In his book “Jump Start Your Brain” author Doug Hall cites research that claims focus groups who are given toys or other objects to stimulate their thinking come up with 500% more new product ideas than those who are simply asked to generate ideas without stimulation.

Try it. You might just save your marriage!