Imagination Is Your Real Workshop: How New Results Start by Rearranging Old Ideas

Every breakthrough we celebrate—from the basic can opener to world-changing apps—started with an act of imagination. But not always the mysterious, 'lightning-bolt' sort. Most often, it’s the quiet, practical rearranging of old ideas in new ways.

Think of synthetic imagination as a DIY kit where you remix what you know or observe. It’s how a nurse invents a better way of tracking patient symptoms, gluing together techniques from two previous jobs. Also, when a teen DJ mashes up tracks from different genres for a fresh sound at a school dance. This isn’t the exclusive domain of legendary inventors—it’s repeatable for anyone willing to combine and adapt.

The trick isn’t waiting for inspiration, but making space to play with patterns until something clicks. Behavioral scientists call this “combinatorial creativity,” and it’s what powers progress everywhere from classrooms to boardrooms. Recording your ideas, doodling connection maps, and setting time to synthesize old materials can transform dusty knowledge into new results. Mastering synthetic imagination gives you a practical edge in everything you pursue.

Pick that problem or goal you keep circling back to. Spend 20 minutes gathering a few related things—maybe it’s that to-do list, some helpful notes, or tools you liked using last time. Give yourself permission to rearrange them however you want, mashing together steps or adding a twist. Aim for strange combinations, because sometimes that’s exactly where the best new ideas are born. Try it once this week and see how a fresh approach can emerge from what you already know.