Ideas and tips

6 Tips to Generate Outstanding Ideas

What’s the secret creative geniuses share to come up with their remarkable ideas?

Even though idea generation may look like a somewhat mysterious and random process, there is a practical, simple lesson we can all apply to increase our chances of having great ideas.

Connections, Connections, Connections

Everybody wants to have great ideas, but have you ever wondered what an idea is?

If you haven’t, take a few moments to think about it. The answer is probably simpler than you initially thought: ideas are connections.

Any idea, no matter how trivial, is an association between previous, established ideas. These connections happen in our minds all the time – often spontaneously and below our level of awareness.

Another interesting characteristic of these connections is that you can’t predict anything about them beforehand. Many times, ideas are formed by associating two completely unrelated concepts, and in unexpected or unusual ways. To create the movable type, Gutenberg connected the idea of the wine press and the coin stamp. To create the concept of a mass-circulation newspaper, Joseph Pulitzer combined large-scale advertising with high-speed printing. Great ideas may even seem to be random at times – but that doesn’t mean that there’s nothing you can do to develop them.

Creativity and Productivity

Because of the randomness in idea generation, having great ideas is not a task that can be approached directly. The only way to increase the likelihood of having great ideas is to increase the amount of ideas that you have at your disposal to form connections. Ideas, no matter how simple, are the raw materials for higher-level ideas. The more ideas you have, the more material your mind will have to associate and generate a good one. Nobel prize-winner Linus Pauling summarized this effective strategy in a single sentence:

The best way to have a good idea is to have lots of ideas.

Being prolific, then, is the key to have great ideas. In creativity matters, there’s no tradeoff between quantity and quality: it is only through quantity that you get quality.

We should abandon the myth of the genius that only has great ideas. It seems that every piece of work created by a genius is brilliant, but that happens because only their greatest creations get any publicity at all. The truth is that they could never have generated such brilliant creations without being tremendously productive. Consider these examples:

• Einstein is famous for his theory of relativity, but he published 248 other papers.
• Bach wrote a cantata every week, even when ill or fatigued.
• Mozart produced more than 600 musical works.
• Thomas Edison held nothing less than 1093 patents. Imagine, then the amount of his non-patented work…

Another interesting fact about breakthrough ideas is that their quality is completely unrelated to the quality of other ideas by the same person. As a matter of fact, if you look at many geniuses’ most prolific periods, you’ll find a common pattern: it was exactly when they produced their masterpieces that they also produced their greatest failures.

Great innovators, then, don’t seem to care about having remarkable ideas: all they care about is having ideas – any ideas, lots and lots of them, anywhere and at anytime.

How to Have Tons of Ideas

If the best way to get quality ideas is by creating them from a vast pool of ideas, then our job is to have as many ideas as possible. Here are six tips that can help you develop an “idea abundance” mindset:

1. Expect to Have Ideas

The first step is to get rid of common beliefs such as “I’m not a creative person”. Drop any preconceived notions that ideas are reserved just for a privileged few. That’s often enough to have ideas start coming to you.

2. Welcome Dumb Ideas, or Any Ideas for That Matter

Your focus should never be on having great ideas. Always strive for quantity. Most people don’t ever try having ideas because they’re socially afraid to have their ideas labeled as “stupid” or “dumb”. Get over it: your ideas that are regarded as dumb today may be the foundation for a groundbreaking idea tomorrow. And when you eventually have such an idea, nobody will remember your less successful ones. (And on the matter of being afraid to show your ideas, keep in mind that teasing is a disguised form of shaming, of others trying to throw you off balance.)

3. Expose Yourself to New Experiences

Your senses capture the basic information that your mind uses to generate associations. The more you expose yourself to different situations, people and places, the more fuel you will give to your mind to make connections. Learn to welcome variety in your life: travel, try out new foods, read magazines you usually don’t. Just don’t be afraid of doing things differently.

4. Capture Ideas Immediately

Get in the habit of capturing all your ideas. Use a paper notebook, PDA or voice recorder. It doesn’t matter how you capture them, just make sure that you carry your idea capturing tool everywhere you go. If you don’t capture your ideas the minute they come up, it’s guaranteed you’ll forget most of them – even worse, you won’t even be aware that you had ideas in the first place. Also, each time your mind notices you’re paying attention to its ideas, it rewards you with more ideas.

5. Be Thankful for Ideas

Every time you have an idea – any idea – be thankful for it. By developing this habit, you create an additional positive reinforcement that works as a “pat on the back” of your mind, encouraging it to produce even more ideas.

6. Realize that Ideas Come in Bursts

It’s perfectly normal to go through several days and not having one single idea. But then, suddenly, ideas will come to you one after another, just like a surging river. Sometimes, the ideas will come so quickly you’ll barely have time to write them all down. Don’t worry about the natural slow times, but make sure that you take full advantage of those idea bursts when they come.

Related Posts

21 Unique Tip Jar Ideas + Advice on Getting More Tips

Good tips can have a significant impact on a worker's take-home pay, making them happier and less likely to quit. They're an essential part of how people get paid in the service industry.

A rise in third-party ordering and delivery coupled with mobile ordering and contactless pickup means fewer and fewer guests are even making their way to a counter where they can consider leaving a tip. And for those who do show up in-person at a quick-serve restaurant, they're paying in cash less than one-third of the time.

Here's a comprehensive list of creative tip jar ideas, examples, and best practices to try out in your restaurant, coffee shop, or food truck.

Table of Contents

• Cash Tip Jar Ideas
• Digital Tip Jar Ideas
• How to Increase Tips
• Video Version

Cash Tip Jar Ideas

Cash tip jars don't require any credit card reconciliation or POS taps - just a split of the funds among all eligible staff at the end of the shift. Which could be done manually or with tip pooling software. And even with a rise in mobile payments, the tip jar is still a mainstay.

Here are a few ideas to catch someone's eye when they're placing their order or picking it up from the counter.

Make them laugh

Funny tip jars might initially catch a patron off guard, but they can break down the perceived barrier between the front and back of the counter and add a personal touch to a guest's experience.

One way to get a laugh (and a tip) out of your guests is with references and plays on pop culture imagery.

It also never hurts to use a pun—like this one from La Cañada Imports pizzeria.

But the laughs don’t stop there. Even something as simple as an image in place of a word can be effective. In this example for Lucky Perk Coffee, replacing “must ask” with a drawing of a mustache works as well.

Create a poll or question

This or that?

The idea of a poll-based tip jar is to actually put out two tip jars (or place a divider in a large one). Ideally, strong-willed guests will “vote” with their dollars.

One way to tap into this idea is to focus on a pressing pop culture subject, like how the Starbucks location featured in the below viral TikTok video posed the now-moot question: Team Pete or Team Ye? With constant online chatter about the debate, it seemed like everyone and their mother had an opinion.

Beyond timely, eye-catching debates—there are a few pop culture debates that never seem to end. Look to popular film and TV franchises to get people excited.

This example from Tumalo Coffeehouse pits Star Wars fans against Trekkies.

More poll or question tip jar examples

More of a fantasy fan? Look to Harry Potter or the Lord of the Rings. And when it seems like theres a new movie every month, you can't go wrong with superheroes.

And if you're near a stadium or in a sports town, find out where allegiances lie. New York Yankees or Mets, USC or UCLA, Cubs or White Sox—people tend to get fired up about their teams.

Just be sure to stay lighthearted enough to not ruffle feathers. Sports, movies, and pop culture are a safe bet. An innocent example of chicken versus the egg is another idea to consider.

The Great Consequence

What's the worst that can happen if someone doesn't tip?

Now, before you jump into something too drastic, remember the sentiment should be lighthearted and comical — something that will grab a customer's attention and get them to act.

Take, for example, this gentle reminder (pictured below) that every time someone doesn't tip, a child gets a mullet. Billing something comical as tragic to get more tips can prove effective.

Another “tip or else” example is this one, where a toy fish resembling a beloved Pixar character is caught in a tip jar that looks like a fish tank and can only survive by “swimming” in money. The visual of the giant fish inside the tip jar is enough to capture attention — the message should do wonders in securing the tip.

Appeal to Vanity

People love to feel good about themselves, and while some people relish in the natural selflessness of leaving a little something extra in the jar, others need a bit more of an incentive.

This is where appealing to vanity comes in. It’s a way to increase gratuities with over-the-top, preemptive compliments about a customer’s looks, taste, or intelligence. In this example, guests are prompted to leave a tip from $1-$10 to correspond with how attractive they see themselves.

Another option, like this example, is to just serve up kind words for those generous enough to leave a tip and make them feel good about themselves for doing so.

Tips for a Cause

Everyone loves to support a good cause. Combine the real impact tips have on workers with a hint of comedy, and tips could start to roll in.

Maybe it's in support of one of your staff's vices — messaging like “caffeine fund” (like in the example below) makes the act of tipping more personal. Or it could be in service of fundraising for a local charity.

If your counter staff is composed of younger faces, it's beneficial to make the jar a “college fund” — especially if these workers have been employed for a while and regulars want to support them on their way out. Bonus points if you have the workers list out which colleges they're going to, as anyone who shares the alma mater may be inclined to support further.

Memorable Quotes

You've likely heard the phrase “money is the root of all evil” — and so have the people who came up with this idea.

Quotes about karma, generosity, service, paying it forward, etc. make for some of the best tip jar ideas. It could just be the quote, the inspiration, or the reference someone needs to help them make it through their day and contribute a tip. It also can remind guests of the positive, real-life effects of leaving a tip.

Digital Tip Jar Ideas

Sometimes even the most generous customers who would love to leave a tip don't carry cash. Luckily there are many options for restaurants to make digital tips possible.

POS Connected Tipping

Many restaurant POS systems come with an option to increase tips through a guest-facing screen with a tip option. Guests will be presented with a touchscreen to sign for their purchase, and in the process, be prompted with an option to tip. Setting up this screen to have pre-selected tip percentages (10%, 20%, custom %, etc.) or amounts ($1, $2, custom amount, etc.) makes a tip a simple tap away.

Guest-facing technology comes in one of two ways. First is a fixed screen that always faces the guest, like Toast Flex.

The other option is to use just one terminal and swivel or rotate the order screen to the guest, similar to the example from Square below.

Tap & Tip Digital Tip Jar

An alternative to POS tipping is a tap-and-tip digital tip jar. These options use credit card or mobile pay readers to accept tips in lieu of cash. However, unlike the guest-facing screen on a POS, this hardware stays in one place and isn't literally placed in front of guests while they're closing out. This puts less pressure on guests to tip, but still gives them an opportunity to do so digitally.

One option, the DipJar, is a credit card terminal you can place right by the cash register. Customers who would like to tip but don't have the cash to do so can simply “dip” their credit cards into the machine to add a dollar to the virtual tip cup.

Another option is the Tap to Tip from TiPJAR, which accepts mobile pay or credit card taps. Tip amounts can be customized, while the device's screen contains information about where tips go and how to tip.

App-Based Tip Jar Ideas

With more than 70 million users, Venmo is one of the most popular ways for people to exchange funds. Apps like Venmo open up a new realm of digital tipping options, as guests can simply take out their phone to leave a tip.

This option is great for individuals who pay via mobile app, show up to the restaurant to pick up their food, then see the venmo tag. Other app-based tipping options include Cash App or PayPal.

You can use something like a Venmo sticker for a DIY virtual tip jar. Post it on social media too, so loyal customers can find it.

Alternatively, each worker can get their own sticker from the restaurant to use during their shifts — wearing it on their name tag or placing it near their register.

Lastly, if your restaurant has its own mobile ordering app, remember to include a tipping option upon checkout. For diners who quickly come and go during their lunch hour, they simply may not see a tip jar — virtual or otherwise. Customers having the option to tip when ordering also helps allow anyone who's willing to tip to do so.

Recommended Reading: Tip Pooling Tools to Easily Manage Tips at Your Restaurant

QR Code Connected Online Tip Ideas

Not only do not all Americans carry cash — some don't even carry credit cards. With app prepays and mobile wallets guests can enter and leave a restaurant without opening their physical wallet.

However, to access these apps, customers need to have their phones on them, and this reality makes tipping a possibility once more. How? Through QR codes.

This first example is to have a sign or stand with codes, either to complement or replace a traditional tip jar. These signs can be printed and stationed throughout the restaurant, making promoting and collecting tips simple.

The other option is to physically print or draw a QR code and tape it to a typical mason jar, so that it looks something like the jar drawn in this example below.

How to Increase Tips

As much influence as quotes, pictures, or QR codes can have on tips, there are other ways your staff can work towards higher gratuities. Clever messaging, suggestive selling, and an intelligent use of technology can help tip amounts (and frequency) increase—meaning extra money in your staff's pocket.

Here are a few ideas to try in your restaurant to increase tips.

Tippy tries on a new shirt. Read more Adventures of Tippy comics.

Use Specific Messaging

Specific messaging prompts that make tipping seem more like the norm can help up gratuity amounts.

For example, on POS screens, having a tip prompt that asks a tip-related question in a more instructive way might be able to up tips.

Asking “what tip would you like to leave the staff today?” instead of “would you like to leave a tip?” changes the framing of the question. Instead of a yes/no question, it's now a question of what size tip you'd like to leave.

If you're using a physical tip jar, showing some appreciation proactively can also work wonders. Instead of a jar label that says “Tips,” having one that says “Tips - Thank you!” or “Tips - Thanks in Advance :)” lets your customers know how much their tips mean to the staff.

Provide the Guest Experience That Drives More Tips

Ultimately, better service leads to better tips.

When you're working in a counter role rather than as a server, you might have just seconds to interact with a guest. Thus, communicating with them in a way that results in a tip is exponentially more challenging. In these roles, you can maximize the guest experience (and the chances of getting a gratuity) by focusing on accuracy, efficiency, and positivity. Ensure counter workers take the following steps when working their way through the line of customers:

• Greeting guests with a hello and asking how they are.
• Taking orders quickly.
• Smiling (yes, this works!).
• Repeating their order back to ensure accuracy.
• Thanking customers.

Part of the job comes from reading the room as well. For example, if a guest seems more talkative, reciprocating this behavior and engaging them in conversation could make them feel more connected to the staff and more likely to tip. Conversely, if someone seems in a hurry, working to be more expeditious shows guests you value their time and want to let them get to their next destination.

Recommended Reading: Tip Pooling Tools to Easily Manage Tips at Your Restaurant

Suggesting Gratuity Options Strategically

If you're using a POS-managed digital tip jar, there are quick wins you can employ to increase tip amounts. For example, you can set the tip screen to have a range of tip options — potentially as high as 25% or 30% — in an effort to encourage guests to click a higher tip option for excellent service. Additionally, you can pre-select a defaulted tip percentage (i.e. $1) once a customer sees the tip screen. Rather than take the extra effort not to tip, guests may accept the recommendation and move forward with signing for the tip.

A word of caution here, however: “guilt tipping” — the practice of seeking a high-percentage tip on a low-ticket item — is frowned upon. While POS-prompted tipping is still effective, some customers may feel awkward or annoyed when faced with the ask to tip $3 on a coffee that costs them the same amount.

With that in mind, if your store sells low-ticket items, consider setting a lower threshold for tips (perhaps starting at 50 cents instead of $1, or 10% instead of 20%) when customers first see the signing screen. A more reasonable request may be enough to get folks to stick with a pre-selected tip amount rather than bring themselves to choose “No Tip,” which could ultimately raise the total tip jar amount by the end of the shift.

Use smaller bills for change

One small, effective way to get more tips is to give guests cash change back in smaller bills. Hand them back a five and they may be reluctant to tip. But five singles instead? Chances are that one or two of them end up in the tip cup. It's a small shift—but training counter staff on it may be the difference in an average payout, or one to get excited about.

Getting the Most Out of Your Tip Jar

While not as necessary as they are for servers, bussers, and bartenders, tips can go a long way for the happiness and retention of counter employees.

Trying some of these ways to get more eyeballs on a tip jar, increase a customer's willingness to tip, and expanding the ways guests are able to tip can dramatically increase worker's take home pay.

Now, it's your turn to employ some of these clever tactics to make the most of your restaurant's tip jar.

Video Version

7shifts is a team management software designed for restaurants. We help managers and operators spend less time and effort scheduling their staff, reduce their monthly labor costs and improve team communication. The result is simplified team management, one shift at a time.

Start FREE Trial.

Section Ideas and tips | Blog BasicDecor

How to turn a balcony into a garden in 5 easy steps

Even in the most stylish and comfortable city apartment, sometimes you want to feel unity with nature. A balcony is suitable for this, if you remove unnecessary things from it and turn it into a cozy garden. How to do it in just 5 steps, we will tell in the article.

# expert advice , #designer's recommendation , #balcony

Olesya Artasova

interior journalist

Irina Pecherskikh

Interior designer

Venera Nasretdinova

Interior designer, decorator, stylist

Kira Yakovleva

Interior designer

All authors

Modular paintings in the interior.

Modular paintings - a ready-made decorative solution for the interior. Due to the different scales and plots, they are easy to choose for any room, whether it is a living room, kitchen or bedroom. How to do this, read the article.

#decor , #paintings and panels , #expert advice , #designer recommendation

Olesya Artasova

interior journalist

Elena Balandina

Interior designer

One-color interior (tone-on-tone) - ideas for creating

In recent years, people have become tired of visual noise, so laconic tone-on-tone monochrome interiors are becoming increasingly popular. But no matter how great they look on Instagram photos, in real life they can turn out to be boring and insipid. Interior designer Galina Esakova will tell you how to avoid this.

#lamps , #furniture , #decor , #expert advice , #designer's recommendation , #color in the interior

Galina Esakova

Interior designer

Olesya Artasova

interior journalist

How to choose a new chandelier for the kitchen so that you want to turn it on in the evening

A standard chandelier in the center of the kitchen is an outdated interior solution. Designers agree that the lamps should not illuminate the middle of the room, but the zones. Otherwise, it becomes dreary in the kitchen: there is light, but it is dark at the dining table and at the headset.

#kitchen , #kitchen-living room , #lamps , #chandeliers , #expert advice , #designer recommendation

Anastasia Palikhova

interior journalist

Victoria Valueva

Interior designer

How to create a mid-century home - retro style interior

I would like the house to be stylish and comfortable, but at the same time the interior has not lost its relevance over the years. To solve this problem, you can design an apartment in the mid-century style - add rich colors, bizarre geometric shapes and maintain functionality and comfort. Let's figure out how to create a mid-century interior at home.

#furniture , #decor , #expert advice , #designer's recommendation , #interior style , #mid-century

Anastasia Palikhova

interior journalist

Anna Zarubko

Interior designer

Spring cleaning: how to clean up the house with storage systems

Spring is the time for renewal and cleaning, which many people start just before Easter. But if there are no competent storage systems at home, the rooms will feel a mess, even if all surfaces are perfectly clean.

In the article we will tell you how to organize storage depending on the type of premises. And we will share universal tips for cleaning and decluttering.

#furniture , #decor , #storage , #expert advice , #lifehack

Maria Kondratenko

interior journalist

5 hallway interior ideas

The entrance hall is the first thing the owner of the apartment sees when returning home, and the first thing the guests pay attention to. I want her to look beautiful and presentable. Functionality is an equally important characteristic of the hallway. Here you need to place clothes and shoes, put a bag, look in the mirror before going out.

In the article we will tell you how to make the hallway comfortable and beautiful, what furniture to put and what decor to choose.

#hallway , #decor , #banquets , #cabinets , #dressers , #hangers , #umbrellas , #mirrors , #expert advice , #designer's recommendation , #posters

Anastasia Reshetnikova

BasicDecor Editor

How to furnish a spa-style bathroom: 3 ideas for different budgets

When your body is buzzing with fatigue after a hard day, you want to relax and unwind in a peaceful environment, such as a spa. True, the opportunity to go to the salon on an ongoing basis is not always there. But this is not necessary, because in the style of the SPA you can equip your own bathroom. Moreover, for this it is not always necessary to start repairs, it is enough just to update a couple of pieces of furniture and add accessories.

This article has collected three ideas for arranging a bathroom for different budgets.

#bathroom , #plumbing , #decor , #lamps in the bathroom , #bathroom accessories , #baths , #shower , #shower cabins , #bathroom furniture

Maria Kondratenko

interior journalist

How to set up a home theater

Everyone who is faced with lockdown is increasingly wondering how to have fun at home and create a comfortable place to relax. A home theater can be a great option - now you don’t have to leave your home to comfortably watch your favorite movies and new movies.

This article will tell you how to prepare the room and create a cozy atmosphere for home movie viewing.

#lamps , #furniture , #armchairs , #expert advice

Victoria Valueva

Interior designer

Tamara Zhivotkova

Interior journalist, BasicDecor specialist in the Decor category

How to arrange a bed in a small apartment

A few tips on how to create a comfortable sleeping area in a small apartment

#bedroom , #flat , #Studio , #expert advice , #designer recommendation

Vasilisa Pavlova

Interior designer

Daria Vaulina

Journalist

How to Organize a Home Library

Sometimes the design of a home library turns into a Sisyphean task. No matter how you rearrange and rearrange, everything seems to be a mess - the books seem to fall apart on the shelves.

In this article, we have collected answers to questions that will help you organize your home library.

#lamps , #furniture , #decor , #cabinets , #shelves , #office accessories , #office

Tatyana Yaroshevich

interior journalist

8 reasons to choose artificial plants

In this article we will explain why it is better to use artificial and stabilized flowers instead of real ones for interior decor.

#decor , #expert advice , #designer's recommendation , #plants in the interior , #bouquets and compositions

Ekaterina Dadykina

interior journalist

DIY - DIY tips and ideas from Westwing

Bright serving for early autumn

Bright serving for early autumn

Now is the very moment when you don't want to let go of summer, but autumn is already on the threshold. For this occasion, designer Elena Aldoshina prepared a table setting in the colors of the bright end of summer and the beginning of warm autumn.

Spring setting in the style of sunny Sicily

Spring setting in the style of sunny Sicily

How to create a spring mood after a long winter? Come up with a bright serving! Designer Elena Aldoshina tells and shows how to fill the table with colors. Our choice fell on a combination of traditional

Recipes for loved ones: 6 romantic dishes

Recipes for loved ones: 6 romantic dishes

No matter what recipes you choose for your loved ones - a large strawberry cake or miniature carrot muffins. Most importantly, cook with passion! We asked Irina, a family blogger from Moscow, to share with our

Spring and Delicate: Serving in 5 Minutes

Spring and Delicate: Serving in 5 Minutes

Getting ready for spring brunches and marveling at how easy it is to surprise your guests We will need: plain fabric napkin; guest card; concise dishes and cutlery; miniature sv

DIY: recipes for homemade crostini

DIY: recipes for homemade crostini

Crostini is a traditional Italian appetizer, which is a sandwich made on toast. How to cook it at home, food blogger Evgenia Levitskaya told Interview with Evgeniya

DIY: perfect breakfast for two

DIY: perfect breakfast for two

Breakfast for two by designer Elena Aldoshina will be a great start to the day with your loved one. Watch, remember, be inspired! Elena Aldoshina @aldo.and.aldo, designer and foundation

DIY: CulinaryON Bruschetta Recipe

DIY: CulinaryON Bruschetta Recipe

What's the quickest thing to do when you don't feel like standing by the stove? Of course, bruschetta! Recording a traditional Italian appetizer recipe from CulinaryON Interview with CulinaryON already in our magazine В

Cookbook: 6 recipes from a blogger

Cookbook: 6 recipes from a blogger

Just looking at these photos immediately wakes up the desire to cook something. Open the cookbook and start creating magic! With Ekaterina, a family blogger from St. Petersburg, you are

DIY: breakfast smoothie recipe

DIY: breakfast smoothie recipe

Let's start the morning with a healthy breakfast! Cooking smoothies according to the recipe of blogger Alexander Kondratov Interview with Alexander Kondratov already in our magazine This drink can serve as an ideal alternative to

From scratch: giving away checklists and diary templates

From scratch: giving away checklists and diary templates

We give away checklists for the diary and tell you why it is important to set goals for 2020. Print and use! Psychologist Iolanta Voronova shared with us the secrets of the holiday season

How to decorate a house for the New Year? Shows Copper&Tin

How to decorate the house for the New Year? Shows Copper&Tin

Roman Andrusenko, head of the Copper&Tin studio, designer Daria Sukhinina and project manager Valeria Ledeneva showed how to decorate a house for the New Year and Christmas.

Learn more

• 
  How to draw a bubble letter j
• 
  K is for kangaroo
• 
  Little red riding hood daycare
• 
  What are dolch words
• 
  Words that rhyme with sticky
• 
  The sky is falling story
• 
  Compound words activities for preschool
• 
  Teach numbers to preschool
• 
  Sesame street this little piggy
• 
  Words that rhyme need
• 
  Creative ideas for fun