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B-to-B magazine recently polled marketing professionals and asked them where they got their best ideas. As the old joke goes, the answer given most often, by 37 percent of those polled, was “in the shower.” The second-place finisher, with 24 percent, was “in the car.” Fourteen percent said “while exercising,” and 13 percent said “while eating or drinking.”

By now you are wondering – what about at work? Only 12 percent gave that answer.

It would be easy to dismiss this as a funny anecdote, but I think there’s a reminder in this poll. Marketing professionals are expected to be creative or think strategically on command. We sit at our desk with distractions whirling around us. E-mail, the phone ringing, a co-worker’s question or story from their weekend outing. And in that din we are supposed to have our best thoughts?

When you need to find your best ideas and can’t seem to conjure them up at the office, get out. Shake yourself loose and change your surroundings. Drive around for an hour, walk in a park or find a toy store and play. Let your mind wander and see where it ends up. Can’t sneak away? Even working in someone else’s office or an unoccupied common space may open up some new ideas.

For some people, certain sounds or music allow them to free their mind. Maybe it’s a tabletop water fountain or a certain CD. The specifics aren’t important. What matters is that you find your own ways to jump-start the process and shake the cobwebs and distractions so you can tap into your best thinking on command.

If all else fails, go home and hop into the shower!

Drew McLellan is Top Dog at McLellan Marketing Group and blogs at www.drewsmarketingminute.com. He can be reached at Drew@MclellanMarketing.com. © 2008 Drew McLellan