💡Why I Stop Trying When I Need My Best Ideas

What’s really the best way to get great ideas? Honestly, staring at a screen, reading endless articles, or forcing myself to “think harder” rarely sparks anything original.

Author

Stephen Tseng
September 10, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 8 minutes

Dminorstudio Newsletter

10th September, 2025

Hey, Stephen here.

What’s really the best way to get great ideas?

Honestly, staring at a screen, reading endless articles, or forcing myself to “think harder” rarely sparks anything original.

My secret? Letting go.

The best ideas hit me out of nowhere—when I’m in the middle of a workout, taking a hot shower, just cruising on my bike, or even sleeping.

It sounds upside down, but here’s why it works:
If you push your brain to “be creative” on cue, you often get nowhere fast. When you let the goal sink into your subconscious and walk away, ideas have room to grow on their own.

This happens to me all the time.
If I feel stuck, I simply leave it, get moving, or do anything that relaxes me.

You don’t need to go far—just try something completely different from work. For me, walking, exercising, or cycling always flips the switch.

When my body chills out, my brain lights up. That’s when the best ideas show up uninvited.

That’s my go-to. How about you? Where do your best ideas find you?

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Today’s insights:

  • Flooding Inboxes Still Works—If You Dare Break These Rules

  • The TIP Method: Choose the Right AI Model for Every Task

  • China’s Imports in 2025: Key Trends and Strategic Implications

  • And more…

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👨‍💻 EXECUTIVE MARKETING INTELLIGENCE

  • The TIP Method: Choose the Right AI Model for Every Task – This piece argues that relying on just one AI model is like expecting one employee to do every job—specialization is key. I enjoyed how the author makes the “TIP” method practical, offering smart, real-world advice for anyone serious about maximizing AI’s true potential.

  • Stop Segmenting Like It’s 2015: Why B2B Marketers Are Still Struggling to Reach the Right Buyers – The article points out B2B marketers are still stuck using outdated segmentation, failing to truly reach decision-makers in a world of complex buying groups and fast-changing data. Honestly, I nodded along—the call to rethink segmentation for real action, not just optics, feels long overdue.

  • What CMOs Want from Agencies: Insights from live CMO Panel – This candid CMO panel drops truth bombs for agencies: specialize, bring unexpected insights, and help your client shine internally—don’t just show up with boilerplate pitch decks. I love how blunt the feedback is; it’s a refreshing, actionable take straight from the people agencies need to impress most.

📊 CHINA MARKET ADVANTAGE

  • China’s Imports in 2025: Key Trends and Strategic Implications– A clear snapshot of China’s 2025 imports—energy and tech inputs still lead, but there’s a growing tilt toward premium consumer goods and ASEAN trade ties. For anyone eyeing China, the analysis is timely and really highlights how staying nimble is essential amid shifting policies and global volatility.

  • Mastering KOL & KOC Influencer Marketing in China 2025 – China’s influencer marketing is now a science, balancing celebrity-level KOLs for buzz with relatable KOCs for trust and authenticity—smart brands use both. The examples make the landscape actually feel navigable; even if it’s a bit wild, the takeaways are immediately usable for Western companies.

  • Six Chinese Social Media Platforms You Need to Know (2025) – This detailed tour covers WeChat, Douyin, Rednote, Bilibili, Zhihu, and WeChat Channels, showing that each platform has its own culture and strengths—there’s no true “equivalent” to Western social media. As someone who loves digital culture deep-dives, I really appreciate the author’s personal anecdotes alongside practical tips.

💡 WHAT I HAVE BEEN PLAYING

  • Comet Browser — Comet Browser is your personal sidekick for browsing, packing AI smarts to help you search, summarize, and get things done—all without breaking your workflow. Honestly, having an assistant right in your browser feels like having superpowers for getting through the day!

🎬 THAT’S A WRAP

Before you go: Here are 2 ways I can help

  1. B2B Digital Marketing Solution — We help B2B companies grow business through proven B2B digital marketing approaches.

  2. China B2B Digital Marketing Solution — We use China-specific digital marketing approaches to help B2B companies grow in China market.

Thank you for reading, and stay cool this hot summer☀️.

— Stephen Tseng

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