I like to go into an exam with a handful of anagrams, a couple per paper or theme. I've had them 27 letter long, and have pegged 27 facts against these.

I use visualization as well to walk through the house 'seeing' themes and issues.

I use this http://wordsmith.org/anagram/index.html

COCA DIP

Gives me:

• Creativity
• Organisational Structure
• Cognition
• Analogical Thinking
• Developmental Organisations
• Individual Style
• Perception

Better still 'SPICES' gives me the 'characteristics of a creative organisation':

empowered Staff

integrated Procedures

Idea development

open Climate

External partnerships

flexible Structures

All of these become part of a 'mind dump' I do in the first 5 minutes just to get my head in the right place.

I've got less than two weeks to come up with a few more of these then practice them relentlessly.

VAN BECK CLIMB

For example gives me the 12 precepts of creative problem solving:

• Value of playfulness
• Adopt a set to break sets it is there already,
• Nurture it
• Broad picture, local detail
• Explore the givens
• Connect and be receptive
• Know what you really want
• Cycle often and close late
• Love the looseness
• Involve other people
• Manage the process
• Build up, don't break down

Where I come unstuck here is for the question to include all 12 precepts and say pick ONE to discuss for 45 minutes, whereas all I can deliver is a few minutes in each.