When you're stuck, shrink the problem down to one brick.

Look closely, and you'll see for yourself. Being stuck often isn't a lack of ideas but looking at something too big. Narrowing your focus to one small piece forces you to observe it directly instead of repeating what you've heard, and that's where original thinking starts.

Try today: Stuck on something today? Shrink it until it's one tiny piece, then study that piece closely.