This editorial was originally published on Sep 7, 2010. It is being re-run as Steve is on vacation.

I recently went to see the movie Inception on the recommendation of my wife. She had taken one of my sons to see it and loved it, so she convinced me to go. She actually enjoyed it so much that she went back a third time with another son to see it again.

The movie is interesting, and deals with the possibility of planting an idea in someone's head through a dream. It's a very well done movie, and I recommend it if you haven't seen it. It's definitely science fiction (I hope) and not something I think is possible, but it is a very well done movie and gets you to consider the possibility.

It's Friday, and no, I'm not asking you what you think about the movie. I'm not looking for more movie recommendations, and I'm not asking if you think inception is possible. Instead, I want to ask you a more basic question, looking for how you find inspiration.

How do you get your ideas?

We all work with SQL Server, we solve problems, and we have to write code. More and more I see the work we do in building technological solutions as art, based in science. We must be creative in how we come up with a solution,  and then use best practices and proven techniques to implement the solution.

Most of us are at work when we respond, so the answers can be based on how you develop solutions in code. But if you have a way that helps you think, a technique that focuses you on any problem, let us know this Friday. Maybe you'll help someone else find a way to think more creatively about the problems they face.