National Swap Ideas Day

Fostering a creative environment and coming up with new ideas is the backbone of the entrepreneurial, inventive spirit. From Ben Franklin wondering what would happen if he flew a kite in a lightning storm to the Wright brothers who were certain that people should be able to fly, coming up with new ideas is a theme that has caused so many advances in this world! 

While some folks might tend to work alone, many people find that their ability to come up with better ideas is often enhanced when they share, exchange and swap ideas with other people. National Swap Ideas Day encourages people, organizations and companies to take advantage of the synergy that is created when a room full of people will share, listen, exchange and build upon their thoughts.

History of National Swap Ideas Day

While the exact details are a bit sketchy, the origins of National Swap Ideas Day can likely be traced back to the creator of this day, Robert Birch of Pun Corp. In fact, this was not Mr. Birch’s only unusual idea as he is also thought to have invented several other strange celebration events including Lumpy Rug Day, Trivia Day and the bizarrely named Nothing Day.

The idea behind National Swap Ideas Day is that everybody gets together to do just what the day says: exchange ideas. People celebrate this occasion by connecting with other people to share thoughts and concepts, whether at work, in the political realm, in friend groups or other places where think tanks are welcomed!

There don’t seem to be any rules outlining the nature of the ideas to be shared, thus making National Swap Ideas Day an ideal opportunity for people to be as creative and wacky as they like with their ideas as well as learning from the ideas of others.

How to Celebrate National Swap Ideas Day

Show some support for exchange with fellow humans on National Swap Ideas Day! Get started with some of these ideas for observing and celebrating the day:

Organize Some Brainstorming Sessions

The true essence of National Swap Ideas Day is to get in the room with folks who think a little differently, and use the time to brainstorm. Perhaps the idea swapping would be in answer to some local problems that might need to be solved and improvements that need to be made. Or it could be centered around a dreaming session for a new organization or company that is just forming. No matter what the context, at work or in a community situation, this is the time to schedule a meeting where everyone can be heard and ideas can be safely exchanged!

Watch TED Talks

One super way to get involved with the ideas of others, even if a person finds themselves alone on National Swap Ideas Day, is to dig into various topics that people share on the internet. TED Talks are a fascinating place where folks from all walks of life offer their information and expertise in a format that is easy to understand. It might be fun to watch one, ask a friend to watch it too, then get together to talk about it and swap ideas!

Watch Some Movies About Swaps

National Swap Ideas Day is a great time to get interested in the fun of swapping by watching some entertainment that embodies the idea! One theme that has been covered time and again in books and movies is the identity swap, which is an extremely inconvenient (but also effective) way for characters to get in the heads of different people and learn to share their ideas.

Try out one of these movies for fun on National Swap Ideas Day:

• Face/Off (1997) starring John Travolta and Nicholas Cage
• 17 Again (2009) featuring Matthew Perry and Zac Effron
• The Change Up (2011) with Ryan Reynolds and Jason Bateman
• All of Me (1984) starring Steve Martin and Lily Tomlin