[b_emery]

"Live in the future, then build what's missing."

http://paulgraham.com/startupideas.html

Looks of good meta advice there. Also, read a lot from adjacent fields. I do this in research and the cross pollination is a big source of ideas. See the book "Where good ideas come from" for details.

Based on watching my kids, I'm convinced that we're input-output machines. If I give them a bunch of ideas (without them realizing it) I see these ideas come back later, distorted and recombined with other ideas in their play. I think that basic mechanism of creativity is inherent - and also very useful.