The Cognitive Object Factory: How Ideas Get Stuck (And How to Fix It)

I first heard the phrase “cognitive objects” from my client (and now friend) Ann Latham - Queen of Clarity , while helping her write a book for Bloomsbury. The term instantly clicked. I could see it - ideas moving (or not moving) through a business, like products on a conveyor belt. Some ideas zipped along to execution, while others piled up, stuck in bottlenecks, waiting for someone to do something with them.

It made perfect sense. And, for years, I’d been talking about related concepts - chaosification, constraints, moving from chaos to creation - without ever quite nailing a way to visualise it. The idea was there, but it hadn’t gone through the full factory process.

Until one day recently, I had to draw it.

The Bottleneck Moment

I needed a clear way to explain to my client how ideas move through their business - without me there to walk them through it. This meant I had to manage:

• A time constraint: I had to get it done fast.
• Independence: The idea needed to stand on its own.
• Simplicity: It had to be clear enough for a 12-year-old to explain to a 10-year-old.

That’s when it hit me. The Cognitive Object Factory. The image. The visual. The whole system, clear as day. The constraints forced clarity.

The 50/50 Rule of Stuck Ideas

In my experience, half of all stuck ideas remain stuck because we haven’t pinpointed what’s holding them back. We might feel overwhelmed, distracted, or unsure why an idea isn’t moving forward. But the moment we name the specific bottleneck - whether it's lack of clarity, missing resources, or uncertainty about the next step - we often unlock a way forward.

The other half? That’s trickier. Those ideas need an external push - a deadline, a client, a coach, a mentor, software, or even just a fresh pair of eyes. Sometimes, the only way to move an idea forward is to force it into the real world.

The Cognitive Object Factory in Action

The Problem: The Chaos of Unfinished Ideas

This first image shows what happens when cognitive objects pile up. Ideas, insights, and intellectual perspective (IP) are constantly being generated, but without a structured system to process them, they create bottlenecks. Books, frameworks, courses, website updates, articles, newsletters, and reports remain stuck - trapped by indecision, lack of prioritisation, or over-reliance on key individuals (probably you!) The conveyor belt is overloaded, and nothing is reaching the finish line.

But where do these cognitive objects come from? They don’t appear out of nowhere. They come from inputs - the people you meet, the books and articles you read, the events you attend, the podcasts you listen to. All of these mix together in your brain, where you do that magic you do, and new ideas emerge.

But just having ideas isn’t enough. If there’s no process to move them forward, they pile up. You need a way to get them through the factory.

The Solution: Solving the Bottleneck Problem

This second image shows what happens when a structured process is put in place. By identifying and eliminating bottlenecks, ideas move smoothly from ideation to completion. But solving bottlenecks isn’t just about having a system - it needs constraints and forcing functions:

• Time or resource constraints: Deadlines, word limits, budget restraints - these force decisions and action. It was the deadline to ship the report to my client that forced me to draw the idea.
• Desire to push the idea forward: A waiting list, a pre-launch date, or strong demand helps pull an idea through the factory.
• Getting out of your own way: Over-polishing, procrastination, and perfectionism kill progress. Sometimes, you just have to stop tweaking and move. Remember the Escher Trap? Don't get stuck!
• New eyes on the problem: A coach, mentor, or external feedback loop can shift perspective and highlight blind spots (this ties into the 50/50 rule - some problems need outside input).
• A decision to ship: No matter the consequences, shipping is the only way to get real feedback. Without launching, you’ll never know what works.

By applying these constraints, cognitive objects transform from messy, unfinished ideas into high-value assets that make an impact.

Getting Your Ideas Moving

If you’ve got cognitive objects piling up in your business (you know, those half-finished books, frameworks, courses, articles, reports) ask yourself:

1. Is this stuck because I haven’t named the problem?
2. Or do I need an external push to get it moving?

Either way, the solution is action. Name it. Or get the right constraint in place to force clarity. Your ideas don’t belong in the backlog - they belong in the world.

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I’m Debbie Jenkins, a publishing strategist who helps consultants, coaches, and expert business owners turn their ideas into books that solve expensive, urgent problems. Unlike others, I don’t take a cut of your profits - and I make sure your book isn’t just more shelf clutter but a real asset for growing your business.