Stuck on content ideas? Free hack for fresh topics.

Every prolific entrepreneur has their methods for coming up with topic ideas but mine is a mix between holiday calendars, Wikipedia’s “On This Day” and the lives of historical figures, all rolled into one.

Plus, it’s free.

Whenever I’m stuck for content I just go to On This Day in History and look ahead a couple days for things that I can wrap into my content either as stories or cool tidbits for my selected topic. And, unlike Wikipedia, it’s easy to jump ahead to the date you want to plan ahead.

Here’s a few examples of inspiration I found and who I think could use it.

Influencers and coaches: Friday April 21st is the birthday of Elizabeth II in England, use her long monarchy and life to share how to create a lasting impact (even if you’re not the ruler of a country).

Marketers: Sunday, April 25th – on this day in 1985 New Coke was introduced which is argued to be both the best and most disastrous marketing decision of all time.

Musicians, vocal coaches: May 4th, 1959 the first Grammys are awarded and winners include Ella Fitzgerald and Frank Sinatra.

Book coaches and editors: May 4th is the anniversary of Ernest Hemingway winning the Pulitzer for Old Man and the Sea in 1953. If it’s time for you to conquer your “white whale” then here’s how I can help.

Environmentalists, filmmakers, anyone who loves animals: On May 8th, 1926 Sir David Attenborough was born without him who would narrate the wonderful wild lives of animals around the world?

Parenting coaches, family fertility specialists, activists: On May 9th, 1960 the first birth control pill is introduced in the US. How has medicine and society changed in the years since?

Lawyers and branding experts: May 20th, 1873 the patent the first blue jeans are filed. Protecting your best ideas is just smart business sense.

Artists and activists: May 28th, on this day in 2014 poet Maya Angelou passed away. Reflect on her words and work and continuing influence.

Just go through the calendar and see what ideas spark for your business and jot down those notes, even if you don’t write about them on that specific day.

It’s also a good idea to pull in your personal stories and history which might mean birthdays, anniversaries of important events in your life such as graduation or the birth of a child, death of a friend or big accomplishment. As you go through On this Day it might even trigger memories.

For example, on April 19, 1995 168 people die in Oklahoma City when the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building building is bombed by Timothy McVeigh. Few people might know I was in Oklahoma City with my family that week and we flew over the ruins a few days later on our way to Dallas. And on one of my cross country trips on the way to college I stopped at the memorial which is both beautiful and tragic.

If you’re stuck staring at a blank page check out On This Day and see what comes to mind. You can also see the holidays celebrated worldwide on the same site on this page.