Remote Association:
A set of solutions which are uncommon or unusual and come from different catagories of ideas.

New Ideas are generated by randomly combining mental elements.

Common associations are the first and most likely things that you think of when you are solving problems and they are usually the most useful ideas for finding solutions.

But, more creative solutions are found using remote associations and divergent thinking.

Bottom line...never settle for the first solution to a problem.

Overcoming old habits (that is, being flexible, moving laterally) is the crux of creativity.

Test your mental Flexibility

Remote Association Test
For each set of three words, find an associated word that all three have in common.