Eyes Wide Shut?
The inspiration you need could be right under your nose.
A big challenge in building a creative company is learning how
to bring fresh input into your daily business life. Finding ways to
continually broaden your perspective and find inspiration is one of
the most basic creative skills. Seeking new input is too important to leave to chance
encounters. To help you step out of status-quo thinking, you must
do the following: 1.Commit to the importance of a
continual flow of new input. Content Continues Below
2.Cultivate a curious mind that
continually asks "I wonder what would happen if . . .
?" 3.Find new sources of
input. Once you accomplish the first two, almost any environment or
conversation can spark new thoughts. These simple ideas can get you
started: - Go to events where
you'll meet people outside your usual sphere-people from
different industries or from other countries, or people who have
interests different from yours. Unlike a networking event, you are
prospecting for new ideas, not new contacts. Of course, you might
also leave with some promising business cards.
- Go to places you don't
usually go. If you're looking for innovative ideas for a store
display, check out places that sell something you don't and
that have a completely different customer demographic.
How one store sells sports equipment may give you an idea about
how you should sell your bakery goods. Trying the unconventional is
a proven way to get your customers' attention. - Read a book or magazine
that introduces you to a new industry, hobby, place or interest.
For example, if you have a contracting or interior design business,
looking at a book on animal habitats may be the catalyst for an
innovative solution. Specialty catalogs, coffee-table books and
even greeting cards are rich in images and words that may inspire
you-often, the more unusual, the better.
- Seek input from people
within your company who don't usually get a chance to share
their ideas.
- Let yourself follow a hunch or
whimsy, and see what it teaches you. Remember,
inspiration is not tied to the practical or feasible. You may want
to begin carrying a small notebook or create a file in your PDA to
record any new ideas or creative thoughts. Once you're in the
habit of being open to receiving ideas, they'll start flooding
in anytime and at anyplace.
Juanita Weaver is a creativity coach and consultant.
She'd like to hear how your company sparks creativity. Contact
her at juanita@juanitaweaver.com.
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