Focusing on empty Spaces

Guest post by: Mandie Crawford
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Communicating Your Message - Your Info-mercial - By Mandie Crawford

When I was being trained to drive for the police service - I learned a new method of driving safely - regardless of the situation. Instead of focusing heavily on the vehicles around me - I was taught to 'look for the empty spaces'. This forced me to look for escape opportunities in case an emergency presented itself - or another driver made a move that jeopardized my safety.

This was a bit foreign to begin with - because it is much more natural to focus on what is going on around me - not looking for what is "not" going on!

Thinking this way became contagious for me. I began to look for 'opportunities' or empty spaces an many place in my life - and in business it has proven to be very beneficial.

Those of us who run businesses often are focused on problem solving. We focus on how things are not woring and attempt to make them work better. We look at the customers we are not reaching, or we look for the sales we are missing. And while we do this - we often miss the open spaces - the areas where an opportunity is just waiting for us.

Here is a case in point. I recently read and article written by Marcia Barhydt - reporting on a large 'lego - man' replica that had washed up on a beach in Florida. (read it here)

To the onlookers it was an interesting thing to look at - but the city officials say it as a "BIG" seven foot problem and allocated resources to have the figure removed from the beach. They missed the opportunity.

How often does a 'Lego - man' wash up on your beach. Never? Exactly!

Is it problem? It all depends how you look at it. The way I see it - this Florida town missed a huge marketing opportunity. Had they celebrated the occurrence they could have received tons of free publicity for the town.

In fact they could have used the opportunity to permanently secure the 'Lego - Man' to the beach and erected a plaque entitled "The day Lego Man washed up on our beach". Or they could have determined the home town of 'Leg - Man' and formed an alliance with the town - a sort of sister town - and invited residents of 'Lego - Man's' town to come visit. The opportunities to gain free publicity and use this occurrence to benefit the town were endless.

What is going on in your business that you currently see as a problem? Sitting right beside the problem is an opportunity just waiting to be activated. Is there a lot going on around you? Most certainly there is if you are a business owner. The important thing to focus on however - is what is NOT happening. What are you missing?

Think of it as driving. Instead of focusing on the cars around you - take a moment to look for the open spaces just begging for new ideas and activities. (yes - become an opportunist!)

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Communicating Your Message - Your Info-mercial - By Mandie Crawford

About the Author: Mandie Crawford

RSS for Mandie's articles - Visit Mandie's website
Mandie Crawford is a marketing expert, business coach, trainer and motivational speaker who was recently awarded Calgary Business Woman of the Year for her contributions to the business community.
Mandie also has skills and expertise in providing high quality guidance in time management and system implementation for small a medium sized businesses. Her passion as a business and professional development coach is to helps women recognize their value and self worth.

She is the President of Roaring Women Ltd which is Canada's premier national business support group for women in business that focuses on connecting, promoting and educating women in business. In her goal to encourage and educate women in building business across the country, she launched and completed a 6 week coaching tour in partnership with Staple Business Depot in 2008 where she coached over 600 women in business.

Mandie is mother to four children and 3 stepchildren and one highly energetic chocolate lab! Ms Crawford is also a former award winning police officer with Halton Regional Police.

Click here to visit Mandie's website.

More from Mandie Crawford
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Keeping a Customer Price Service or Relationship
The Principle of Telescopic Vision

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