Tweet

Thinking Outside The Box

Guest post by: Cidnee Stephen

Article Overview: Do you ever find yourself lacking creativity in your marketing?

Thinking Outside The Box

Do you ever find yourself lacking creativity in your marketing? Let's face it, it's always easier to follow the leader, or the masses rather than come up with some form of originality. The great thing about mavericks such as Steve Jobs or Richard Branson, is that they show us what the power of creative thinking can do! Of course, the challenge lies in figuring out how to tap into your inner creative genius. Here are some great tips that can hopefully help inspire you to think outside the box. Look outside your industry. I love the story my friend and peer Troy White once told me about a lobster ranch in Maine. Instead of competing against all the other lobster ranches to get local business they adopted an unheard model of membership. That's right you bought a membership and a share of your very own lobster trap. You could receive updates on how your trap was doing and of course you received your share of lobsters. Now of course, memberships aren't new....think time shares as a great parallel. What made this is so original was integrating this great experience into a new market.

Create services for your products or products from your services. Are you limiting what you offer as a small business? A great creative way to not only wow your customers but to continue to engage them is by offering that complimentary service or experience to a product, or a product to a service/experience. Look at Starbucks. Do you really think it's their coffee that made them successful or was it the atmosphere and flexibility around the product offerings that make it so popular? Of course you have to look at Apple as well. Think about the commercials you have seen lately. Do they focus on the features of the iPhone or more about the apps you can use to make your life easier, more productive or just plain old fun? This same principle can apply to a small business. Remember these companies started out small too!

Throw in the Kitchen Sink. I love this simple yet effective concept from Martha Beck. If you are trying to solve a problem and can`t come up with a creative solution, stop thinking about the problem. Instead engage in random activities. Read blog posts on the arts, business and medicine. Take your dog for a walk and then start knitting that sweater. When you get those great epiphanies they usually come when you start focusing on something else.

Get outside feedback. I recall hearing Malcolm Gladwell speak and someone asked him how he came up with his brilliant ideas. He stated that quite frankly his original ideas weren`t all that good. But when we share our ideas with others and get their insight, our ideas become great. The problem in business is that we are scared to share our ideas in fear that someone will inherit them. Get over it and start asking for feedback and turn your ideas into gold.

While many of the examples or individuals mentioned here are famous or have gone on to achieve considerable success, this doesn`t mean that you have to hit a creative ball right out of the park. But I do know this. If you stop trying to think out of the box, your business is highly unlikely to get to that next level. Success is about growth and growth is about change and change comes from adapting a different approach. So it`s time to put on that thinking cap.

Feel free to use this article as long as you include the following:

by Cidnee Stephen of Strategies for Success

Related Articles
  REFLECTION NOTE
  Positive Thinking
  Bill Gates' Secret Weapon: Stop to Think
  Strategic Thinking What Does It Really Mean
  Playing The Game
  The 10 Most Common Words You Should Stop Using Now
  Is Your Thinking Bigger Than This?
  The Most Important Rule of Business
  Are You Thinking Too Small?
  Formula to Just Do It
  Do you invite thinking or evict thinking?
  The Power of Critical Thinking
  THE ART OF THINKING
  Focus on Deliberate Creation Through Active Thought Processes
  How to Exercise Your Right to choose your thoughts-The Science of Results Oriented Thinking
  Business Coaching As A Valuable Asset For You and Your Business
  Autosuggestion-Be a Success By Just Thinking It!
  Clearing Up The Myths About Strategic Thinking and Planning
  More On Strategic Thinking
  The Value and Benefits of Strategic Thinking

Article Tags: cidnee stephen, client feedback, duct tape marketing, marketing tips, services, small business, strategy



Related Forum Posts
Re: THE SECRET TO SUCCESS IS ALL IN YOUR HEAD...RIGHT NOW!!! - Success = Thinking (Head) + Heart (Feeling / Interest) + Hand (doing/ action). Success - H3 Robert
Hiring introverts vs. extroverts - Hi Kevin - interesting topic! Thinking back over my career as an entrepreneur and the people I've brought on, most of them have been introverts. The exception usually comes with the sales function (but not always). It's generally hard to be a good salesperson if you are an introvert.
Re: Essential Leadership skills - Vision Values Mission Strategic Thinking Decision Making Communication Team Bonding People Development Coaching / Mentoring / Guiding / Grooming Presentation Thanks Robert
Re: Getting ready to sell by childhood baseball card collection. - Sounds like we're in a similar situation Mal. For me it just got to a point where I realized if I took my top 20 or 30 cards that meant the most to me I could actually display them and cherish them instead of keeping them in boxes with all the others. Plus I knew others could benefit and get new happiness from the other cards. Thinking about those 2 points made it a lot easier to part with them.
Re: How do you create a million dollar idea? - Thinking is the easiest way to create a million dollar idea. If in doubt ask Alex Tew. He was faced with a financial problem, he needed money for his university education. He sat down one night and thought on how to overcome the problem, he came out with selling pixels to a million people at a dollar each. In five months he made his millon.


Share this article with your friends. Fund someone's dream.

Leave a comment below or share on the left and you'll help support entrepreneurs in Africa through our partnership with Kiva. Over $50,000 raised and counting - Please keep sharing! Learn more.

Newsletter

Get advice & tips from famous business
owners, new articles by entrepreneur
experts, my latest website updates, &
special sneak peaks at what's to come!

Name:
Email:

Popular Articles

TOP Level Selling

The Future of Online Marketing

Do You Pretend To Listen To People?

Suggestions

Email us your ideas on how to make our
website more valuable! Thank you Sharon
from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for
your suggestions to make the newsletter
look like the website and profile younger
entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez.