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Answering “Why You, Why Now” Critical in a Winning Business Plan
Business plans continue to be an essential element of the capital-raising process. They must convince investors to take notice – investors that are shrewder today due to the ups-and-downs they have experienced over the past few years. Adding to the...
Check Yourself for Outstanding Customer Service
How many times have you heard something similar to this in a customer service situation? Customer: “Why don’t you just do it this way, and it will take care of the situation.” Customer Service Person: “I understand what you are saying, but we can...
Emotional Intelligence: The Geek We Know & Love
Love & EQ--The "Geek" we all love.... You know one...you might have one working for you....you may even be in love with one...or, maybe you is one.... Affectionately, we call them geeks, nerds or techies. Yet, any of us can fall into this category...
The Benefits of EQ Coaching for Mid-Level Executives and Professionals
The majority of CEOs, executives and professionals are left-brained -- analytical, linear, and focused. They are good with numbers, and in communication tend to listen to the actual word spoken, word-by-word, missing the nuances, the expressions,...
Uncommon Common Sense – Know What is the Most Important Thing in Your Business
Over 3 of my meetings with 3 business owners last week, what really shocked me was how uncommon common sense was. 2 out of 3 I spoke to do not know what is the most important thing in their business. They keep on trying on other things that are not...
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Creativity for Success
Creativity and innovation are important keys to success in today’s rapidly changing world. Process improvement, problem solving, recruiting, retaining and motivating employees, decision making, dealing with limited resources, satisfying customers, and rapidly changing technology are all examples of business realities that require creative solutions. Yet, innovative thinkers are often tough to find today.
Somewhere along the line, many adults have forgotten how to use their imagination to think and solve problems out of the box. Roger von Oech, in his book A Whack on the Side of the Head, recounts a teacher’s exercise in examining creativity. The teacher drew a dot on the chalkboard and asked a class of sophomores to identify it. They responded with the obvious: a chalk dot. She noted that the day before she had asked a group of kindergartners, and they had come up with numerous examples of what it might be: the top of a telephone pole, a squashed bug, an owl’s eye, a cigar butt, a rotten egg, and so on. Somewhere between childhood and adulthood many of us lose the ability to be creative and search for more than one right answer.
So how can we as adults regain and maintain our spirit of fun and creativity? Here are a few tips:
Be curious.
Practice developing your curiosity by asking questions to get a better understanding, or to see things from a different perspective. Some questions you might ask:
1. What are you taking for granted?
2. What are you assuming is impossible?
3. What if...
4. Why do we...
Celebrate your failures.
There are many inventions we view as essentials today that exist only because someone recognized their failure as an opportunity. Examine what can be learned from each "failure." It may be an opportunity to create a new product, improve
a process, or solve a problem. Look for ways to make this type of evaluation part of your normal practices so the entire workforce is encouraged to think more creatively!
Nurture your inner child.
Look for ways to become a kid again. Watch children at play and remember what things brought you joy as a kid. Consider what brings you joy today and take time out to explore your playful side. For example, fly a kite, build a model train, gaze at the clouds to identify the shapes you see, go for a walk in the woods and look at the plant and animal life, or simply daydream. Taking time away from the pressures of a tense situation can help free your mind so you’re ready to see things more clearly and creatively.
These are just a few of the ways you can learn to be more creative to achieve the success you deserve. Remember, it’s never too late to start. Good luck and have fun!
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About the Author
Kathleen J. Wheelihan is a professional speaker for AchieveMax®, Inc., a firm specializing in custom-designed keynote presentations, seminars, and consulting services. Kathleen has made presentations ranging from creativity to customer service and leadership to teambuilding. For information, call 800-886-2MAX or visit http://www.AchieveMax.com.
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