Be different, make a difference
"In entrepreneurship, creative thinking involves the propensity to take risks and to turn a problem on its head, to view it from a new perspective and discover the solution."
Go beyond the boundaries
Old footage of man's first landing on the moon 40 years ago was televised recently. Watching this daring human enterprise makes one wonder about the power of the brain and the incredible things it is capable of achieving.
In the business world, it pays to put our grey cells to work, but we don't need to be as intellectually adept as aircraft engineers or software developers whose inventions of airplanes and the Internet have benefited global communities so. What we need is to do is simply to think differently.
A couple of years ago, when I visited the famous food streets and night markets in the Land of Smelly Tofu (Taipei, that is), I was impressed by the creative yet simple retail concepts the food vendors there had come up with. Simple treats like grilled mushrooms, quality pineapple tarts (who says this popular treat has to be enjoyed only during Chinese New year?), Varieties of groundnuts and twirled and locals alike. I would certainly visit the pasar malam in my neighborhood if we had stuff like that instead of the ubiquitous hot dog, creamed corn and burgers which have been on the scene for ages!
We live in a fast-evolving world where consumers have become so accustomed to such great variety that even daily-needs businesses, such as supermarkets, must continually be on the search for fresh ideas to keep up with changing tastes.
Creativity isn't necessarily about spinning wild, weird or fanciful ideas. In a highly competitive marketplace, it is about daring to think differently- to find newer and better approaches to doing business, and differentiating yourself from the rest.
Take a different perspective
In business, you can go only so far by doing things the way they have always been done. It is essential to perceive opportunities that others have not, and to pursue them in novel yet appropriate ways at every stages of the game.
Entrepreneurs need to find creative solutions to solve the socioeconomic challenges of the future - for the good of their own businesses and the world, be it the prevention of moral decay or the destruction of our Eco-system.
Here's an example to illustrate what I mean:
Recently a software developer in the US has incorporated elements of fun and adventure into their history - and science- themed computer games, to make these tedious subjects less of a chore for kids to learn. They are looking similar concepts to equally challenging subjects like mathematics as well.
If you think about it, such games could possibly be the learning programmes of the future, and those innovative enough to break into the market first will surely be the biggest winners.
It is always much easier to develop and sell computer games with repetitively violent themes and responsible adults, entrepreneurs should also consider the negative impact of such games on the young and impressionable.
In entrepreneurship, creative thinking involves the propensity to take risk and to turn a problem on its head, to view it from a new perspective and discover the solution. You don't have to be a creative guru to do so, as such qualities can be learn't. But first, you have to share Franklin Roosevelt's belief that happiness is not in the mere possession of money; it lies in the joy of achievement, in the thrill of creative effort.
Creativity is key to business continuity
I'm not sure those "green" shopping bags given by many retailers nowadays serve the purpose they are meant to, which is, protect the environment.Such items - in all size and colors - now add to the massive collection of bags, umbrellas and other freebies cluttering up my home.
Most of the "green" bags I've received are too small and flimsy to be practical, and even if they are, there's a limit to how many I could use in my lifetime! their production also costs money and uses precious resources.As an environmentally-conscious consumer, I would appreciate it better if retailers rendered me value for money and better service, or offered me ways to save money, instead of giving me something that will go to waste because I do not need it.
This is where creativity comes in.It's always easy to stick to what everyone else is doing, but it might be more beneficial for your business if you come up with promotion ideas that make your customers feel truly rewarded, sp they keep coming back.
One doesn't have to be brilliant to generate creative ideas.We can pick up ideas by being more observant of the world around us when we watch television programmes; read newspaper, magazines and books; talk to customers, employees and business associates; or travel.We need to mull over those ideas we think are viable, and find ways to apply are adapt them for our own use.
Her's a case in point: in the early 1990s, I got to know a regional sales manager while attending a course. his job entailed regular overseas travel, and it was during a business trip to the US that he came upon the opportunity to take up a cinnamon bun franchise.He took the risk of being the first to operate the franchise and it was a huge success.Unfortunately, operation ceased a couple of years later, after competitors entered the market.
Creativity has always been a essential business skill; no matter how successful a business is, it has to keep reinventing itself.This is especially so in a dynamic global marketplace in which the rules of the game are constantly changing.Being creatively agile will not only help your business survive but give you a powerful competitive advantage too.
Be different, make a difference
