Where do I get new ideas?
Ideas seldom come from the people who lead your business. They are so engrossed by the demands of reaching targets end getting through all the work every day.
Ideas often come from new people that have just started working for you. They see the business with new eyes. Many of us get used to the small inconsistencies or inadequacies that gradually become acceptable. We do not see our own mistakes anymore. It often needs someone looking in to point out the inconsistencies. So ask the new hires if they have any ideas.
You also get new ideas from people on the periphery. Ask the cleaners or the packers. If you are on the perimeter you might have a dozen good ideas.
The front line workers know all the shortcuts. Work with them for a day and see what they do. You will get plenty of good ideas.
Your customers will also give you ideas. Customers do know what they want, they do know what they like, and if you show them new things they will quickly tell them what they think. Starbucks often use this method to test new drinks. If you want to gather up great ideas you must set up listening posts where your customers can talk to you. They will appreciate the opportunity and you will learn a lot.
You can also learn from great companies in other industries. If you are in retail you can find out how a great airline sell the same seats over and over again. If you are in decorating you can visit great hotels where you can see their take on interior decorating. The history of innovation is full of 'geniuses' who begged, borrowed and stole ideas from one category and simply applied them to another.
Here are a few time-tested techniques for coming up with great ideas.
1. Focus on quantity, not quality. Most of us think we have to wait for one big killer idea to strike. In the process we ignore or screen out a myriad of smaller interesting, useful, clever ideas. But the truth is, they are all worth considering. You never know when a small idea will morph into a big one. So love them all.
2. Collect them all. Once you get into the ideas generating business, you will want to collect all the ideas you can get your hands on. When you think of an idea, write it down. When you see something interesting, write it down. You should carry a notebook with you. You should transfer these ideas to your computer where you can pick through what you have collected, review it and see what really stand out.
3. Get outside of your comfort zone. If you want new ideas, the best thing to do is to go looking for them. Do you get ideas from magazines? Go to the nearest magazine rack and buy five magazines that you never read. If you do beading you can buy a cookbook or a garden magazine, ideas come from a spark. If you are a historian, try and read a novel. Try and develop your peripheral vision. You will be surprised what you notice when you are in unfamiliar territory.
4. Travel. They say that travel is broadening but it is also deepening. The enemy of new ideas is the familiar. So go someplace new. If you can't go to an exotic country, you can read the travel guidebook as if you are going to travel there. At a minimum try and eat at an exotic restaurant. Open up the borders of your mind.
5. Reach out and touch someone. Make a list of people whose minds you genuinely respect. Make it a point to call them on a regular basis for a conversation. All you have to ask is. "What's new?" Then listen and take notes. Journalist does it all the time. It is called, developing sources. Try it in your business, it works.
6. Get taught. Sign up for a class. Generating ideas is part of learning. It could be anything. Gardening, cooking, a new language or photography. Your mind will open. Once you start noticing new things in class you will notice them at work too.
I hope I have given you some food for thought. I do this all the time and I also get new ideas. I want you to succeed and make tons of money.
Gerdus.
The coffee I just had came from Portugal and was percolated in our Swiss made coffee machine. It tasted real good.
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