In a nutshell: Business is like art- stick to a medium but find different angles to make your product shine. A World Beyond Your World There is a book out called 365: A Daily Creativity Journal by Noah Scalin, and it is full of amazing, eye-opening ideas for artists. It challenges artists to learn a new medium, to look somewhere other than where they normally go for inspiration, to study a new subject, to look at everyday life different than, well, everyday life- to see it as art! One man was so inspired by the book that he took up a new style of canvas painting. He paints one a day and sells it on eBay. Because he has to have a new subject to paint each day, he is training himself to see his world differently. That is the goal of this book- to help artists realize there is another world beyond their worlds, and that there is another use for something they have always used one way (example, tea bags can stain papers and woods after you use them!).
See Your Business In A Different Light When we work in our businesses, we often get into a groove, and we keep our heads down and move through a day. We find what works, and go with it. And this is great! However, we need to grow in our work and in our businesses. Keep doing what works, but find another angle, a new approach, a new way to look at something and a new way for your customers to view something. Let’s say you offer 10 products, and they sell well. But what reason do they have to return to your business? By trying new products, you are keeping customers interested in what you have to offer. Stick with what works- Now this doesn’t mean you should jump all over the map. It is important to stick with what you are good at; just try new ways to make it successful. If you sell local wine, don’t branch out and try to sell fuzzy socks. A better idea might be to sell locally designed and printed wine bags. Try new ways to do what you are good at and remember that risk often equals success.
