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by Joanna Krotz ......................................................................................................... |
Thinking out of the box used to be the small-business mantra. It was the battle cry of the little guy. Now? Not so much. With credit tight and sales weak, who can afford the time, the dollars, the staff, the trials and errors that, at best, still yield a long wait for return on investment? Yet creative environments remain the key to success. New ideas help you stand out, add value, improve your business model and boost revenue. Stop innovating and you die. So how does a smart entrepreneur resolve this dilemma of dollars versus development? You guessed it: Get creative about being creative.
You’ll need breathing and brainstorming room. No one can see the horizon while toiling in the trenches. But don’t be buffaloed by the economic climate.
- Idea generation. Think as if there are no constraints. What would you like to do?
- Planning. How would you go about it if your vision were possible?
- Critiquing. Be your own worst critic. What are the flaws in your plan?
How to press creative juices without squeezing the budget? If your goal is day-to-day innovation and motivating staff to push boundaries, then remember that workplaces with such a dynamic only thrive when risk-taking, individuality and fearless thinking are rewarded.
To expand into new markets or add products or services, "join forces with other marketers to bring in more revenue without having to make a risky up-front investment,” suggests Alexander Hiam, author of "Business Innovation for Dummies." An added benefit is that you also tap the partner’s experience and brain trust.
Of course, innovation looks different to every business. But, when leaders are committed to creativity and “invest their energy — not necessarily money — in it, creativity will flourish in its own unique way.”