3 Ways to Access Your Creativity

Business always requires a level of creativity, but in economically challenging times like these, creativity is essential for survival. But how can you access your creativity when you are staring at your stack of bills? You can't. You have to do something different. Here are some ideas:

  1. Have a tea & brainstorm party. Invite a group of creative business-types over for tea and brainstorm. Tell them your situation, and that you are open to any and all ideas of how to get free marketing, generate more sales.

  2. Walk away from it. ("It" can be your business, your fear, your checkbook, your bills, your receivables.) Literally take a walk, or go to the gym, or the local museum. Give your worrying mind a break for an hour.

  3. Leverage other people's creativity. Starting now, keep a list of things that others do that impress you and figure out how you can use it in your business. Here's one I read about yesterday: A fine china/gifts shop in Chicago realized that they couldn't compete with the big box stores, so they emphasized their "localness" by throwing a benefit for their local symphony in their store. They had appetizers, wine, and raffled prizes. It ended up bringing 150 people into their store and they had the highest sales for a single day ever. Of course, there were costs associated with it, but they got all kinds of people into their store who'd never been there, and they changed people's perception of them to a strong positive.

Do something different today!