When you research the highly successful innovators, like Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, or Stephanie Louise Kwolek (inventor of Kevlar and National Inventor Hall of Famer), it’s easy to assume they tap into something. How is it that they create ideas that change how we operate in the world?
The answer is, they exercise their brain. They get in the habit of shifting into what’s possible.
It’s not that innovative people don’t get stopped or stumped. After all, operating a business or creating new technology comes with a lot of challenges.
What differentiates the highly innovative is shifting out of the stuck place. Whether you are stuck in a decision or hit a creative slump, there is a simple way to shift in order to innovate your way out.
When confused, you become mentally paralyzed. It’s natural for people to consider this or that causing a rise in anxiety, fear or frustration. You get stuck because you consider only two options: this or that.
When your mind gets fixed in a this-or-that scenario, your creative juices stop. Get those innovative juices flowing again by considering how tasks or options can be integrated.
When you’re stuck in a this-or-that scenario, ask yourself how you could combine options. By integrating solutions or taking pieces from both options, you find brand new alternatives that can work.
When I challenged a client about expanding a new line of business she had been talking about starting for some time, she immediately pushed back. She looked at the addition as something “extra” and her plate was already full.
She was stuck in a this-or-that mindset. If I expand my already full plate, I’ll be even more busy and I can’t handle anymore.
Then, I simply asked her to consider a concept from my book, Me, Myself, and Why? The Secrets to Navigating Change. The concept is called the and solution. How could she expand her business and work less?
Suddenly, the light bulb went on. We looked at creating a team and how she could build a bigger plate rather than adding more on her existing plate.
The and solution can be applied in many ways, including:
• Negotiating a contract where there is a deadlock
• Idea generation for a new product, service, or invention
• Reaching team consensus
• Making a decision
A simple way to get unstuck in your business is simply asking the AND questions:
• Where could you integrate solutions (a bit of this solution AND a bit of that solution)?
• When up against a deadline instead of overloading one employee, could you enroll employee A AND employee B to complete a project on time?
• What would be possible if you could scale your business AND have more time for the important things in your life?
Where in your life could you use the “and” concept to innovate? Considering the “and” option can open up a world of possibilities.
Want a fresh new way to scale your business?
Join us for the Wake Up Profitable Boot Camp for Business Owners on October 4-5, 2018 at the Business Innovation Lab in Livonia, Michigan. More at http://www.wakeupprofitable.com
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