Think Outside the Box

They say “when in Rome, do as the Romans do,” but why do i want to be like everybody else? I don’t! I want to be unique, i want to be outside the box, and ideally in the position best suited for success. It pains me to see trends being set. Not because there shouldn’t be things that catch on, but because it means so many people are doing nothing more than copying others. It’s not new, it’s been going on since the dark ages. Fashion, food choices, fitness regimens, diets… All the result of many copying few.

Be a Trendsetter

Instead of following trends, why not set them? How? Be daring. Be bold. Analyze the trend. Can the same result be achieved in a different way? Is that way worth considering? Think outside of the box. Don’t know how to think outside of the box? Here are a few tips:

• Question norms. Why is this being done? Is there anything I could do to impove it? Why is it being done this particular way? I want to change this process. What if I tried it this way? Here is the expected result – how could doing something different affect this? Consider yourself the enemy of the trend. try to take the trend down. By looking for weaknesses and loopholes in an idea, you may become better equipped to improve upon it.
• Zoom out. Instead of examining something on a specific level and with a fine toothed comb, try taking a more high level view. Doing this, you may see uncommon possible connections that you may not have seen before.
• Two heads are better than one. The more brains you have looking at an idea, the more insights to will have to achieving it. bounce ideas off of colleagues and take notes of their input.
• Draw a picture. Creativity and logic are controlled in two different areas of the brain. Drawing stimulates the creative side. instead of writing an outline and forcing the logical portion to work, draw your idea (if possible) and see what happens when the creative side takes over.

In regard to your business, whether it is cooking, programming or YouTubing, think outside the box and become a trendsetter. We know that the many will copy the few…why shouldn’t you be one of the few? Be at the top of the food chain. In an ocean full of fish, be a shark!

Author: Donnell Peavy