Are you an ideas person? A problem solver? Do you like to implement new ideas and input creatively where you can?
Just recently, I have been reflecting on how ideas have come about for me over the years, and where good ideas actually come from. Regardless of your profession or career, I believe being able to think clearly and develop your own ideas, as well as embrace the ideas of others is essential to your personal and business development.
If you are short on ideas, it may mean you are not asking your clients the right questions, you cannot see outside of your daily tasks, or you are too busy to think straight.
So, where have the best ideas come from?
There are many ways good ideas can come about, here are a few may relate to.
1. Finding solutions to existing problems
By understanding the problems your clients face, can lead to developing a solution for that problem. A good idea is essentially a solution to a problem. For example, developing checklists and connecting clients to service providers is a great way to help them overcome the overwhelm when it is time to prepare for sale.
2. Listening and engaging in good conversations
Some of my best ideas have come from good conversations with my clients. When you discover what the real problem is, you can begin to develop ideas that will support that problem. For example, if your clients are time poor, gifting them a box of fresh fruit or vegetables may be a great option! Shopping is time consuming. Often great ideas for blogs come from good conversations.
3. Experiencing a problem yourself
If things are not working out, or something has happened that has put you in an negative place, the solution will not be far away. See your own problems as opportunities to create a new ways of working, or living!
4. Enhancing the personal experience
Whether we like it or not, we live in an emotional world and the best ideas are those that touch a cord or make the end user feel special. Adapting ideas you see in the marketplace, based on not only how they make you feel, but also the end user feel, is a very good idea.
5. From impulse
When you step away from the business of life and de-stress, you will find some of the best ideas can mind. Simply clearing any resistant thought and having fun, whether or not that be through activity or meditation can lead you to think impulsively by tapping into your innate wisdom.
If you would like to increase your creativity, I would suggest taking time out for yourself, spending time in nature. Just watch them arise!!
So how do you test if an idea is going to work?
When you come up with an idea, either big or small, run through this quick checklist, and see how it fares. If your idea is not practical, it may not only take your focus away from your essential tasks, you may end up not only wasting time and money, but you may risk falling backwards in your business.
• Is your idea practical?
• How much will it cost to produce?
• How long will it take to implement?
• Is it personalised or automated?
• Is it too generic?
• What are the strengths and weaknesses?
• Do I have the resources?
• Has it been done before?
As you all know, we live in a world of budding entrepreneurs, and there is an incredible resource of ideas out there that will either support you to get your idea up and running, or they may have already thought of your problem, come up with the solution, and you can just plug-in.
If you do not choose to thoroughly research or explore your avenues when you have an idea, you may end up wasting time and money. Google your idea, see what others have done, read blogs, search for images. The resources you find will often be helpful and may accelerate the process so you can implement your idea more quickly.
Never discount an idea, always explore thoughts that come to mind. If you are working from an inspired space, you are sure to succeed or at least learn a little along the way!
Julia Dyer is a marketing specialist within the real estate industry, helping to change perceptions and bridge the gap between agents and consumers.
Her recently released book ‘POSITIVE PROSPECTING’ – 7 Steps to attract genuine enquiry and become the agent of choice more often is now available for purchase at juliadyer.com.au/shop or you can purchase your free introductory chapter at juliadyer.com.au
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