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3 Surprising Ways to Create More Ideas Than Your Business Will Ever Need

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creative thinking

You’ve been waiting for that light bulb moment for so long that you’re worried it’s never going to come. It’s not that your old ideas aren’t good enough, they just aren’t working. And you know that if you’re going to stop your business from stagnating, inspiration has to strike soon.

Don’t worry, it’s not your fault. It’s easy to feel disheartened when the creative juices stop flowing. And nobody wants to be the victim of a creative rut that’s impossible to escape. But fortunately for you, this frustrating mental block is easier to break through than you might expect.

Here are 3 surprising psychological principles you can use to create more ideas than your business will ever need:

1. Stop Looking For New Ideas

Most people think that creativity involves coming up with new and original ideas. After all, it’s impossible to be inventive if you just keep reusing the same old thinking patterns, right? Actually evolutionary psychology disagrees.

According to professor Jakob Hohwy, the human brain is inherently predictive. In other words, we’re exceptionally good at using past experiences to predict the outcomes of events we haven’t encountered before.

We do this through a cognitive bias known as anchoring – a subconscious tendency to focus on the first piece of information we’re exposed to, and use it to influence our subsequent decisions.

Anchoring gives the appearance that we’re excellent at creating new ideas, when in fact we’re just recycling old ones and adapting them to contexts in which they haven’t been used before.

Creativity is therefore not about creating new ideas. It’s about constantly evolving and modifying old ideas to fit new situations. And that’s a good thing because it means you don’t need to stress every time you hit a roadblock.

Instead, relax and focus on the successful ideas you’ve implemented in the past. There’s a strong possibility that they’ll work for you again if you give them a slight tweak.

“To really boost your sense of self-efficacy, think of ways you could modify your usual tasks to suit your personal style.” – Martha Beck

2. Trick Your Brain With Psychological Distancing

Creativity is not a personality trait (despite what you might have heard). Yes, it’s true that some people possess a greater natural propensity for creative thought than others. But creativity is a skill that can be developed like any other.

In fact, psychology researchers from the University of Tel Aviv suggest that creativity has as much to do with the internal workings of our brain, as it does with the context in which the thinking takes place.

And they’ve come up with a clever brain hack. We can enhance our creativity by changing the way we mentally perceive our environment using a phenomenon know as psychological distancing.

Here’s how it works. Psychological distancing involves imagining that an object is further away from you than it actually is. And this forces your brain to represent it abstractly.

You’re now working with a mental representation of the object – rather than a concrete one that influences your perception of it through distinct physical characteristics (sight, sound, touch ect).

Psychologists suggest that humans can easily form unexpected connections between abstract thoughts using a process known as divergent thinking. But that’s not the case for objects we see in front of us because their physical attributes bias our thinking.

However, being forced to think abstractly about these same objects strips away this bias, and makes it easier to draw comparisons between objects that are seemingly unrelated.

So the next time you’re struggling to ignite your creative spark, simply change the way you perceive the things around you. You’ll be surprised at the unusual connections you can make between objects that once appeared to be mundane.

 

3. Expand Your Mind With Positive Thinking

Let’s be honest, the term “positive thinking” has a bad reputation. It’s overused, it’s ambiguous, and it’s lost its credibility. But while these criticisms are certainly well deserved, science suggests that positive thinking (or more specifically the positive emotions it promotes) can actually physically affect our brain.

Psychology professor Barbara Fredrickson states that humans experience two different types of emotions, negative and positive; each with their own set of catalysts.

Negative emotions like fear, stress and anger occur in response to perceived threats. And in threatening situations we’ve been evolutionarily programmed to focus our thoughts on a single, impulsive course of action; the fight or flight response.

This forces our brains to make immediate, instinctive judgements. That means that we perform specific actions while subconsciously ignoring a whole variety of alternatives. But while this narrow focus is a great survival mechanism, it sucks for creative thinking because it obscures a whole spectrum of potential choices.

On the other hand, professor Fredrickson suggests that positive emotions are catalysts for considered, thoughtful action. That’s because they aren’t associated with imminent danger or the impulsive responses that come with them.

Therefore, if you’re able to consistently evoke positive emotions and suppress the influences of negative ones, you’ll become significantly more perceptive than the less cheerful people around you.

So the next time you’re stuck in a creative slump, remember that sometimes a simple change in attitude is all you need to grasp ideas that might have been in front of you all along.

“Once you replace negative thoughts with positive ones, you’ll start having positive results.” – Willie Nelson

4. Ignite Your Creative Engine

The only thing more disheartening than a bad idea is not being able to come up with an idea in the first pace. Sure, it can be scary when the creative sparks stop firing. Especially when the success of your business relies on consistent and original thinking. But everybody has their slow days. Even the most creative minds in the world need a break sometimes.

Using just one of these surprising creativity insights should reignite your creative spirits, get you back on your feet, and give you the confidence you need to drive the innovation that your business so desperately deserves.

How do you keep your creative juices flowing? Leave your thoughts below!
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Startups

5 Strategic Power Moves to Successfully Build Your Empire

Transitioning from idea to empire is a journey of strategic planning, execution, and constant evolution

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how to build your empire

The journey from a fledgling idea to a thriving empire is both exhilarating and daunting. The Startup Launchpad is not just a process but also a strategic framework that enables visionary entrepreneurs to become market leaders. This framework comprises five power moves, each a critical steppingstone in building a successful business.

These moves—Ideation, Business Plan, Online Presence, Strategic Marketing, and Launch and Growth—are the blueprint for turning aspirations into achievements. (more…)

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How to Avoid Startup Clichés and Buzzwords When Pitching Investors

Using jargon can make you sound like you’re trying to fill space instead of providing meaningful data

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How to pitch investors better

Entrepreneurs frequently seek startup funding through a variety of channels. Yet, none seem as challenging as successfully pitching to experienced investors. After all, investors are pressed for time and eager for opportunities. These characteristics make it challenging to motivate them, especially if you’re bombarding them with a pitch full of jargon. (more…)

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From Idea to Empire: 5 Power Moves for Your Startup to Thrive in Today’s Market

As an entrepreneur, I’ve learned that understanding market dynamics and choosing the right business model are crucial

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How to thrive in the startup market in 2024

As an entrepreneur, I’ve learned that understanding market dynamics and choosing the right business model are crucial.

A few months into the startup, I was quick to gauge why it is necessary to go beyond the nuances of operational efficiency and the art of sustaining a business amid growing competition.

Collaboration is key.

The HR and the recruiting teams work with departments to foster a culture of collaboration, but what’s indispensable to business performance is the sync between the marketing and sales teams. What we’d consider as entrepreneurs is the need to ensure seamless collaboration to predict and achieve business goals together. In turn, this will help secure long-term recurring revenue for the business.

Besides, entrepreneurs need to focus on revenue as they gear up to take their startup from $0 to $1 million. The journey is filled with critical decisions, from identifying your target customer base to choosing the right funding strategy.

So, what next?

Read on… because here are five practical, results-driven strategies that you as a founder can implement to make a mark in their industry.

#1. Embrace the Lean Methodology

What is lean methodology?

It is all about pivoting resources to create more value for customers with fewer resources. 

This principle encourages you to be more agile and allow rapid iteration based on customer feedback rather than spending years perfecting a product before it hits the market.

Want to implement it?

Here’s what you can do.

Build “Measure-Learn” Loop: What I did was develop a minimum viable product (MVP), a simple version of the product. You can do the same since it allows you to start the learning process as quickly as possible. After launching MVP, measure how customers use it and learn from their behaviors and feedback.

Here’s what I can recommend here:

  • Identify the core features that solve your customers’ primary needs and focus solely on those to develop your MVP.
  • Know the feedback channels where early users can communicate their experiences, suggestions, and complaints.
  • Analyze user behavior and feedback to make informed product development and iteration decisions.

#2. Focus on Customer Development

Let’s talk about taking our startup to the next level. 

It’s not just about getting customers – it’s about really getting to know them. We need to dive into their world, understand their struggles, and see how our product or service can make a difference in their lives. 

It’s like we’re detectives, piecing together the puzzle of our business hypothesis by actually chatting with our customers

What would you ideally do here?

Understand Customer Segments: I’d say, start dividing your target market into segments and develop a deep understanding of each segment’s demographics, behaviors, needs, and pain points. The idea is to get into their shoes and really feel what they feel.

Ensure your Product Clicks: When starting up, think of what you offer and consider whether it clicks with what our customers need. My thought was “Does my product solve their problems? Does it make their day better?” Put yourself through a tough grilling session to show customers the value proposition and ensure that the product’s promise matches what our customers are looking for.

I’d recommend the following actions here:

  • Talk to them – through surveys, interviews, or even casual chats. The goal? To gather real, raw insights about what they need and expect.
  • Use the collected data to create detailed profiles for each type of customer. This way, everyone on our team really understood we were serving. I think this should help your startup as well.
  • Try out different versions of our product with a few customer groups. It’s all about feedback here – understanding if you’re hitting the mark or if we need to pivot.

#3. Foster a Data-Driven Culture

The digital world is highly data driven since it fuels key decisions in a startup. 

I believe it’s essential for us to build a data-driven culture. This means, you’ll move from making decisions based on hunches or assumptions. Instead, the focus should be on data analytics and insights to guide our strategies and improve our outcomes.

What can you do?

Use Data Analytics Tools: You should be using these tools to gather, analyze, and interpret data related to customer behavior, market trends, and our business operations. Here, consider the adoption of pipeline forecasting that leverages AI to find patterns in marketing data. 

In turn, you’ll get areas for improvement since it can analyze historical data and predict the outcome for you to plan your.

Action Items:

  • Pinpoint key performance indicators (KPIs) that align with your business objectives and ensure they are measurable and actionable.
  • Next, you can consider training your team to understand and use data analytics tools. This might involve workshops or bringing in experts to build a data-savvy workforce.
  • Once everything is in place, regularly review data reports and dashboards. This gives us a clear picture of a startup’s health and helps adjust your strategies and predict future trends.

#4. Strengthen Your Financial Acumen

A good grip on financial skills is important to steer your business towards growth and making sure it stays on track. For this, you’ll have to understand the money side of things, which helps you manage your cash flow. Think of figuring out smart investment moves and sizing up any risks that come your way.

Here’s a tip on how you can get savvy with your finances.

Maintain Rigorous Financial Discipline: I’m really focused on cultivating a strong company culture, one that truly resonates with our mission. So, I’d suggest fostering open communication and encouraging a sense of ownership and collaboration among everyone in the team.

Action Items:

  • Get to know your financial statements inside out – I’m talking about the income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statement. These are like the vital signs for your business’s financial health
  • Use financial forecasting that helps predict your future money moves. With this, you will have a heads-up on upcoming revenues, expenses, and how much cash you’ll need. Also, research on the available financial forecasting tools that can make predictions spot-on.
  • Don’t go at it alone. Regularly touch base with financial advisors or mentors. With them by your side, you’ll have a fresh perspective on your financial strategies to ensure you’re on the right path to hit your business goals.

5. Prioritize Team Building and Leadership Development

It is crucial to focus on building a solid team and developing strong leaders. This means putting our resources into the people who are going to propel our company forward. 

What you’ll aim for here?

Creating a culture where everyone collaborates and every team member has the chance to emerge as a leader.

What I would do:

Cultivate a Strong Company Culture: This culture should mirror our mission and foster open communication. It’s important that it encourages everyone to feel a sense of ownership and work together.

Invest in Leadership and Team Development: As founders, we’ll have to make way for opportunities for teams to enhance their skills, face new challenges, and grow in their careers.

Some concrete steps that you should consider taking:

  • Begin with clearly communicating your startup’s vision, mission, and values so that every team member is on the same page.
  • Conduct regular team-building activities and workshops to boost skills and strengthen a sense of unity and collaboration.
  • How about starting a mentorship program within our organization? The more experienced team members could guide and support the growth of newer or less experienced folks.
  • Alas… encourage feedback at all levels. We should keep striving to create an environment where open, honest communication is the norm and everyone feels safe to speak up.

I know it’s one thing to get your head around these ideas and quite another to actually make them a part of your everyday business life. But that’s where the real magic happens, right? It’s all in the doing. 

As a startup founder, this means more than just being a big dreamer. How about rolling up your sleeves to be the planner who pays attention to the smallest details. Ultimately, these tips and more tactics around it will help carve a leader in you who listens and cares and the learner who’s always ready to adapt

So, as you’re either starting out or moving forward on this entrepreneurial adventure, keep these practical tips right there.

May these be your guiding lights, helping you steer through the wild and exciting world of building a startup that’s not just a dream, but a thriving reality.

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12 Things I Learned in 12 Months of Working on My Startup

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Image Credit: Unsplash

A few weeks ago I launched my startup. It took exactly 12 months from the initial idea until the moment I saw my app in the App Store. And these were some of the most challenging, fun and exciting 12 months of my whole life. (more…)

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