Thinking Outside the Box
We all need to develop new ways to advertise our businesses and get new customers, especially in the current tough economy. The term “think outside the box” has been around forever, but exactly how do you do it?
Today I came across a poll that asked which you put on on a sandwich first, the peanut butter or the jelly. My first thought was “Peanut butter, of course!” But wait…how many people actually put the jelly on first? As it turns out, just over 1%.
Those are people operating “outside the box” – whether they actually think that way, or are just copying how Mom used to make pb & j sandwiches, they are not following the norm.
6 Barriers to Creative Thinking
What prevents us from thinking more creatively and coming up with new ideas? There are 6 barriers:
- Negative Attitude – focusing on the negative aspects of problems and wastefully expending energy on worrying
- Fear of Failure – not wanting to look foolish or be laughed at
- Stress – being overstressed makes it hard to think creatively
- Following Rules – mindlessly conforming to accepted rules and limitations
- Making Assumptions – restricting creative thinking by relying on past experience and not asking questions
- Over-Reliance on Logic – relying strictly on logic instead of utilizing imagination, intuition, and humor
Changing Our Thinking
One way to effect a change in thinking is to consider options beyond common sense and standard rules. Ask “Why” and “What if” questions. Brainstorm with a friend or write down every crazy thing that comes into your mind, no matter how off-the-wall it is, to solve a problem. Then be willing to try something completely different – squelch the impulse to say “That won’t work.”
Setting a Goal
Join me in setting a goal for the day – to rethink the things we do by rote, doing them differently even if it doesn’t “make sense.” It will take some effort to even realize there are options, but it will get your brain firing, resulting in more creative thought.
Here are some ideas:
- Eat something different than your usual for breakfast.
- Take a different route to work, even if it is longer.
- Go to lunch with someone you don’t know well.
- Ask that person’s opinion of something you’ve been considering.
- Instead of saying (or thinking) “no” say “I’ll think about it” – then do so.
Steve Jobs Says
“It’s better to be a pirate than join the navy.”
Tags: making money online, online marketing, seo
Nice post. I personally find that fear doesn’t stop me from having creative thoughts, but it can stop me from taking action on those creative thoughts. I think that personality type plays a big role in people’s ability to think outside the box.
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Great post. Got an idea from here. Thanks
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Good point about fear, George. I agree, personality does make a difference – some people think outside the box all the time (they’re often referred to as “eccentric” lol!).
I’m finding your articles on SEO very informative. In relation to “thinking outside the box,” I also think that you should never set a goal which is too high, or you won’t be able to achieve it and you can get disappointed. We should also look at failure/ mistakes as stepping stones to success so as not to bring us down.
Inspiring! I was just thinking about the same thing and I came here accidently, so right time right place. I’ll think about going to lunch with someone I don’t know well. We don’t know what we’ll find on a person if not getting know of him/her better. Who knows he/she actually can share great ideas and inspiring stories we might never even thought before.
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Makati – I think that if we do set a very high goal, we need to break it down into “baby steps” so we don’t get overwhelmed. You’re right, we need to have the right attitude about failures or it gets very depressing.
Exactly! I love your attitude!
Great tips I find alot of people really never break out of the box when it comes to online marketing. For example alot of people just do nothing but directory submissions or article submissions and never branch out or try and think of creative business marketing ideas.
Thank you for the inspiring useful tips. Sometimes over confidence is dangerous too. All we need is braveness with careful calculation. Nothing to be fear about.
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I might try that different route going to work. Might freshen my mind a bit. Thanks for the tips. And maybe ask my pretty co worker to lunch too
Michael´s last blog ..OneSuite, the Hybrid Communications Service
Thinking out of the box..is something we all know of but are afraid to do it.You have rightly mentioned the points that act as a barrier to creative thinking.Thanks for the post.Was interesting to read your analysis.
a very useful article for me. This article gives insight to me to think out of box. I have several months of online business but it was hard to raise Traffict so my income is very small. I will try to implement seo techniques that I read from this article. I kept waiting for the next articles
Thanks
Herniawan
herniawan´s last blog ..Stimulus Factors of Motivation
LOL you never know what could happen when you change things up a bit!
Well, exploring the so called “outside the box” methods could also be nice while trying out some wild theories about websites development, marketing and optimization.
The theory can account for most of the innovative and creative ideas proposed by the experts over the net.
Think out of a box, I always hear it from my Boss but one of my co employee said where is the box?:LOL(she’s just kidding. Sometimes thinking outside of a box makes you express the brilliant ideas running in your mind.
Thanks for the tips..
Great ideas to think creatively.
I personally find that one of the best ways to be creative is to bounce ideas off you family and friends. Yes, sometimes they can be over critical (but it’s only because they love you), but most of the time it can give you some very positive feedback and additional ideas.
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When I meet a problem I cannot solve, I don’t always think about ways to conquer it. I pretty much more consider reasons that have lead to it. Think outside the box, think outside the ordinary view of things
Sweet idea here i have to thank you alot
Elsabe – that’s a very good idea
Excellent tips; people must have to follow their routine life with the help of some tips provided here. Definitely it will help to bring relief from depression, tension and so many other things.
I always find fear in prospecting with real life situations, which is probably why I spend so much time on the web prospecting for my business. Reading this gave me the confidence to pick up the phone after this comment and talk to a few people I have been meaning to talk with. Thank you.
That is awesome!
Your example of the peanut butter and jelly is very true. We do it because our moms used to do it and we follow their example. We must learn how to do things by ourselves and by copying it.
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I don’t always think about ways to conquer it. I pretty much more consider reasons that have lead to it.
The main barrier on the way of creative thinking is just lack of practice, to my mind. The more we think – the better we do it.
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Yes, but I think people tend to think in the same way, and forget they need to “shake up” their thinking once in awhile. I know I get in a rut with my thinking, at times. One way I get out of that is to pretend I’m someone else, and try to think like they would.
I think the principle does apply to any endeavor that we wish to pursue. Break the laws after you have learned about it. Challenge yourself every time.
omg..this is really something different..i wud surely try and think beyond level
Thanks for the tips, Always think out of the box rather than trap yourself inside. Its like looking into thing’s in another angle.
Very interesting ideas you’ve concluded with Kay. I’m a huge fan of “thinking out of the box” when it comes to exercise. ie: actively taking longer routes etc.
I think creative thinking is becoming more and more essential for online marketers as everyone is jumping on the bandwagon and the low hanging fruit is becoming less and less…. juicy.
Dave Davis´s last blog ..Google To Become The World’s Biggest Search Affiliate?
a very useful article! this method can be very good to bring more visitors to my site. Thanks for your post!
I would suggest also reading widely. One can pick up a lot of ideas from reading, especially reading things you’re not accustomed to.
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I like the six barriers shared. I think worry is an underlying theme to much of productive thinking, and the root of some of what you’ve provided here.
Colleen´s last blog ..Kennewick Real Estate
Yes, worry kills me!
Agreed!
Dave – you’re right about the “low hanging fruit” lol!
Exactly!
Great. Thinking Out of the Box
Thank you for the tip. the best part of this post is making us thinking out of box which is must in these era.
Thank you very much for the excellent and useful subject
don’t always think about ways to conquer it. I pretty much more consider reasons that have lead to it.
Interesting ideas! This is essential to make money online these days I suppose.
Carello Tim´s last blog ..Car Shipping: Gap Bridger and Boundary Breaker
Very rightly said… very right about barrier…
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