© 2008 Michael Wynne

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©2008 by Michael Wynne

71 Creativity Triggers

If you are in the midst of a creative process, you can never get too much help; that’s why Creativity Triggers, will work for you. All too often we get stuck in the rut of daily routine and comfort zones. These suggestions work because they take your mind beyond normal parameters.

Much of the time, your mind is like a one-way street; everything seems to slowly flow in the same direction with lots of stop signs along the way. The Creativity Triggers turn it into a multiple lane highway where many different idea vehicles can travel simultaneously at greater speed with no tollbooths, or radar traps.

Another reason the Creativity Triggers work is because they are fun, especially if you are working with a group of colleagues and are in a brainstorming session. They will serve to loosen up your creativity muscles for a more intensive brainstorming workout that will generate hundreds of ideas. Their value in brainstorming is that they open doors and windows to new ideas and approaches.

Will they always give you the right answer to the problem you are trying to solve? No, but they will start you on your way to finding the right creative solution. Another interesting result of this type of thinking is that it will often generate not only the solution you need, but also generate many byproduct concepts and ideas that can become major innovations.

Why Creativity Triggers? Because you need them to get your imagination fired up, You need Creativity Triggers when your customers needs demand a new product, a new line of products, a new application, a new approach, or even a new business model. You need Creativity Triggers especially when you are

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brain dead from dealing with the daily business problems. You have heard of Writer’s Block; it’s pretty much the same as a Creativity Block in that you feel you can’t come up with a single new idea. Oftentimes, time pressures add to the anxiety, which doesn’t help you think.

In today’s fiercely competitive global business world, creativity and innovation are urgent business skills because every day brings unexpected challenges. Coming up with brilliant solutions for those challenges is hard at any time, especially when you haven’t learned the techniques that help you to be creative and innovative.

Thinking out of the Sarcophagus. Being stuck for new ideas is like a mummy trying to break of its wrappings; even if it succeeds, it still has to lift the heavy lid of the sarcophagus. That’s why the following Creativity Triggers are so important and valuable when you are trying to develop new ideas, concepts, approaches, products, processes, and even new business models. Creativity Triggers help you to break out of the confinement of daily routine. This is truly “Thinking out of the box.”

The Creativity Triggers will help you free your mind from its wrappings and find ways to lift the lid of the Sarcophagus of Routine Thinking. As you read and assimilate, each of these 71 Creativity Triggers, keep pen and paper, or the cybernetic equivalent thereof – your laptop, close by. Pause after each Creativity Trigger, and write down as many ideas that come to mind – whether or not they relate to what you are looking for – because they may be useful in a variety of other pursuits.

Creativity and the Right Brain Creativity and innovation are about right brain thinking. Your left brain is the analytical one that thinks linearly. Your right brain is much more agile; it jumps around connecting many diverse thoughts that are not lined up together and, in the process, creates new ideas. Most creativity and innovation results from the association of two or more apparently unrelated ideas. Once the new idea emerges and solves the problem, it seems to have been obvious. For example, human beings had been lugging baggage around since they lived in caves, but it wasn’t until almost the end of the 20th century that someone thought of putting wheels on luggage. How could we not have thought of it centuries ago?

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71 Creativity Triggers and Teams Generating creative ideas and solutions works best if you are working with a team of colleagues. As you search for solutions, challenge them to list their ideas. Then, when they have finished writing, discuss the potential of each idea.

One more thing; these 71 Creativity Triggers may not always apply to your situation, but working with them could help you come up with a solution you might not have thought of normally. But, by working with each of the Creativity Triggers, even though you may not know much about one or two, you start thinking along lines that take you out of your comfort zone, and it is in that area where you are most likely to find the ideas you want.

Innovation Types. In business, there are four types of innovation: At any given time, you will focus on one or more simultaneously depending on the feedback you receive from customers regarding the various benefits you offer and their value to them. To beat the competition in today’s markets you need to constantly apply Creativity Triggers to each of these areas:

Product. Introduce new products or services that are substantially improved, reduce or eliminate tasks, and are perceived as valuable by customers.

Process. Improve or designs new processes that in such areas as manufacturing, management, distribution, training, research, customer service, etc.

Marketing. Develop new marketing methods with improvement in such areas as product design, packaging, product promotion, pricing, and positioning.

Organizational. Create new organizations, business models, business practices, management approaches, and behaviors.

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Fountain of Inspiration

The following illustration of the Fountain of Inspiration focuses on two areas of inspiration, Pain and Pleasure. A third factor is Necessity, which can be either painful or pleasant. Any time you can reduce or eliminate pain and inconvenience, customers will appreciate. Equally, if you can provide more pleasure, people will seek to buy your product or service. Regardless of the specific type of innovation you pursue, the Fountain of Inspiration and the 71 Creativity Triggers will get you started on the right creative track, which is also the more productive one.

Laughter

Discovery

Curiosity

Excitement

Fun

Necessity

Problems

Complaints

Conflict

Dissatisfaction

Aggravation

The Fountain of Inspiration

On each side of the Fountain of Inspiration, streams of water jet upwards and outwards. On the right side of the fountain are the customers’ pains: Problems, Complaints, Conflict, Aggravation, Dissatisfaction. On the left side are the customers’ pleasures: Fun, Laughter, Curiosity, Discovery, Excitement. Straight up at the top in center is the Mother of Invention, Necessity.

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The Idea is to Prevent the Pain, and Pursue the Pleasure.

Pain. If you walk in your costumers shoes you will certainly discover the things that cause them pain; develop a novel way to reduce or eliminate it, turn pain into relief and pleasure, and you’ve got a customer. Observe your customers’ behaviors, routines, and rituals, and you will discover what brings them pleasure. Then you will be able to create ways to bring them greater pleasures, and get them addicted to your product or service.

For example, Speed. What can you do to make your product or service faster? That’s what made FedEx. We are a time-pressured nation; anything that offers to save us time will get our attention. Save people time, and help them find ways to have more time, and you will create value.

How about Convenience? If your product or service can be delivered to our door, and we don’t have to drive somewhere to get it, that’s especially valued at today’s gasoline prices. Hello Domino’s! Or, are you tired of never having the right amount of change to get a Coke from a vending machine? Rejoice: Coca-Cola is experimenting with a vending machine that operates exclusively with credit cards.

What if you make it easier to use? None of us like to expend more effort than is absolutely necessary. I can’t understand why somebody hasn’t invented a bike tire that doesn’t need to be pumped with air every now and then. What if you design products and services for special groups? Seniors? Children? Teenagers? College Students? Disabled? Working Mothers? Single Mothers? Professionals? Ethnic Groups? Think of as many categories as you can, and ask yourself what problems they have or are going to have. New companies are now developing special needs foods for people with health and diet problems. What about organic foods for people concerned about environmental and health matters? New restaurants are featuring nutritionally enhanced foods on their menus. In Ireland, they are opening GastroPubs, where clients can get gourmet meals to accompany their drinks. When you make everything more comfortable, safer, versatile, or cheaper, you are relieving pain, and starting your customers on the way to pleasure.

Pleasure. Can you make learning fun? Planning interactivities for classrooms and audiences is a way to make learning both fun and educational. Can you combine a vacation with discovery? How about taking kids to Space Camp at Cape Canaveral? Or, going on a vacation with an archeological expedition?

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What can you do to create and satisfy curiosity? Murder mysteries do it all the time. What can you do to add excitement to the customer’s experience? Long flights are dreadfully boring and fatiguing. What can be done to make them exciting, that is, without scaring the daylights out of the passengers?

Waiting in lines is always tedious – except where? At Disney World where entertainment is provided while you wait. There is much we can learn from Disney about creating pleasure, fun, laughter, discovery, curiosity, and excitement – and making lots of money while at it.

Exercise.

• “Necessity is the mother of invention,” says the old adage. Some say that in today’s market, Luxury is the mother of invention. Can you imagine why? *

• If you are having problems coming up with an answer, explore each of the streams of the Fountain of Inspiration. The items on the left are what people want, the ones on the right are what they want to avoid. Ask yourself, how can this relate to the concept of Luxury replacing Necessity as the mother of invention?

• When looking for new ideas in business, it is vital to always start with the customer. All the items on the Fountain of Inspiration are what today’s customers are about. they are the customers wants and desires. That is why your search needs to begin with the Fountain of Inspiration, by asking questions about each of the items listed, and create a list of your answers, which become the conditions you must satisfy for achieving innovation success.

* The reason they say that today Luxury is the mother of invention is because, in most of the world, the necessities are pretty much taken care of. Others, however, are if the opinion that Comfort holds that position in today’ world. Either way, when searching for creative opportunities, keep them both in mind.

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71 Creativity Triggers.

When trying to come up with new ideas and approaches, there are many ways to stimulate your imagination. Focusing on any one of the following topics triggers new ways of looking at old concepts, products, and practices. For example, ask yourself, “How would a four-year old see this?” Or, “If a Martian saw this, what would he say?” And, of course, just asking the standard “Why?” can often open up a whole world of new perspectives.

1. Opposites. Sometimes, the best way to get a clear picture of what customers might want is to analyze what is the exact opposite, and then define what things might prevent that opposite. Example: BMW, the Ultimate Driving Experience, is a premium auto, and that is a problem because as much as people admire their German engineering and quality, not everyone can afford their wonderful cars. Solution; BMW bought the British Mini-Cooper brand and began building them in their own plants. The Mini-Cooper appeals to a different market segment, that of people looking for an affordable quality small car with an attractive design. Mini-Cooper now has an image of great quality and excellent engineering to go along with the more affordable price. Result: BMW now offers an attractive small car at a reasonable price and has not cheapened its premium brand. What is the opposite of what you now offer? What would be entirely different yet valuable?

2. Alien. Imagine you are an alien. To someone who sees something for the first time, they see it with fresh eyes, and see things that those who are familiar with the object often miss. If an alien came to earth, how would he see our products, lifestyles, customs, preferences, habits, social structure? Think of the types of questions and perceptions an alien might have. What would an alien think of traffic jams? How would an alien interpret its experience with your product or service?

For example, an alien looking at the traffic on our highways might think that cars are creatures, and that they all hold humans inside of them. Would an alien looking at our highways conclude that automobiles are the dominant species on earth?

3. Four-year olds. Children ask the best questions because they see the world with new eyes and without prejudices, bias, or assumptions. Told that a little bird was a humming bird, a four-year old asked, “Do they really hum?” Children challenge what everyone else considers obvious; we should do the same. Small children have no biases, no prejudgments; they simply take things as they are, and ask questions about what they don’t understand. It is that kind of fresh-eyes

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perception that opens new perspectives for all. Can you remember some of the questions you asked as a child? What questions have your children come up with? Have you questioned the logic of the way things are?

4. Why? It takes a lot of “Why’s” to get to the bottom of things, to find out the reasons for things. As you explore the origins of known things you often discover new ones and fresh insights. Some of the best ideas come simply asking why things are as they are. For example, if we were in the time-measuring business (clocks, watches, etc.), we might want to ask if the existing methods of measuring time are the most appropriate for all situations, or are there occasions when different methods might be better. We measure in seconds, minutes, hours, days, months, and years; in ancient times they measured in terms of crops, sewing, planting, harvesting, sunlight, darkness, rainy seasons, dry ones and others. When we go to Mars, seconds, minutes, and hours might be the same, but days, weeks, months, and years may be measured differently. It takes at least 5 “why’s” to get to the bottom of most questions. Keep coming up with “why’s”.

5. What if? Exploring alternatives opens paths to new thinking. “What if this didn’t exist; how would we deal with ...?” “What if we could ...?” “What if we were cave dwellers,’ how would we perceive this?” “What if” is the classic question that challenges the status quo. What if it were – bigger, smaller, longer, shorter, brighter, darker, rounder, quicker, cheaper, more expensive? What if there were two to a package instead of one? What if we offered it for gradual delivery rather than all at the same time? What if we had multiple end uses, prices, sizes, color? What if we outsourced its production rather than doing it ourselves? Asking “what if,” opens doors to complete new dimensions of thinking.

6. Scenarios. This is a variation on “What if?” involving a hypothetical situation such as “What if we have a recession?” Or, what if instead of developing new products, we develop a new type of customer? Suppose we faced an emergency such as a major storm, and the power went out; how would we communicate? What will our climate be like in 20 years, 50 years? Star Trek, the Next Generation had a facility called the Holodeck where people could program holographic simulations of stories and situations. What would you look for on the Holodeck? The Holodeck is where people “lived out” their fantasies.

7. Visual. Visual stimulus can get your juices flowing. Nature, pictures of beautiful sunsets, flowers, art, scenery, people, entertainers, historical moments, etc. are often inspiring. Consider showing excerpts from movies or TV programs. Depending on what we are looking for, seeing similar – and even dissimilar -- objects and concepts can stimulate our imagination and

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connect with the problems we are trying to solve. Modern art museums can trigger new ways of looking at the world. Produce your own inspiring Power Point presentations. Going “Visual” adds another dimension to your creative process.

8. Audio. Music has power beyond belief. Themes from movies revive our endorphins. Popular hits. Classical music. Arias from certain operas. National patriotic songs. Recordings of famous speeches can still touch hearts and minds. Hearing sounds, birdcalls, traffic horns, humming motors, screeching brakes, cork-popping, high heels descending a wooden stairway, and so on, tends to trigger thoughts and new ideas. Imagining sounds such as what would a Tyrannosaurus sound like? If love could be expressed with music, what would it sound like? If someone invented a machine that could convert living creatures to music, what would different people sound like? What music would you make?

9. Touch. We seldom think of touch as a dimension, but it generates a lot of subconscious and conscious sensations that bring to mind images and feelings. What if the inside of a car could feel like the inside of a fur coat? What if airplane seats could be wrapped around the passenger like a blanket? What if we could feel movies? How about things we don’t want to touch? Are there ways we can prevent touching them, or turning the touch into a pleasure? How can you add touch to your communications?

10. Comfort. Comfort food such as hot chocolate on a cold wintry day, or a cold drink on a hot day can create moods that lead to innovative thoughts. Sitting in a comfortable chair in a cozy room, listening to soft jazz, can erase our worries and free up our minds. Feelings of comfort associate with memories and situations of pleasurable sensations. What if the dentist’s chair felt more like a hammock? How could we make a visit to the dentist comfortable, even cozy?

11. Time. Time can affect our creativity in many ways, especially as a source of pressure to get something done. In my own case, a Smart Alec once surprised me by asking me to define myself in a single sentence. That he did so in front of others just to show off angered me. In a fraction of a second, I came up with an answer that if he had given me a month to generate, I would never have equaled. My answer, “I am a hungry mind!” “That’s great,” he said. “Can I use it?” My answer, “No., not unless you give me credit for it.”

Time is almost always at a premium. Feelings of being hurried, of exasperation and aggravation associated with the loss of valuable time can become the source of inventive inspiration. Someday, instead of people having to travel to work, perhaps work will travel to them. Perhaps the day will arrive when we won’t have to go shopping, and

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goods and services will come to us. Any time you can help people save time, you have a winner.

12. Bundle. Creativity is about putting things together. We are an amazing species that has created an almost infinite number of marvels, but for some inexplicable reason, it took us over 5,000 years to come up with wheels for luggage. What happens if we bundle things together? Products and services that are sold separately can be bundled and sold at a higher price that is still lover than the sum of the prices of each of its components. How about a Transformer car that becomes its own garage? How can you bundle your own products and services? Magazines bundle years of subscription together so they can offer a lower price; is this something that might fit your business?

13. Un-Bundle. Things that traditionally come together often can be attractive when offered separately. Example, people can now buy individual songs rather than records. What if you could create new products or services by taking existing ones apart? In many cases, the

value of the separate components is greater than that of the whole. What if you unbundled a service by offering it in monthly installments?

14. Problem solving. The need for creative and innovative ideas can be submitted to typical problem solving processes identifying a problem and trying to solve it demands both analytical and creative thinking. In fact, sometimes even the discarded solutions can offer unexplored potential. Here’s a problem for you: buttoning slightly starched men’s shirts can be a slow and annoying process. How can this be improved.? Check your own customers’ experiences with your products and services for annoyances.

15. Wordplay. Wordplay is one of the most fun ways to come up with new ideas. Since most creations are the product of association of two or more ideas, playing around with words gets the imagination going. For example, what if you combine Foreign with Forensic, what do you get? “Foreignsic.” Create a definition to go with it. For example, it could mean sick aliens, or maybe even Xenophobia. How about combining Investments with Suicide to get “Investicide”, which could mean investing in losers. Or, Girth with Earthquake to get “Girthquake,” which could describe a big fat belly laugh. Or. Glue with Gluteus to get “Glueteus,” which is what happens when your bottom is stuck to the chair. Or Diet with Diatribe to get “Dietribe, which describes Weight Watchers.

This is fun. Thinking up words like “Crocagator” (combination crocodile and alligator), “Investicide,” (Fatal investments), “Joevial” (Joe’s happy), “Joblivion” (Where most people end up), “Kleptophrenic” (A shoplifter who steals for two), “Laissez Fairy” (A lazy female genie

Girthquake

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economist), “Lassetude” (Playboy centerfold), “Lattitude” (A Latte that helps you study), and “Lawngevity” (Grass too high), loosen up your imagination and open it to new ideas. Wordplay is a great way to start brainstorming sessions.

16. Challenge. Challenging accepted concepts and practices can be a source of new thinking that turns into solutions. For example, governments everywhere have become hugely expensive, unwieldy, and inefficient (if not corrupt and incompetent); how can we get the jobs of government done without government? Challenges such as Disabilities often force people to develop creative solutions that allow them to make up for the physical loss. Pets have been trained to help the quadriplegic. Other quadriplegics have become wonderful painters. Helen Keller taught us that even a blind and deaf-mute person can provide the world with valuable insights, and teach all of us important lessons. Do you like contests? Many people do, so why not create contests to promote your products and services?

17. Goals. Setting goals often triggers the imagination, which then begins to look for solutions, alternatives, and possibilities. Have you ever thought through what you could do to become a millionaire? What if you decided you wanted to achieve that goal in four years? Time pressure tied to commitment to a goal can set the mind and the imagination working overtime. When we set goals, we don’t always know how exactly we are going to achieve them. In order to do so, we have to think creatively. Thomas A. Edison was a master at setting goals and then achieving them through patient and determined trial and error. The great thing about goals is that they provide focus, and that makes us more productive.

18. Copy – Plus. A simple but effective approach is to take an existing product, service, process, procedure, and method, and add to its value. Example: how would you improve a telephone directory You don’t always have to create something completely original. What if you just copy an existing solution, and then improve it? This is the whole concept behind benchmarking as a way to improved performance. Who might you benchmark?

19. Non-parallel. Our natural tendency is to look at existing and related models as a source of inspiration. But, all too often, we see only what we have always seen. But, many times a better approach may be to look at totally unrelated products, processes, and situations as more likely to generate truly new ideas. For example, coal is currently transported by railroad in thousands, if not millions, off hopper cars. This is a costly, time-consuming, and inefficient process; would it be possible to liquefy coal in to a sludge that could be transferred via a pipeline? What if you could extend the battery life of your laptop with a small solar panel?

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20. Why not? George Bernard Shaw said, “Most people look at things and ask ‘Why?” I look at them and ask, “Why not?” This question by its very nature generates new thinking. It is particularly effective when we are told that something can’t be done. It also applies when companies have been doing the same thing for years based primarily on the assumption that “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” Currently, we launch vehicles into orbit via rockets. Why not develop a space elevator? How many “why not’s” can you ask about your own products, services, and business processes?

21. Add. Many times we look at things and see them as complete. Yet, quite often, they could be enhanced by adding more features, benefits, and steps. For example, walls and ceilings are mostly unused space; what could we add to them to make them more useful? Take a look at today’s cars versus those of 50 years ago; what things have been added that make them far more comfortable? What happened when keyboards were added to computers? What could be added to your product or service that would make it better, more comfortable, easier to handle, smarter, efficient, less costly, faster?

22. Subtract. What would happen if we removed some features, benefits, and steps? How many parts go into an automobile? Could we reduce the number by making some parts multifunctional? What can you remove to make something lighter, faster, less expensive, more accessible, smaller, easier to handle, require less packaging?

In 1999, John Nottingham and John Spirk analyzed electric toothbrushes. They were expensive, anywhere from $65 to upwards of $100, kept in glass display cases, so you had to find a Wal-Mart employee, who would then go find the key to the display case. Nottingham and Spirk asked themselves, what if there were an electric toothbrush, with the same plaque-removing strength of $100 ones, that you could sell for five dollars? Not only that but, what if it came in a clear-plastic package that let you try it by pushing a button to see the bristles spinning around? And what if it were displayed next to the regular old manual toothbrushes so that you could it up easily? They designed the SpinBrush and sold it to Procter & Gamble, which made The Crest SpinBrush the bestselling electric toothbrush on the market.

23. Multiply. How can we multiply what already exists? What if it is unique? Would its value increase with more units? For example, lithographs of famous paintings generate additional revenues without subtracting from the original.. One size doesn’t fit all, and that’s why offering different amounts for different folks often works well. Ever been to Costco? You can buy the same products you normally purchase at a Supermarket, but at a lower price. How can they do

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that? They simply offer them in larger amounts, and you get the benefit of a lower cost. Not everyone needs as many units for their own purposes, so the larger amounts may not appeal to them, but families can definitely benefit from the lower price, and can consume larger quantities sooner. What can you do that would out-Costco Costco?

24. Divide. The reverse of the above. Ever been to a convenience store? You can get many of the same products you could at a supermarket, but in smaller sizes and quantities provided in smaller packages. Of course, you have to pay more for the smaller packages, but you are paying for the convenience. What if we break it up? Are the parts greater than the whole? What if we take each of the uses of a product and turn them into separate products? What if telephone books were divided into saleable booklets that covered smaller areas? Radio and TV programs are divided into sections to allow for commercials, but the breaks can sometimes increase suspense, or just plain break up a complex subject. Should you do this to your presentations, and training sessions?

25. Nature. Conception, Gestation, Birth, Infancy, Childhood, Adolescence, Adulthood, Maturity, Senior, Old Age, Senility, Death, Remembrance, Living On. The Seasons. Trees. Birds. Food Chains. Winds. Sun. Stars. Moon. Sexuality. Currents. Storms. Lightning. How about an automobile that changed its exterior to match each season? Nature is one of the best sources of creative inspiration – if you observe, pay attention, and are curious. A man walked in the woods, and came home with dozens of annoying little burrs stuck to his trouser legs. Rather than cuss the burrs, he decided to look at one of them under a microscope. He discovered that the burrs had hundreds of little hooks, which made it possible for them to stick to almost anything. The man copied the concept and invented Velcro. Leonardo da Vinci studied the flight of birds and developed designs for flying machines and a parachute. How does your product or service emulate nature?

26. Weather. Storms. Spring, Summer. Fall. Winter. Tornados. Blizzards. Rain. Snow. Hail. Barometric Pressure. Dry Seasons. Sun Cycles. How about controllable mini-tornados that could clean streets? Cold weather led to the invention of furnaces, and hot weather led to the invention of air-conditioning. So is that the end of the temperature challenge? Of course not; many versions and varieties of artificial heating and cooling have been invented over the years, and new ones keep appearing. On a recent trip to the torrid Arizona desert, I bought a handy little gadget that sprayed mist. You fill the handle with water, pump it a couple of times, press the button, and it releases a delightful little burst of mist that cools you off. I

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wonder how many other uses it might have. We look forward to frequent weather reports to help plan our trips, vacations, and even our daily activities. What would be the equivalent with your business?

27. Locations. Do things always have to be where they have always been? During the Renaissance, paintings were also on ceilings. Gardens can be on roofs. Streams can meander through homes. Computer screens can be rolled up. The first airplane had its propeller in the back. Will airplanes always need runways? Does work always have to be performed in an office? Does the brain have to be in the head? Due to the flexibility of design with modern computers, in a robot the brains could be anywhere, even everywhere. Does your business have to be in its current location? You used to have to go to a diner or a restaurant to get a cup of coffee until Starbucks came along and changed the world.

28. Origins. Where from? How started? Evolution? Elements? What can we learn from the Big Bang that we could apply to product design? When looking for new ideas, it is often helpful to look at the origins of existing products and services. How did they get started? Why were they successful? Why did customers like them then? How have customers evolved since then? For example: why are most American houses built of wood? Think of the many advantages of wood, and ask whether they still outweigh the disadvantages. What other alternatives might exist that offset those disadvantages? How did your business get started? Would you do it the same way today? What about customs and traditions? Look at what the Weddings industry is doing with existing and new traditions.

29. Failures. We can learn a lot from failures. Wars. Space shots. Business. Products. Careers. Inventions. Example, 3M”s Post-Its are the result of a failed adhesive. What uses could we develop that would allow us to use over-ripe fruit productively instead of just throwing it away? Think of all the well-known companies and brands that disappeared over the years. Analyzing the reasons for their failures can give us clues as to what works and what doesn’t. What became of Montgomery Ward, Woolworths, American Motors, Packard, Studebaker, Oldsmobile, Eastern Airlines, Pan American Airlines, Brannif Airlines, and so many others that disappeared? What happened? Essentially, most of these companies, products, and brand names were successes at one point in time. They became obsolete, no longer competitive, didn’t keep up with the times, or just ran out of customers. A key question is, what did they do right that might still be viable in today’s markets? A thought for all of us to consider about these traditional entities: tradition can become a disadvantage when customers see no value in them.

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30. Successes. Business. Products. Shows. Concepts. Leaders. Example, Broadway shows that are turned into movies, and vice-versa. Why not sell clips of old movies to illustrate educational points?

What did FedEx, Dell, Apple, Google, Toyota, Honda, and Southwest Airlines do well? The decisive factors may have been different in each case, but there is a commonality among them and that is that they offered something different that customers valued. FedEx offered something that the Post Office didn’t, guaranteed speed. Dell gave customers choices of computer configuration and easy access online and by telephone. Apple is a master of quality technology innovation and the ability to create buzz. Google opened up a whole new avenue of advertising that also offered many valuable free services to Internet users. Toyota brought quality and service to a market where competitors had ignored customer needs. Honda did the same thing. Southwest Airlines offered affordable, reliable, and customer-friendly service in an industry that is still going in the opposite direction. What is your business not doing? Today’s world is eager and ready for new ideas, concepts, products, services, experiences’; take advantage of them and become the next great success.

31. Impossibilities. Of course, putting a man on the moon comes to mind right away, but what people forget is that the greater impossibility was bringing him back alive. Not too long ago, the concept of a heart transplant would have been considered an absurdity. The fact is that so-called Impossibilities are a major source of wonderful innovations. When people say something is impossible, it’s time to start thinking of ways to accomplish it. Quantum physics is full of what would seem to be impossible things such as the ability of atomic sub-particles to be two places at the time, and particles (tachyons) that can travel at a speed greater than that of light. So, is time-travel an impossibility, possibly, but don’t bet on it. Flying. Nuclear Fission. Electric light. Space travel. Wealth. Nuclear fusion is still pending, as are faster than speed of light travel, cryogenic regeneration, and others. What do people consider impossible in your business?

32. Stories. Jack and the Beanstalk. Cinderella. Aladdin’s Lamp. Edison. Ford. da Vinci, Harry Potter, and others. Science Fiction has been a source of inventions and innovation. Arthur C. Clarke, the British Sci-Fi author, envisioned space satellites back in 1948. Science Fantasy provides images and concepts that defy logic, who says that there isn’t some logic to the illogical? Otherwise, would space travel be possible? Would laser rays exist? If you want to be exposed to possible impossibilities that stir your imagination, check the various Star Trek series, starting with the original, and continuing with Star Trek, Next Generation, Star Trek Voyager, and Starship Enterprise. . Star Trek Next Generation had a gadget that produced

Google DELL Apple

Toyota

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beverages and foods with just a verbal order. Stories can be powerful themes, as Walt Disney proved throughout his entire career. What stories might add to your sales success.

33. Mythology. Unicorn. Centaur. Aphrodite/Venus. Atlantis. Icarus. Midas. Spiderman. Superman. Batman. Wonder Woman. Harry Potter. Lord of the Rings. Beowolf, Dragons, etc. Batman’s belt was loaded with handy devices that enabled him to climb walls, confuse enemies, and communicate at a distance. Dick Tracy’s radio-watch has been converted into the cellular phone and its numerous gadgets. Maybe you can’t come up with a flying horse, but for years Pegasus was Mobil Oil’s logo. Can you use a myth as a commercial symbol for your business?

34. Sci-Fi. Star Trek. Robots. Space 2001. War of the Worlds. The world of the future will combine artificial intelligence, nanotechnology, and robotics into products and devices that we can’t even begin to imagine. Robots are fast becoming a part of daily life, especially in manufacturing. Some are already in use in homes such as the robot vacuum cleaner. Home chores are a ready area for some form of automation. Have you had to take out the garbage lately? They have already put wheels on garbage cans, but it is not enough; perhaps there is a way to install small electric motors to run the wheels, and even offer remote controls for use when it is raining or too cold to take the garbage out. What parts of your business could be automated for greater efficiency and service?

35. Ultimate. Highest building. Strength. Beauty. Wealth. Power. Wisdom. Speed. Comfort. Excitement. BMW refers to its cars as the “Ultimate Driving Experience.” Disneyworld is a form of “ultimate experience.” What would be the ultimate cinematic experience? Would it be similar to the flight simulators used to train pilots and astronauts? Might there be an “ultimate spa experience” awaiting customers?

36. Riddles. Sphinx. Rubik’s Cube. Sudoko. Scrabble. Puzzles. Mazes. Labyrinths. They raise questions like, “How does it...?” “How do they do that?” Those questions are often the source of interesting and valuable innovations. Why can’t Puzzles be used for teaching purposes?

37. Physics. Quantum physics. Einstein. Nuclear power. Gravity. Laws of the Universe. Space. Just take a look at some of the pictures taken by the Hubble Telescope in space, and your mind begins to wonder. For example; you see galaxies that are rotating counterclockwise just the same as hurricanes do on earth; is this a universal phenomenon?” Why counterclockwise? Quantum sub-atomic particles can be in two places at once. What would be the equivalent in your industry? Gravity

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is an inescapable part of daily life, especially when we have to climb stairs or carry heavy objects. What could be done to relieve that? Of course, we have elevators and escalators for climbing, and shopping carts and wheelbarrows for heavy objects. Where else does gravity affect us? How about when we fall? Might there be a way to prevent falls, or make them less dangerous? How might gravity affect your business or your customers?

38. Chemistry Organic. Bio-chemistry. Chemical reactions. Polymers. Elements. Plastics. As people grow older, they receive more medications all of which have side effects that can be harmful; is anyone designing a software that will compare the various side effects and determine what the compounded impact might be? Chemistry affects almost every aspect of our lives. How does it affect your business and customers? What might you change to improve their experience with your products and services? What if publishers added special scents and perfumes to their books and magazines? Can you imagine a romance novel with a variety of scents and perfumes for the different chapters?

39. Biology. Cellular structures. Physiology. Anatomy. Botany. Zoology. Sex. Just how adaptable is the human body? Far more than even doctors know or believe. In Peruvian villages at 14,000 feet altitude, men play soccer. Tibetan monks can control their heartbeats, and other bodily functions. Our body cells have the ability to re-grow, but can they re-grow limbs? Does your business have anything to do with biology or environment? Green is “in.” What can you do for your customers that would make their lives more “Green?”

40. Movies. Wizard of Oz. Sound of Music. Gone With the Wind, Go back and look at some of the early Frankenstein movies; can a new human being be made from salvaged parts? Watching Star Trek you can’t help but wonder if such things as Warp Speed and Wormholes are really possible? How might you incorporate the special effects of movies into your business and sales presentations?

41. Theater. Why can’t we bring the dynamism of theatrical plays be brought into the classroom for greater learning power? How could we apply that dynamism to marketing and sales? Audiences love presentations that involve them in some way, can you do the same in your business?

42. Comics. Back in 1934, a cartoonist by the name of Milton Caniff started a cartoon strip about two American adventurers in China. The strip was called Terry and the Pirates. In just nine frames he was able to tell a complete episode of their adventures. The drawings were

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filled with excellent and mostly authentic detail about boats, China, Chinese officials, different types of clothing, including even the latest American styles and fashions for women. One look at those comic strips shows you the power of creativity, and its potential for creating whole worlds where people will dwell in their minds. Stumped for clever ideas? Check comic books and comic strips for inspiration, They have inspired numerous movies; maybe they will get your creativity going.

43. Architecture. The Milwaukee Museum of Art, designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava actually has wings that flap every day at noon. The Montreal Modern Art Museum has an assembled giant dinosaur skeleton that is made entirely of plastic chairs; it isn’t until you get close to it that you realize it is not made up of real bones. Just these two clever examples will get your imagination going at Warp speed. Most home construction these days is so uninspired; the homes either look like they came off a production line (which they sort of do), or they look like future haunted mansions. There is great need for new thinking and design in home building. The same thing applies to offices. Some new buildings do offer interesting designs on the outside, but much remains to be done about the interior space. Can you make structural design an attractive feature of your business?

44. Engineering. In Europe, there is a place where a river and a manmade canal intersect, but instead of floating into one another and mixing their waters, one actually flows over the other on a bridge. The Panama Canal is over 100 years old, but it is still a marvel of engineering where lock gates weighing tons are moved back and forth by engines with only four horsepower. Have engineering principles been applied to other areas of life such medicine, classrooms, furniture, toys, playgrounds? Does the idea of a Roman arch have a place in your business. What about buttresses?

45. Shapes. Take a look at the great Pyramids of Giza in Egypt, and ask yourself questions about their shape. Why pyramids? Why those proportions? Why are they aligned with certain stars? What value did they offer? Look through a modern art book at the work of the cubists. How were they able to see humans in those ways? Notice how they blend compositions and color together. Could Cubism have a place in modern home décor? In fashions? Movies? How can shapes be changed to make them more interesting and functional?

46. Experiences. Ever been in a life threatening situation where your life flashed by your eyes in a matter of seconds? How can that be possible? How can we use this experience to solve problems and create new concepts? The feeling of floating weightlessly is usually a rare and very enjoyable experience, how can we incorporate it into more aspects of our life?

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47. History. The American Revolution is a good example of new thinking. No other nation had ever created a new type of government such as democracy with so little disruption. What can we learn from this experiment? In a different vein, Genghis Kahn conquered much of the known world of the 13th Century by the simple innovation of turning the cavalry into mounted archers, which allowed them to destroy the enemy from a distance. What modifications could you make to your business to allow you to serve your customers at a distance?

48. Music. Music is about taking sounds that generate emotions, thoughts and images. What sounds would you use to evoke special images? Need some inspiration? Watch Walt Disney’s Fantasia. They say that listening to Mozart can make your mind work better; why not try it?

49. Frustrations. Instead of moaning and groaning about things that have or haven’t changed why not ask yourself how to overcome them? What are major frustrations in your life? In the life of your customers? Of people with problems?

50. Irritations. Life is full of them. Ridding humanity of just one of these infinite irritations could make you a millionaire. How can you help alleviate some of life’s daily frustrations such as traffic delays, computer, problems, telemarketers?

51. Showering. Surveys indicate that the shower is one of the best places where new ideas are generated.. The sound of running water has a soothing effect that allows dormant ideas to surface. How might you incorporate the sound of running water into your business?

52. Discomfort. Does your back hurt after driving for long time? Have you had to ride in the middle seat of an airplane row for hours? Each these experiences should start your thinking about solutions. What can be done to help people who have to work long hours in a sitting position? Is this a problem in your business? In the life of your customers?

53. Accidents. Obviously, how to avoid them is a challenge. One of the 53. most uncontrollable dangers of winter driving is the Black Ice that forms 54. on roads, and is indistinguishable from the blacktop. What about 55. computer accidents, where hitting the wrong key wipes out a day’s 56. work? What can you do to help customers avoid accidents?

54. Cultures. Contact with new and different cultures start you thinking about new ways of thinking, different perceptions, and unusual ways of handling normal life situations. When you go abroad, do you notice

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what people do differently, and do you try to figure out why?

55. Habits. Check your daily routines. Do you always take the same route to work? Are you right-handed? Try doing the opposite; it forces you to think and feel differently. Or, if you feel really talented, try writing backwards from left to right as Leonardo da Vinci did.

57. 56. Role-Playing. Acting out concepts and ideas can often open new 58. doors to new ideas and inventions.

57. Languages. Learning a new language is like grafting a new brain onto your head. It takes you out of your comfort zone, and makes you look at things in a very different light.

58. Colors. Different colors are associated with different things; what happens when we change them? For example, what if you saw a blue tree; what would your reaction be? In The Wizard of OZ there is a scene where horses change colors several times. Breaking existing patterns such as color and shapes opens our eyes to new possibilities. Try to imagine things in colors different from what they usually are. For example, the American flag with red stars and blue stripes. How about a plaid airplane? (Would the Scots love it or hate it?)

59. Evolution. Evolution is the best example of Nature’s innovation through trial and error. It also makes us think about the impact of change and what happens to those organisms and creatures that don’t or can’t adapt. For example, if Global Warming continues for several centuries, how will we need to change? We’ve all seen the books, illustrations, and films that show the evolution of species. Other things evolve too, such as architecture, automobile designs. What will the human beings of 200 million years from now look like? Will the necktie survive fashion evolution? If global warming continues, will business attire include shorts?

60. Meditation. Meditation quiets the brain, relaxes the body and the mind, which makes it possible to look at things with new eyes. Meditation makes it easier to break away from the restrictions of daily life thinking.

61. People. Meeting new people and engaging in conversation and joint activities is a stimulating source of new thoughts and perspectives. When you run out of ideas, it often helps to be able to discuss them with people who have not been involved in the creative process with you. Meeting and talking with imaginative and entertaining people is a refreshing experience that can get the imagination going.

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62. Headlines. Tabloids make a living from their headlines, and so do copywriters. Trying to come up with attention-getting headlines is a major challenge. Trying to summarize your creative effort with a powerful headline could lead to a whole new way of looking at your goal. Clever headlines in newspapers, magazines, and book titles can start you thinking about new ways of viewing things.

63. Dreams. There are two types of dreams: the unintentional ones that happen while we sleep, and the intentional ones we create in our minds and hope to achieve. Either way, both of them can be a tremendous source of inspiration and motivation. Visualizing your intentional dreams is a powerful way to get you going on the way to achieving them. Dreams tend to be wild, with seemingly no rhyme or reason to them, but they can create unforgettable images.

64. Tastes. The old Latin saying, “De gustibus non disputandem,” or there is no point arguing about tastes, holds true consistently as tastes change with each succeeding generation. Thinking beyond our own tastes came help us come up with new understanding, insights, and ideas. Finding a new taste, or a different taste with a well-known food, or combining foods to produce new ones are a fun way of getting the juices flowing (Literally).

65. Absurdities. Sometimes people make us angry when there comment on something we have said or done is, “That’s ridiculous.” All we have to do to put that in perspective is to look at the inventions we currently enjoy; the possibility of their ever existing was considered ridiculous. Example: Guess who came up with the idea of the mobile phone? Lester Gooch, the creator of the Dick Tracy comic strip, which is still around and is currently drawn by Dick Locke. Taking concepts to extremes can open new windows to the mind. For example, would you want to be around a person who only spoke the truth and nothing but the truth all the time? Steve Martin made a movie about a man with two minds, which made for some very funny scenes and situations. Could you design a vehicle that a mouse could drive?

66. The Universe. An unending source of marvel and wonder, the universe is filled with seeming contradictions and mind-boggling possibilities. Just the concept of the Big Bang in itself is hard to grasp; how could the huge universe we know of today have originated with a tiny core that blew up? Or, how about the theory of multiple universes? Read about the theories of space and the universe; they are almost wilder than Science Fiction and they do get your mind going. The universe is filled with astounding facts such as light-years (five trillion miles), black holes. wormholes, novas, supernovas, quarks, colliding galaxies, dark matter, gas giants, dwarf stars, and many more

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that challenge our concepts of reality, and yet are indeed real. Can you use these images and concepts to create new ideas?

67. Illnesses. “May you be so famous that they name a disease after you,” is a Yiddish insult. The potential for new diseases is almost unlimited simply because their causes often mutate into new, more dangerous illnesses. Then there are the viruses that attack computers. Are there such things as business diseases where a collection of certain symptoms indicate a special syndrome? Would there be antibiotic business solutions?

68. Professions. Who would have conceived of Laser therapists fifty years ago? How about Dog-Sitters, Cat-Sitters, and House-Sitters. What new professions might we see in the years ahead? Clone-Sitters? Robot-Sitters? How about Robot Surgeons? Robot Repairmen? Memory Retrievers?

69. Games. Today’s video games create whole new worlds that stimulate excitement and, hopefully, new and constructive thought.

70. Sports. What new sports await us? Robot boxing? Robot Demolition Derby? Space Surfing? Cybernetic Dueling? Bionic Olympics?

71. Homes. How will homes evolve? Landless houses? Wearable homes for the homeless? Cyber-Kitchens? Homes with interchangeable modules? Nano-Kitchens? Combination Shower-Steam Rooms? Retractable hammocks instead of beds? Video-walls? Movable walls? One-way windows?

Summary The more you use these Creativity Triggers, the more it will broaden your mind! So, when you look at anything, it will automatically trigger your mind to think of new and greater possibilities that apply to your life and your business. Each time, you will identify new patterns, and create new relationships as you constantly associate your ideas with a broader range of apparently unrelated ones that offer potential solutions.

So, go forth and brainstorm wonderful, creative, innovations!

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About the author

. An expert who speaks on management, leadership, and marketing subjects such as Innovation, Growing Your Business, and Global Business Success Skills, he has addressed thousands of business executives and professionals, as well as numerous companies, associations, colleges, and universities, in English and Spanish, in 21 different countries

Publications. Author of Sci-Tech Selling, published by Prentice Hall, his articles have appeared in The Wall Street Journal, Sales & Marketing Executives, Personal Selling Power, Marketing Interamericano, Sharing Ideas, Successful Meetings, the American Society of Association Executives magazine, Beyond Borders, and Global Cosmetic Industry.

Education. A graduate of Sacramento State University (Business), with additional studies at Fairleigh Dickinson University (Marketing) and North Dakota State University (Chemistry). Contact Michael Wynne to help your business grow through creative competition and innovation. Call 630 420 2605 or e-mail mykwyn@aol.com , and be sure to check our websites at www.FreeProfitTips.com and www.IMCAonline.com

Other E-books that help your business success

An International management and marketing expert, Michael Wynne helps companies grow their dreams and innovations into profitable market realities. Corporate Career. Formerly with Mobil Oil, he was president of Mobil Ami, S.A., a chemical specialties subsidiary with responsibility for Latin America. Promoted to Strategic Planning Manager with Mobil Chemical Company, he developed global strategies for a $2 billion operation. Promoted again, he became General Manager of a worldwide chemical specialties group.

Consultant, Trainer, Speaker. As a consultant and a trainer with over 25 years experience, he has helped companies of all sizes on several continents. Among them are Monsanto, Abitibi, Amoco, Philips, BASF, GATX, Bavaria, Shell, Actuant, Shell, Siemens, Nissan, American Express, CTA Wheels, United Airlines, Petroleos de Venezuela, and others across a wide diversity of industries and markets.

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Books For Your Success

The Innovator’s Toolkit

The dictionary defines a tool as “An instrument necessary in the practice of a profession. “ A toolkit is a collection of the tools needed to perform specific professional tasks”. In business, we use many tools to achieve sustainable growth and profitability. INNOVATION is the most important tool in the 21st century global business world. The Innovator’s Toolkit is a complete step-by-step process that takes you through the innovation process that generates hundreds of new ideas, products and services, including new business models for getting your innovations to your customers.

Never Lose a Sale on Price

During down economic cycles, pressure grows to lower prices but, when everyone is lowering prices, it may not be the right time to lower yours. Learn how to sell on value rather than price. This book is filled with easy strategies that help you convert customer price objections into sales closing opportunities. Learn how to create doubt about competitors low prices by making customers aware that behind every low price there is a hidden cost.

100 Tips to Increase Your Market Visibility.

Are you the best kept secret in town? People can’t buy what they are not aware of, what they can’t see, feel, hear, touch, imagine, or relate to emotionally. To create awareness, you must engage people’s senses and their emotions. Learn how to raise customer awareness and recognition of you and your brand.

Planning Your Successful International Business Trip

There is no substitute for the eyeball, especially when exploring international markets. No amount of research can give you as much insight as first-hand experience. But you can quadruple the productivity of your trip with the right planning. The right planning will save you time, money, effort, and frustration. Learn how to guarantee the success of your international business trip by planning it right!

Global Business Survival Skills Training Manual

What do Coca-Cola, IBM, and many other Fortune 500 companies have in

common? They get more than 50 percent of their revenues from overseas markets! That is where you will find the fastest growing markets. Get in on the action! Learn how to open and grow markets in other countries. Learn

how to avoid the expensive international business mistakes made by so many companies. This comprehensive guide to effective business

development around the world will grow your business faster! Go Global!

To learn more about these great business success books, please visit www.FreeProfitTips.com

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Michael Wynne

International Management Consulting Associates

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