Fresh Out of Ideas?

Are we out of ideas as a society? No, we are not. You are not. Others are not. I am confident in saying this baldly.

If you connect with people, a lot of people, you will soon learn that fresh new ideas are everywhere. A problem pops up and someone has an idea how to fix it; indeed, they go ahead and actually fix it. A puzzle appears on the internet and thousands of solutions – correct ones at that! – are almost immediately shared openly. People are rising to the challenge and submitting answers. And many of them are right.

A change occurs in the workplace and someone has a new routine worked out half an hour later. Production continues unabated and no one is the wiser that a snag was encountered and fixed. The transition was that smooth. Same with an error in a customer order; the fix is in almost seamlessly. The customer didn’t even notice the hiccup so quick was the fix.

And on it goes. Of course not all of our people react in this fashion, and some of the ‘fixes’ don’t work, but the creativity and thought was there. The motivation from inside the person was there, too; he or she wanted to be of service, to try out something new.

Applying oneself to the reality of the moment, the workplace, the social situation, wherever, is really about change, isn’t it? Think about it.

Change seems to be a bugaboo for many people. For others, however, it is the opposite. It is another view of the ‘glass half full or half empty’ proposition. Change is two things at once, both threat and opportunity. If you are an optimist you will see the challenge as an opportunity and go on to find the gold in the situation. If you are a pessimist, you will see the change as a threat to you and your organization and begin the defensive maneuvers to protect the firm.

Adapting to change is a helpful reaction. Always being ready to work with change is an asset of yours or the organization. It is a positive characteristic to be encouraged and developed. Change is what happens nearly every second of our existence. Change is our aging process, our knowledge gathering process, and strength development, too. Change is evolution. It is that basic.

From change we acquire new methods, new processes, new products, even new services.

But most importantly, we gain a perspective that is fresh, new and open to the challenge of morphing into something new. Unexpected, too. Exciting if we let it be!

I work with several different populations. In SCORE it is with small businesses – start ups or existing ones with challenges. Either way they are small and the work is up close and personal. Reacting to the real, day to day happenings in a small business is a challenge. It takes fortitude, perseverance and creativity to face the many unique challenges of each day. Small business operations are not all routine and the same. No, each customer has her own needs peculiar to several variables. We adapt to meet those needs. Doing that makes us successful with that customer. Add all of the other customers and a success trajectory is built.

Thinking on our feet. Using resources readily at hand. Thinking through the transaction to desired results and outcomes. Identifying those outcomes and making them happen.

These people do this everyday and automatically. Most don’t even realize they are doing it. In larger organizations we hope work teams function in this manner. Managers and executives dream of making this culture a reality within their organizations.

Church groups struggle with projects and desired outcomes. They slog through the work a few times and then discover better methods to use in the future. Soon their projects are not only successful, but they are cost and time effective as well. Creativity made this a reality.

Working with teen addicts we gain perspective on their disconnect with reality, their escapism. Talking about this week after week builds willingness in them to solve problems rather than avoid them. The process is slow. Their recognition of the need to do this is slow in coming. But one day they get a nub of the idea in their head, and soon they are on the right track. The key is to keep them on this track so they are good at it and feel successful doing it. This is a life skill they need to survive the addiction. And then put the addiction away for good. Hopefully.

Their process is creativity in motion. Our job is to bring the elements together often enough and accessibly so they use them.

Change is a constant in our lives. Adapting to change is also a constant. We are not always successful in adapting. But the challenge is present and it is up to us to respond. If we let ourselves be free enough we might just engage the creative cells in our brains to respond with fresh genius.

That’s good for you and I; and everyone else on the planet as well!

Join the new. Meet the challenge of change. And find your piece of happy!

March 20, 2017