Nobody starts on top. You have to find ways to overcome the one obstacle that every entrepreneur has in the beginning.
The obstacle for many people is getting their business marketed on a tight budget. Being creative can help you get through on a tight budget and by answering some of these creative questions you can learn how to do it.
Questions such as:
1) How could I...
A different question to get started with:
2) Who could assist me with This is a great question. Who could assist me with
Here's another one:
3) Who might exchange for ?
What about this one:
4) How can I do this cheaper? or How could I do this faster? or How could I do this with less effort? or How could I do this without paying? That's a great creative question.
Try this one:
5) What can I substitute for 'X'? Could I substitute 'XYZ' for 'ABC'? Just think about whatever you could, or want to change.
If you answer this question you will really be putting yourself in the mind frame of some of your unique and different customers:
6) If I was so-and-so, how would I solve this problem?
Here is an example: How would my wife solve this problem? How would my mentor, child, neighbor solve this problem? By asking yourself this question you really have to look at things from a different perspective.
I can confidently say that these questions, as well as others, have allowed my creativity to grow and have opened all kinds of opportunities up to me. The success of my career can be credited to my creative thinking.
Let me give you a small example about how I used this creative way of questioning.
Right out of University I decided to become a professional speaker, speaking to high school and college students - which I still do on occasion - speaking on the topic of creativity because that topic helped me go from a University failure all the way to the top of my class, straight A's, and named Most Outstanding Male of my graduating class. There was a big difference between what happened first year and my last year, and I attribute it all to learning the skill on the art of creative thinking, and I was very passionate about it.
Even though I had decided that this is what I wanted to do, I had no idea about becoming a professional speaker, or if I could turn it into a profitable business.
The first thing I did was join the local chapter of CAPS, The Canadian Association for Professional Speakers.
I remember going to one of the local chapter meetings and there was one guy there that was doing very well in his speaking career and I asked him, "What do I need to do to get to your level?" And he said, "Well Stu, it's very simple. I'm going to give you three things to do. When you've done all three, then come back to me and I'll give you some more." I said, "Okay."
He said, "Number one, you need to join CAPS. You need to surround yourself with like-minded people, who are working in your industry and can help you grow." I said, "Okay."
In order to join CAPS it cost $200, which at that time was a squeeze. Thinking back on it I remember paying for it on payments in order to be able to do it. I did number though, I joined CAPS.
The second thing he said I had to do was, "Get out to the CAPS National Conference." As much as I wanted to go, it was on the other side of Canada, which meant more costs on top of the relatively expensive conference fee. At this point everything was expensive for me as I had no money. To get there I would have to pay for my flight, accommodations and everything else.
This is where I started asking myself some creative questions. I needed to find a solution. I started thinking about what I had, or could do, that someone else might want and need.
One thing I that I had at that point was time itself. Because I had just started my speaking business I wasn't speaking very often, so I knew I had some time I could offer.
I started to then rack my brain about how I could use that time to benefit someone else. By asking myself that question I came up with a campaign called, 'Helt Stu Be Like You.'
This is how I used that creative idea to my advantage. I went to the largest chapter of CAPS in my province, which consisted of about 75 people and asked for 30 seconds in front of the whole group.
No one had asked for this before. I asked a question that got everyone's hands in the air. It was, "How many of your, at one point, started off as a speaker with no experience?"
"Awesome," I said. "Keep your hand up if you have ever attended the CAPS national conference before." Seventy-five percent of the group kept their hands up.
I continued, "Of those who have been able to attend the conference, how many of you believe it would be beneficial for a new speaker, with no experience to be able to go?" Everyone kept their hands up.
"Great, I am someone who needs to get out to the CAPS national conference because I have zero speaking experience!"
But then I gave them my situation. I said, "I have a problem though. I don't have any money. The one thing I do have though is time. That is why I have created a campaign called, 'Help Stu Be Like You.' Basically I am willing to make an exchange and I'm hoping you will too." I passed out 8x6 black and white flyers I had printed off at home on 8-1/2x11 sheets to save costs. I made sure everyone in the audience got one.
I said, "Here's what I'm willing to do. I'm willing to do all the dirty work that you speakers don't like doing or don't have time to do. I will make sales calls for you. I will write sales letters for you. I will lick stamps for you. I will cut your grass. I'll even wipe your baby's bottom, if that's what you want me to do, for a financial contribution of your choice."
Surveying the audience at this point, I could tell some people's minds were racing with all the odd jobs they could get me to do for cheap.
I said, "I am willing to do whatever you don't like doing in exchange for a financial contribution of your choice, all of which will go towards getting me out to the CAPS national conference."
I finished explaining my campaign and immediately a gentleman at the back of the room stood up. He said, "Stu, I will pay for your entrance fee to the seminar." Just like that, half of my costs were taken care of!
Once that gentleman was finished telling me about what he was willing to contribute another gentleman stood up. He said, "Stu, I will take care of getting you out to the seminar." Bang, Bang. In a matter of minutes 85% of my expenses were taken care of.
That is what being creative can enable you to do.
By asking myself that one creative question, I was able to come up with a creative solution that solved my problem of not being able to get to the national conference. By the time the conference happened all kinds of people had heard about my story and even had a story published about me in the national publication.
Always remember to explore your creativity and may ideas come to you when you need them the most.
Until next time!
The obstacle for many people is getting their business marketed on a tight budget. Being creative can help you get through on a tight budget and by answering some of these creative questions you can learn how to do it.
Questions such as:
1) How could I...
A different question to get started with:
2) Who could assist me with This is a great question. Who could assist me with
Here's another one:
3) Who might exchange for ?
What about this one:
4) How can I do this cheaper? or How could I do this faster? or How could I do this with less effort? or How could I do this without paying? That's a great creative question.
Try this one:
5) What can I substitute for 'X'? Could I substitute 'XYZ' for 'ABC'? Just think about whatever you could, or want to change.
If you answer this question you will really be putting yourself in the mind frame of some of your unique and different customers:
6) If I was so-and-so, how would I solve this problem?
Here is an example: How would my wife solve this problem? How would my mentor, child, neighbor solve this problem? By asking yourself this question you really have to look at things from a different perspective.
I can confidently say that these questions, as well as others, have allowed my creativity to grow and have opened all kinds of opportunities up to me. The success of my career can be credited to my creative thinking.
Let me give you a small example about how I used this creative way of questioning.
Right out of University I decided to become a professional speaker, speaking to high school and college students - which I still do on occasion - speaking on the topic of creativity because that topic helped me go from a University failure all the way to the top of my class, straight A's, and named Most Outstanding Male of my graduating class. There was a big difference between what happened first year and my last year, and I attribute it all to learning the skill on the art of creative thinking, and I was very passionate about it.
Even though I had decided that this is what I wanted to do, I had no idea about becoming a professional speaker, or if I could turn it into a profitable business.
The first thing I did was join the local chapter of CAPS, The Canadian Association for Professional Speakers.
I remember going to one of the local chapter meetings and there was one guy there that was doing very well in his speaking career and I asked him, "What do I need to do to get to your level?" And he said, "Well Stu, it's very simple. I'm going to give you three things to do. When you've done all three, then come back to me and I'll give you some more." I said, "Okay."
He said, "Number one, you need to join CAPS. You need to surround yourself with like-minded people, who are working in your industry and can help you grow." I said, "Okay."
In order to join CAPS it cost $200, which at that time was a squeeze. Thinking back on it I remember paying for it on payments in order to be able to do it. I did number though, I joined CAPS.
The second thing he said I had to do was, "Get out to the CAPS National Conference." As much as I wanted to go, it was on the other side of Canada, which meant more costs on top of the relatively expensive conference fee. At this point everything was expensive for me as I had no money. To get there I would have to pay for my flight, accommodations and everything else.
This is where I started asking myself some creative questions. I needed to find a solution. I started thinking about what I had, or could do, that someone else might want and need.
One thing I that I had at that point was time itself. Because I had just started my speaking business I wasn't speaking very often, so I knew I had some time I could offer.
I started to then rack my brain about how I could use that time to benefit someone else. By asking myself that question I came up with a campaign called, 'Helt Stu Be Like You.'
This is how I used that creative idea to my advantage. I went to the largest chapter of CAPS in my province, which consisted of about 75 people and asked for 30 seconds in front of the whole group.
No one had asked for this before. I asked a question that got everyone's hands in the air. It was, "How many of your, at one point, started off as a speaker with no experience?"
"Awesome," I said. "Keep your hand up if you have ever attended the CAPS national conference before." Seventy-five percent of the group kept their hands up.
I continued, "Of those who have been able to attend the conference, how many of you believe it would be beneficial for a new speaker, with no experience to be able to go?" Everyone kept their hands up.
"Great, I am someone who needs to get out to the CAPS national conference because I have zero speaking experience!"
But then I gave them my situation. I said, "I have a problem though. I don't have any money. The one thing I do have though is time. That is why I have created a campaign called, 'Help Stu Be Like You.' Basically I am willing to make an exchange and I'm hoping you will too." I passed out 8x6 black and white flyers I had printed off at home on 8-1/2x11 sheets to save costs. I made sure everyone in the audience got one.
I said, "Here's what I'm willing to do. I'm willing to do all the dirty work that you speakers don't like doing or don't have time to do. I will make sales calls for you. I will write sales letters for you. I will lick stamps for you. I will cut your grass. I'll even wipe your baby's bottom, if that's what you want me to do, for a financial contribution of your choice."
Surveying the audience at this point, I could tell some people's minds were racing with all the odd jobs they could get me to do for cheap.
I said, "I am willing to do whatever you don't like doing in exchange for a financial contribution of your choice, all of which will go towards getting me out to the CAPS national conference."
I finished explaining my campaign and immediately a gentleman at the back of the room stood up. He said, "Stu, I will pay for your entrance fee to the seminar." Just like that, half of my costs were taken care of!
Once that gentleman was finished telling me about what he was willing to contribute another gentleman stood up. He said, "Stu, I will take care of getting you out to the seminar." Bang, Bang. In a matter of minutes 85% of my expenses were taken care of.
That is what being creative can enable you to do.
By asking myself that one creative question, I was able to come up with a creative solution that solved my problem of not being able to get to the national conference. By the time the conference happened all kinds of people had heard about my story and even had a story published about me in the national publication.
Always remember to explore your creativity and may ideas come to you when you need them the most.
Until next time!
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