All of us in the business world get stuck sometimes. Running a small business and being innovative in everyday workings of that business can sometimes be draining. We are not always on our game when it comes to being creative. Lack of inspiration can happen in any business. Writers get writer’s block (it’s a real thing, trust me!), those businesspeople in sales hit a wall and can’t get new clients, everyone has a hard time occasionally.
So what should you do when you can’t get inspired to do new things for your business? You can always dig a little deeper within yourself to find it, but there are many places that you might not think to turn to for inspiration that can really be helpful. Here are some ideas of places to look and people to talk to in order to get inspired:
- Your friends and family – friends and family members, particularly those that are not involved personally with your business, can be a great source of inspiration. Because they are not constantly thinking about your business the way that you probably are, they can offer a fresh perspective. Presenting your problem to a neutral third party is a great way to get new ideas so you can build a better business.
- Co-workers or employees – it’s a good idea to get into the habit of asking your employees and co-workers for input, particularly when you are feeling stuck on what to do next. Often your employees will have ideas on how to improve on current processes, or even thoughts on new products or services that you can offer.
- YouTube – watching videos that relate to your business or industry can give you some ideas about where to take your business. For example, if you are in the marketing business, check out some videos of marketing campaigns that others have done. While you obviously won’t want to plagiarize their ideas, the work of others can help you to be more creative and think critically about your business. A quick YouTube search also turned up hundreds of motivational speakers who post videos on the site. While it may seem cheesy, sometimes someone encouraging you to do well will open up your brain for new ideas.
- Other social media sites – consider asking your personal network for ideas for your business. Most people have social media friends or followers from all aspects of life. Talking to those who may be in a very different situation than you can offer you a new perspective. I have friends and followers on social media sites that are friends or acquaintances from high school, college, jobs, and online forums. They represent a huge cross-section of economic and geographic statuses. It’s always amazing when someone posts a question on Facebook and gets 10 very different answers from 10 very different people. It’s the beauty of social media, and you can use it to help your business.
Inspiration is sometimes hard to come by. But there are many avenues that you can explore in order to get new ideas for your business. It’s important to keep it fresh in the business world, or you risk losing customers.
