And connect more dots.

One of the most important attributes of a being a successful entrepreneur is having the ability to generate fresh and meaningful ideas, often. Then, connect the dots to move your business forward.

Many times circumstances for entrepreneurs make this pretty darn challenging. You have a microscopic budget, no staff, juggle two full-time jobs to pay your bills and your cat has the chicken pox; all while you’re building your dream.

No problem. Some of the biggest and best ideas are birthed because of the above. Why? Because you are forced to be a truly creative problem solver.

My best creative thinking happens when I stimulate my brain by exposing myself to other cool ideas that empower me to recognize patterns, think in a metaphoric way, and absorb a lot of information quickly.

Here are 4 easy ways to increase your idea flow.
1) Visit online and offline, high-volume idea venues.
Trend reporting websites like Springwise and Iconoculture are two of my favorites. Springwise showcases entrepreneurial ideas from around the globe, and Iconoculture recaps top consumer and business trends with a good mix of recent market facts and statistics in a free newsletter.

Schedule a trip to a shopping mall. Don’t go to shop. Go to discover with a conscious eye. Watch how people behave and respond to marketing initiatives; evaluate displays, and listen to conversations.

Annually attend industry tradeshows in innovative sectors. Journal what you see; the good and bad, pick up marketing collateral and take pictures of exhibits and people.

2) Pay attention to smart, successful companies and people.
My list includes competitors and random organizations, both large and small. I keep an admiration notebook and folder on my computer. I include words, images, and processes that I find intriguing.

3) Develop a habit of producing idea quotas.
This means, need a solution or big idea? Set a daily volume quota for your ideas. For instance, need a new product name? Jot down five possibilities a day for two weeks. Invite a friend or colleague to do the same. In 14 days you’ll have at least 70 seeds for finding your big idea. Remember, don’t set any limits for your ideas, the wilder the better. Ignore budget restrictions and don’t strive for the perfect idea; aim for quantity.

4) Master the art of scan and skim, and read more.
Early in my career I attended a workshop on how to read the Wall Street Journal in less than 15 minutes. This 60-minute class dramatically increased the amount of information I can absorb which, in today’s world of massive data deluge, is a necessary skill to have.

Here’s the fast track on how to be a better scanner and skimmer of publications.

Turn off distractions like music and the TV. Go straight to a publication content summary, sometimes this is the table of contents, sometimes it is a special section that features top stories. Find subjects that interest you, jump to those articles. Then read the subheads, the intro and the last paragraph. This filtering method is a quick and efficient way to cover a lot of ground. I also scan all visuals, images, and charts and graphs and set a reading time limit on a publication. I also use an index card to underline what I’m reading and I highlight information I want to retain.

New, different, and sometimes even recycled ideas are the vital ingredients for problem solving and connecting the dots. The better and bigger the idea flow, the higher propensity you’ll achieve success.

About the author: Karen Post, a.k.a. The Branding Diva® is an international authority on branding, marketing, and entrepreneurial matters. She has been featured as a business expert in print publications; on TV, radio, and on Web channels. Karen authored the best-selling book Brain Tattoos, Creating Unique Brands That Stick in your Customers’ Minds and she is co-founder and CEO of Oddpodz.com.

That’s an interesting mix of subjects that should resonate with most of our readers. I must admit, I’m starting to really enjoy this blogging thing. Sharing what I know and what I believe with a bunch of creative-minded biz friends is fun and challenging.

Blogging.
As I sit down at my keyboard tonight and begin to write this week’s posts I ponder about some things.

1) Should this blog and Oddpodz for that matter be more narrowly focused, our content, tools and offerings?
Today, we strive to give creative-minded business people and organizations, from a 1 person solo practice to a 500-person enterprise, good ideas, free tools and a network to find and connect with other valuable resources and people.

Is diversity a good thing? Or is a more laser-like target better? Please tell us what you think.

2) What does it take to build a power blog?
In general terms, we know it’s about good content, ongoing SEO efforts and participating in other high traffic communities and blogs. But what are the top 10 most powerful actions a blogger can do to significantly move the reader meter.

I’m going to post both of these questions in our forum and invite you to add your feedback. I’ve been using my Linkedin groups quite a bit to have discussions on a bunch of issues. I’ll be compiling these soon and sharing them with in Oddpodz.

Headlines.
It was my intention to next blog about my friend Dan Schawbel’s new book Me 2.0: Build a Powerful Brand to Achieve Career Success

Me 2.0 teaches people how to use social media tools for personal brand building and is the first book of this kind written for the millennials generation. I suppose us older folks can also learn from this book, since we often act like we are 30 something. The book is great and I will be posting a review in the book review section in the Oddpodz forum and will dedicate our Tues. blog to some of the book’s highlights and the topic of personal branding.

Sorry, I got side tracked.
As I was crafting my blog title on personal branding, I discovered a very cool, free tool that analyzes headlines for its emotion marketing impact. As you know, reaching your customers in a deep and emotional way is a key to successful copywriting, and your headline is unquestionably the most important piece of copy you use to reach prospects.

The Advanced Marketing Institute provides the free headline analysis tool.
The Advanced Marketing Institute is a group of researchers, educators, and developers who have come together to provide real tools and knowledge to businesses and individuals who are tired of struggling to control their chaotic systems.

How does the Headline Analyzer work?
Simple go to: Headline Analyzer

Type in your headline. It must be under 20 words. Hit analyze this.
Your headline will be analyzed and scored based on the total number of Emotional Marketing Value (EMV) words it has in relation to the total number of words it contains. This will determine the EMV score of your headline. In addition to the EMV score, You will find out which emotion inside your customer’s your headline most impacts:

Intellectual
Words which are especially effective when offering products and services that require reasoning or careful evaluation.

Empathetic
Words which resonate in with Empathetic impact often bring out profound and strong positive emotional reactions in people.

Spiritual
Words which are especially effective when offering products and services that require reasoning or careful evaluation. Words which resonate in with Empathetic impact often bring out profound and strong positive emotional reactions in people. Words which have the strongest potential for influence and often appeal to people at a very deep emotional level.

So I tested out a few headlines. There is no limit to how many headlines you can get feedback on.

Remember this title is for a blog post for Dan Schawbel’s new book,and other personal branding insight.

My first headline: Be a business magnet Project Authority Earn trust Win Contracts
My Headline’s EMV Score: 40%

My 2nd headline: How to be a business magnet, project authority, earn trust and win contracts today
My Headline’s EMV Score: 42.86%

My 3rd headline: Stop losing opportunities. Be your strongest business magnet, exude authority, earn trust and win more clients today My Headline’s EMV Score: 52.94%

This score indicates that my headline has a total of 52.94% Emotional Marketing Value (EMV) Words. To put that in perspective, the English language contains approximately 20% EMV words. And for comparison, most professional copywriters’ headlines will have 30%-40% EMV Words in their headlines, while the most gifted copywriters will have 50%-75% EMV words in headlines.

Yahoo, I’m gifted! For at least a few minutes.
This is a cool tool and gets you really thinking about how to write more emotionally charged copy. But for a blog title, it also has me thinking search engine results. So my recommendation is: Headlines should be short and include keywords, use the highest rated title as a subtitle.

In closing, what does constipation have to do with any of this?
Well for starters, brilliant comedians have been leveraging this writing technique for years. It’s called a triple. Two words are normal, expected and could go together. The last word is goofy, unexpected and some times shocking. Which makes the choice and combination of these three words so effective in getting attention and hopefully a laugh. You can use this method when you are speaking or writing.

Last week I talked about dealing with creative brain freeze, which could also be described as creative constipation. This week I’ve been jamming, pumping out ideas and enjoying my favorite things, writing, thinking and problem solving. If my thawing your brain tips and the free ebook on creative productive we recommended didn’t help, start reading Mark McGuinness’ blog, it’s amazing! Or, eat more fiber.

by Nettie Hartsock

Note: we usually publish this feature on Tuesdays, but had a hiccup this week, we’ll be back on track next week.

In this week’s “Five Questions for Creatives” we turn to Lisa Haneberg, author, blogger and management guru. Lisa is the author of the much-lauded book, “Two Weeks to a Breakthrough” and blogs at managementcraft.com. Lisa’s web site can be found at www.lisahaneberg.com.

Lisa shares her insight on all things creative.

Five Questions for An Author, Business Strategist and “Breakthrough Champion”

Q.What do you think is one of the biggest challenges to being a successful creative person?

Lisa: Giving yourself the time to allow you mind to wander. Often we expect creativity within a two minutes - and creativity doesn’t happen like that.

Q. What are three tips you would give to anyone who wants to empower their creative career, whether it be as a copywriter, web designer, artist?

Lisa:
1. Plan time and create a space that makes you feel good. This can be a home office or a favorite chair in the local coffee shop.

2. Create the context for creativity.

Q. What is most rewarding about being on your own and working to grow your creative business?

Lisa: Having choice about how I spend my time. This is also at times a burden and can feel like pressure (pressure to produce, pressure to get clients).

Q. What inspires you to be creative?

Lisa: Intrinsic satisfaction of something well-crafted.

Q. What is the greatest benefit to working as a creative professional?

Lisa: My mind stays fresh and I am always learning. After I crossed the 40 year old mark, it became crucial that I do work that helps me learn and keep my mind engaged.

Bonus Question: What is your favorite book about business or creativity?

“The Art of Possibility” by Rosamund Zander and Benjamin Zander

“Make the Impossible Possible” by Bill Strickland*

*Note from the editor: Bill Strickland and Manchester Bidwell Corporation are friends of ours at Oddpodz! Check out his and the MBC story, both are truly inspirational.

About the author: Nettie Hartsock is a digital strategist helping authors, creatives, musicians and companies create actionable how-to 2.0 programs to establish a powerful base for attracting both blogger and journalists attention. Her website can be found at NettieHartsock.com.

by Nettie Hartsock

Note from Oddpodz: we’re thrilled to add Nettie Hartsock to the idea engine blog. She’ll be authoring a new weekly feature, a Q&A with a creative expert. It will post every Tuesday. So, without further ado…

In this inaugural “Five Questions for Creatives” we turn to Meryl Evans, longtime Content maven, copywriter and web gal extraordinaire. Meryl’s web site can be found at www.meryl.net.

Meryl shares her insight on all things creative.

Q.What do you think is one of the biggest challenges to being a successful creative person?

Meryl: Getting inspiration on a regular basis.

Q. What are three tips you would give to anyone who wants to empower their creative career, whether it be as a copywriter, web designer, artist?

Meryl:

1. A creative career takes hard work like everything else.

2. A freelance creative career involves non-creative tasks like marketing, bookkeeping, and staying organized.

3. A freelance creative career requires you keep yourself motivated to get the work done.

Q. What is most rewarding about being on your own and working to grow
your creative business?

Meryl: Gaining a well-rounded life that lets me be a writer, mother, wife, daughter, friend, volunteer, and adventurer (not necessary in that order).

Q. What inspires you to be creative?

Meryl: Hearing from clients who love the work.

Q. What is the greatest benefit to working as a creative professional?

Meryl: Happy clients.

Bonus Question: What is your favorite book about business or creativity?

POP! Stand Out in Any Crowd by Sam Horn provides great tips for brainstorming ideas, names, and more.

About the author: Nettie Hartsock is a digital strategist helping authors, creatives, musicians and companies create actionable how-to 2.0 programs to establish a powerful base for attracting both blogger and journalists attention. Her website can be found at NettieHartsock.com.

By Karen Post The Branding Diva®, co-founder of Oddpodz.

Seems like there is no shortage of new expenses, rising costs, and life challenges as we all try to survive and be happy together on planet Earth.

Like you, I’m annoyed by the rising cost of everything, while our income seems to hold steady at the same amount. Gas keeps going up, airlines add luggage and beverage fees. What will be next? Oxygen mask rentals should the cabin pressure drop?

Ok, we can whine, or we can turn these current affair irritations into something that can make your brand look like a nice guy, building deeper relationship with your buyers.

Good examples of turning a negative into a positive promotional idea.
Kimpton Hotel Group, “They got your bag,” with the “We’ll pick up the tab and issue a room credit” promo. Just show them your luggage charge receipt and cover the fees. Valid as of this posting, until September 9, 2008.

UPS - As fuel costs started rising last year, this media savvy company issued a PR release and earned millions of dollars of nice-guy publicity points via news sources everywhere. The news angle was that UPS ships and transports daily for millions of people; they shared fuel economy tips that can give everyday Joes a little more bang for your fuel buck.

Chrysler, Dodge, or Jeep®, - As fuel prices continued to rise, the Let’s Refuel America Program helped stabilize the cost of fuel with a simple solution; locking in the price of unleaded or diesel fuel at $2.99/gallon for three years. Program participants used a special card linked to their MasterCard or Visa credit card account. The card was used to purchase enough fuel at $2.99 per gallon to travel up to 12,000 miles per year in each of the next three years. To qualify, you had to purchase or lease an eligible Chrysler, Dodge or Jeep® vehicle from May 7 through July 7, 2008 and have a valid MasterCard or Visa credit card.

These issues are top of mind with consumers and the media. If you can craft a value proposition and still be sensitive to the real-life challenge at hand, a tie-in can be a win/win. Consider leveraging timely situations as PR angles, promotional incentives, or as an event where you give back to the community.

Have you seen any great marketing ideas where a brand turns a bad economic condition into a feel good promotional idea?

About the author: Karen Post, a.k.a. The Branding Diva® is an international authority on branding, marketing, and entrepreneurial matters. She is has been featured as a business expert in print publications; on TV, radio, and on Web channels. Karen authored the best-selling book Brain Tattoos, Creating Unique Brands That Stick in your Customers’ Minds and she is co-founder and CEO of Oddpodz.com, an idea engine for creative professionals and business. Her work has benefited large and small organizations in the United States and around the world.

Do you ever have those dreams where you’re still at work? I do. Never the good parts, only the seemingly hopeless stressful parts.

I worked in the service industry for years, waiting tables and bartending to get through school and pay the extra bills. One dream I will never forget was my odd currency dream. When I delivered a drink, the customer gave me a hundred dollar bill. I had to go get change (causing me to get even more behind…) and when I returned, he was furious. He said, “I specifically asked for my change in a $38 bill, an $18 bill and two $9’s.” I spent a good portion of the rest of this dream trying to deal with someone who was asking for things that I could not give him. It was like we were living in two completely different realities.

I remember this dream even years later because my feeling of helplessness and frustration was so acute. Since then, I’ve experienced many times in my career as a designer when I felt I was being asked to perform a similarly impossible task. Or, as one of my instructors used to say, to try to put the Gettysburg Address on a business card. And sadly, no matter how much you may be attached to simplicity and negative space, you’ve got to make it work. So, what to do?

Ask questions. Get to know what your client does in far more detail than your initial consultations can provide. What are the lesser known details of their industry? What is their audience? (And do they actually have a grasp on what it is?) What are their goals beyond the scope of the project you are working on?

You might come to find that the $38 bill really does exist to them. You’ve just never heard of it, and all you needed to do was understand more about where they were coming from to get it. Or, you may discover that what they have asked for initially is not actually what they need. (I don’t say this in a “designer always knows best because other people don’t understand my creative vision…” way.) If you think there is a better method for them to meet their goals, offer suggestions. The worst that can happen is you still have to complete a difficult project but with a much greater understanding of your client. And the best is that you collaborate to come up with a creative solution and in the process develop a relationship that will last longer than one individual project.

Practice some design Zen. I know, I know people throw the word “Zen” around like it’s going out of style. But it really does have some value in this situation. The goal is to do what you’ve been doing, only with a completely different understanding of it. As the lecturer Genro Seiun Koudela says, “…the mind has a chance to quiet down. You get away from this habitual way of thinking, and discriminating - judging good, bad, unpleasant, and so on.” I’ve occasionally caught myself thinking things like “I can’t do X, it’s not the way layout (or logos, or whatever) works…” or so on. Don’t fall into that trap.

While I’m practicing design Zen, I like to assume that I already know the answer top the problem I’m facing, I just haven’t given my my mind a chance to tell me about it yet. But I know it’s in there. This allows me to deal with “blocks” without loosing too much sleep about it.

I know you have some suggestions to add to the mix.

A tip from a colleague on creative problem-solving:

“I revel in taking each project and turning it around so it may be viewed from a strange but strangely enlightening angle. From there the concept an grow and you can discover what’s beneath the surface to make the right connections for it to succeed. I research keywords, phrases, other industries and many ideas. I get out and talk to people. I ask lots of questions and do lots of active listening to remain curious so the special nugget can rise to the top. I believe success has many masters, so it’s important to be flexible and expand with the idea as it grows. It rarely goes in the same direction you start and that creativity is what makes it all exciting.”

Sammy Simpson
Helpful links:
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