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To develop innovative ideas for your business, you must find your own “innovation environment” that stimulates your creative energy. Although people can generate creative ideas at any time, intentionally placing yourself into the proper environment can produce excellent innovations that grow your business.
My perfect innovation environment is something like the picture to the left – in a peaceful outdoor setting. That’s not me sitting on the dock, but I would love to be there! One of my favorite environments is sitting along the ocean and letting my brain come to life. Since I live in Spokane, Washington, it’s a long drive to the ocean, but fortunately we have many mountains, rivers, and lakes nearby. I escape to these places to relax and identify new ideas for my own business.
I first learned about finding an innovation environment from a cartoon character when I was five or six years old. That cartoon character is Winnie the Pooh. My kids love our collection of Winnie the Pooh books, toys, and videos. Winnie the Pooh was one of my favorite characters when I was a kid too. But, he’s not just entertainment for kids, he brings an important lesson about innovation to adults!
Entrepreneurs and business leaders are constantly looking for innovations that will expand their business and give them a competitive edge to thrive in their market. I’m often asked questions about how to identify innovations. The answer to this question is different for each individual. Since we are all unique, each of us thinks differently and does their most creative thinking in different environments. If you want to identify innovations and creative ideas, first understand the environment that is most creative for you (as well as others in your business).
This is where Winnie the Pooh teaches us an important lesson. Winnie the Pooh has his “thoughtful spot” – the place where he can contemplate important questions, such as what he should do for the day or where to find a pot of honey. Pooh has found the perfect environment to do his creative thinking. His thoughtful spot may not be the right environment for other characters, but it is his special place.
You need to find your own “thoughtful spot” to develop creative ideas and new innovations. The environment that works for you is not necessarily the same environment that fosters creativity in your business partners or employees. So, let others find their own “perfect” environment and don’t try to force them be creative in your environment – it will not work.
To identify the environment that is best for your own creative thinking, keep track of where you are, what you are doing, the time of day, and environmental conditions when you develop new ideas. You will begin to see a pattern develop – this pattern helps define your personal innovation environment. You can then go to this environment (or create the environment) when you want to practice creativity and innovation.
Please share your thoughts on your own innovation environment – when and where do you find your greatest level of creativity and innovation?