Here's how you can harness creative thinking to uncover new business growth opportunities.

Sharing the “Go Pro” story to illustrate… “Go Pro” was launched at a time when Sony & Nikon were the big power houses of the digital camera business. “Go Pro” was sturdy, simple & did not have any ground breaking technology. Yet, in a decade create value > $1.5Bn. How? By looking at the world thru the “eyes on the consumer”. Go Pro was created by a surfing enthusiast who wanted to share his greatest moments of adventure with the world. Hence the big aha of the product was not electronics but it’s “mount”. The mount helped attached the camera to anything from Surf boards, cycles to even animals to capture of those unique “thrilling moments”….Sony, on the other hand, was busy making a camera with more pixels!

Abrazar la curiosidad en la estrategia empresarial es clave para impulsar la innovación, adaptarse al cambio, mejorar la toma de decisiones, fomentar el aprendizaje continuo y atraer talento. Las empresas que cultivan una mentalidad curiosa están mejor posicionadas para prosperar en un mundo en constante evolución.

When Airbnb launched in 2008, hotel giants like Marriott and Hilton dominated the industry. Airbnb didn’t start with a revolutionary technology but with a simple idea: offering travelers unique, local experiences by staying in people’s homes. Founders Brian Chesky and Joe Gebbia saw this when they rented out air mattresses in their apartment, offering breakfast and local insights. This personalized, cost-effective approach appealed to both travelers and hosts The key takeaway is to look beyond the obvious. Understand and address unmet consumer needs. While traditional hotels were focused on luxury and amenities, Airbnb offered what people craved: connection, affordability, and unique experiences

Starbucks Transformation with Creative Thinking In the early 2000s, Starbucks faced stagnation and declining sales. Howard Schultz, the then-CEO, harnessed creative thinking to revitalize the brand. He initiated the "My Starbucks Idea" platform, inviting customers to share suggestions. This led to innovative ideas like free Wi-Fi, mobile ordering, and loyalty programs. Additionally, Starbucks expanded its product line to include premium teas, healthier food options, and ready-to-drink beverages. By creatively engaging with customers and diversifying its offerings, Starbucks uncovered new growth opportunities, leading to a significant turnaround in sales and customer loyalty.

Curiosity may have killed the cat, but it can certainly resurrect your business. Encouraging your team to ask 'why' and 'what if' can unearth hidden opportunities and disrupt stale practices. As Einstein famously said, "I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." By rewarding curiosity, you spark innovation and position your business for unexpected breakthroughs.

Al combinar diferentes perspectivas, experiencias y talentos, se genera un ambiente propicio para la creatividad y la resolución de problemas de manera innovadora, lo que se traduce en empresas más exitosas y competitivas. Empresas líderes como Google, Microsoft e IBM han demostrado que capitalizar la diversidad cultural en su fuerza laboral les otorga una ventaja competitiva. Al reunir talentos diversos, se potencia la capacidad de innovar, adaptarse y tomar mejores decisiones estratégicas.

Gather insights from a wide range of sources, including team members from various backgrounds and industries. Diversity in thought brings fresh ideas and unique solutions.

Let's face it: most brainstorming sessions are about as productive as a cat chasing its tail. Instead of just scheduling ideation sessions, integrate creative thinking into daily operations. Walt Disney once said, "It’s kind of fun to do the impossible." Encourage your team to play with ideas continuously, not just in meetings. Create an environment where innovation is a constant, not a calendar event.

Host Regular Brainstorming Sessions: Schedule frequent sessions dedicated to idea generation. Ensure an open environment where all suggestions are considered without immediate criticism.

The goal is to encourage free-flowing thought and collaboration. Create an environment where all ideas are welcomed and considered. Encourage everyone to participate. The more diverse the ideas, the better. Different perspectives can lead to breakthrough concepts. Document all ideas. Even the wild ones. You never know which idea might spark the next big thing. Review and refine. After the session, take time to evaluate and develop the most promising ideas further. Remember, the key is to keep the atmosphere relaxed and open. This way, creativity can truly flourish.

I agree with you. Every industry has its norms, but growth happens when we challenge these. Imagine flipping a common practice or solving a problem differently. By questioning our business models and those of our competitors, we can find new ways to add value for our customers and stand out. It's about having the courage to rethink and innovate.

Regularly question the existing methods and industry norms. Thinking differently about established practices can lead to groundbreaking innovations.

Challenge assumptions. Flip them upside down. What if your business model was a pancake? Would it taste better with syrup or nutella? Think of your competitors as your annoying siblings. They follow the rules. You, on the other hand, are the rebellious one who colors outside the lines. Question everything. Why do we park in driveways and drive on parkways? If that makes no sense, maybe your business model needs a shake up too. Approach problems from different angles. By questioning the fundamentals, you might just stumble upon the next big thing. Or at least a good story for your next business party.

Quickly develop and test new ideas with small-scale models. This allows for rapid iteration and improvement based on real-world feedback.

Got a brilliant idea? Don't let it gather dust. Prototype it quickly. Think of it as speed dating for your concepts. Swipe right on potential, swipe left on duds. Prototyping is like a first date. You get to know your idea without committing to a long-term relationship. It's a low-risk way to see if there's chemistry. Each iteration is like a second date, better than the first, but still room for improvement. Keep refining until you find "the one." This approach can uncover hidden business opportunities faster than you can say "Eureka!" Who knows, your next big idea might be just a prototype away. Remember, it's not about perfection. It's about progress. So, grab that idea, give it a whirl, and see where it takes you.

Combining creative thinking with technology can be a powerful way to uncover new business growth opportunities. For example, in my previous role, we used digital tools for market analysis to identify emerging customer needs and pain points. This data-driven approach helped us generate innovative product concepts tailored to our target market. We then used virtual collaboration to unite cross-functional teams to ideate and refine these ideas. By leveraging technology to enhance our creative process, we were able to quickly validate our concepts and bring successful new products to market faster than our competitors.

Use digital tools for collaboration, like brainstorming apps or project management software. They capture and develop ideas faster than a speeding bullet. And you can collaborate without the awkwardness of actual human interaction 😉 Artificial intelligence and data analytics identify trends and patterns that are not immediately obvious. Integrate technology into your creative processes, and watch your team's innovation soar. Example: AI suggests selling umbrellas in the desert and data shows people love pineapple on pizza. Who knew? So, grab your gadgets, rally your team. Remember, even Batman needed Alfred's help sometimes.

Sometimes the best ideas come from the least likely places—look outside your industry for inspiration. Steve Jobs once drew inspiration from a calligraphy class for Apple's fonts and design. Cross-pollinating ideas from different fields can lead to groundbreaking innovation. Embrace the unconventional and explore the unfamiliar to drive growth.

Think of as many ideas as possible. No idea is too silly. Keep up with industry trends and advancements to identify new opportunities. See what other businesses are doing and think about how you can do it differently or innovate it. Talk to your customers and team members. They might have great ideas you haven't or didn't thought of. Try different ways of doing things and if doesn't work, try another way until you found a way. Look for problems faced by customers that can be solved and build a business around these solutions.

Just because you've always done things a certain way doesn't mean it's the best way to grow your business. I call it "Hamster Wheel Syndrome." You're running like mad, but guess what? You're still in the same spot. No one will remember: - Your business plan - Your market analysis - Your profit margins People will remember: - Your quirky ideas - Your innovative solutions - Your out-of-the-box thinking It may seem absurd. But it makes all the difference. Remember, the only bad idea is the one you never share. Who knows? Your next big business breakthrough might be hiding in plain sight. Don't let it stay hidden.