Without new ideas you are unlikely to generate the breakthroughs that produce real business success.

Yet, in my experience, most business owners simply fail to take the time to exercise and develop their creativity and imagination… and, as a result, they work way too hard in their businesses.

Today, I want to share several simple yet highly effective creativity building techniques I use to be able to produce innovative and effective sales copy, sales letters, ads and powerful pieces of communications for clients – on time and on budget.

I guarantee you that these simple techniques will help you to become more original in your thinking, channel your creativity more effectively and be able to differentiate your business in ways that make you stand out from your competition and are meaningful to your customers…

By interacting with different people over the years I’ve learned that your personality may inhibit your creativity. This is not carved in stone but generally if you are an adapter, preserver or a deadline-oriented person then creativity is probably not your strong suit. People who are too scared to rock the boat … have a tendency to stick with what works … or are constantly chasing deadlines … will struggle to develop their creative potential.

Creativity needs to be exercised, just like a muscle, for it to work at its optimal level. You can give your creativity a workout with these practical techniques…

Surprise One Person Every Day

Simply do something unexpected for at least one person today – whether it’s for your partner, friend or client – something that will really make them feel special and important (without spending more than $5 to do it!). Go on, put your creativity hat on and figure what you could do to surprise your partner tonight!

Make Time For Reflection And Relaxation

Take time to rethink the actions you took and decisions you made the day before… are they taking you in the right direction? What could you have done differently to achieve the outcome you seek from those actions/decisions?

To help you relax, especially when you feel overwhelmed by an event or problem, try the mental dump technique: write down everything in your mind related to the problem or concern. Put it all down on paper. Try this any time you feel stressed, overwhelmed or fearful.

Find A Way To Express What Moves Or Surprises You

This is my favourite. As a copywriter, I always look for better ways to articulate different/new experiences.

Here’s my quick attempt to describe the Melbourne GP:

“Witness the deafening sound of engines … the nail-biting pit stops … the smell of the racing fumes … and the roar of spectators as world champion F1 drivers unleash the fury and attack the deceptively tight twists and turns of the Albert Park circuit in their sleek and screaming, high-performance missile machines.”

Here’s another one… the Australian Open:

“Imagine if you were there at the Australian Open as the action unfolds before your eyes… the tingle of anticipation … the sound of sneakers on the court … the thwack of the ball … the roars of the crowd … the thrill that goes up your spine as two people battle it out down to their last ounce of strength … delivering an earthshaking experience before your very eyes making your heart beat faster and your eyes bigger and brighter!”

OK, I know that could be improved. But trying to articulate new experiences gives your creativity muscles a good workout. Give this a go!

Try New Experiences

Trying new experiences will stimulate your brain to think and perform on an inspired level. Here are some ideas if you’re still stuck…

-       Try a new dish or meal.

-       Learn a new language.

-       Meet new people.

-       Pick up a new hobby or learn a new skill.

-       Read a book or magazine on a topic that’s way out of your interest zone.

Ask “What If…” More Often

Imagination and creativity helps you think outside the box… often we stifle out creativity by asking the wrong kind of questions or making wrong assumptions. The “what if…?” question is a great way of putting things in a different perspective and opening a world of unlimited possibilities for you. So, the next time you’re faced with a problem or a challenge, ask yourself these questions…

‘WHAT IF I couldn’t fail? What would I do then?’

‘WHAT IF I only had six days to live? How would I face this problem then?’

‘WHAT IF I had all the money in the world? What would I do then?’

‘WHAT IF my assumptions about success and business were totally wrong?’

I know, this is not the most exhaustive list of all the creativity techniques out there. Yet, these techniques are simple, have worked for me with great success, and I’m sure will work for you if only you practice them often enough.

I hope you the techniques will help you to become more original in your thinking, use your creativity more effectively, and generate real breakthrough ideas that will catapult your business to the next level.