Sources – Where to Get Ideas and Inspiration

Hey all,

Well the weekend is upon us. Here in the Great White North, the unusually balmy weather has given way to a slight chill this morning. No doubt ice will be forming and, on the plus side, some skating might be on the agenda for the weekend. If not, my bud Mike just sent over a compilation CD of Wilco, Son Volt, The Flying Burrito Brothers, and the twangy-like. Either way, the weekend should be good.

At first I thought my weekend would not be so hot. My colleague just dropped me off a stack of books and literature to read. Doing homework was nothing something any of us really enjoy, but in this case I will take exception. Before me I have a box of print outs, books, and small press magazines to read for the weekend. We have some new product launches coming up so these bits of literature are going to come in handy.

Information marketing is the kind of business that always pushes you to think and create more. It’s great that way. But as we all know, these creative wells can run dry and have to be refreshed. There are several ways you can do this. Here are some things and sources rely on:

---Related Books. We have an extensive library at Information Marketing Institute. And not just books about marketing or sales – all kinds of biographies, case studies, and compendiums. Sometimes reading a history of David Ogilvy or some complied studies of a famous marketing campaign can generate new ideas quickly. This can be good for you too. Read something when your mind is blank. Visit the library and check the latest periodicals. You can get ideas for new trends and movements in your field. Even better: you might learn about what NOT to do.

--Related Websites and Blogs. Obviously you will be glued to your computer a lot with your information marketing business. Surfing the Net is never a bad thing and I am sure I don’t need to tell you how much potential information is out there. But be sure to refine your search and skip over forums or message boards that are long and not immediately informative.

--Getting in Touch With a Professional. A friend of mine is a pedal steel guitar player. He studied the instrument like mad and got really frustrated about his progress. One night after a show in a tavern, he met another, more experienced and highly successful steel player from Nashville. Mustering up confidence, he approached the musician, began talking with him, and before long they were sitting at the bar, talking, and they stayed till close. Not only did my friend learn lots that night, he had the added enjoyment of meeting an idol, sharing a drink, and having fun. You can do the same. Offer to meet up with a pro and take them out for a coffee or meal, and be sure to pick their brain. You will gain a ton of insight and you might even form a very fruitful connection that could beneficial down the line.

--Pay a Visit to a Centre of Activity. Sometimes where you are located isn’t necessarily where the action is. My boss at an old publishing job used to take frequent trips to Calgary, Madrid, and San Francisco as, at the time, that was where new publishing successes were occurring. While he may have had more money and time than you to do this, don’t be afraid to take an occasion road trip or short excursion to a place where you can learn something to benefit your business. While there, sign up for a seminar, visit a convention, or meet a competitor to see what is happening.

--Take an Extended Break. It’s quite possible that your creative juices are down because you’re overworked. Often taking a holiday allows your brain to cool down and relax. Then, all of a sudden, an idea comes out of the blue and you are ready for action again. When all else fails, do this. It might just be the ticket.

Ideas are everywhere. We are lucky as humans that our brains can generate images and ideas or untold proportion and scope. The trick is to harness and utilize them to our advantage.

Best of luck and have a great weekend,

J.