A new Kind of Shop

 

We did this project a couple of months ago. It’s a mobile shop, totally made up on QR-codes. Here you could shop your clothes while waiting on the bus, and then get it delivered in a very fast way direct to your home. I think it is the one of the future ways of shopping, and I’m proud to have been involved in this project. It fed my ideas to a lot of other projects.

…and before you say it. Yes I have seen that Tesco did something like this in Korea. I liked that too, even if this project took the whole thing one step further, the more companis who makes real use of the QR-codes the better. I’m tired of seeing them used in stupid ways as on billboards.

Use a Manifesto as a your personal map

Sometimes you outgrow life. You get stuck in the daily life, you forget who you are, and who you were. That is when you should go back to your manifest, and ask about the way back.

Manifestos are great. They are the business plan of your life. They lead you back. They make you remember, and encourage you.

Do you have written down your beliefs yet as a manifesto? If, not here is one that inspires me (thanks Holstee)

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The Design Languge of the Amateurs

This must be somewhere where all hobby designers can go, and pick up these guys. I see them everywhere from people that think they are designers….

Fail To Conform

It’s easy to fall in the trap of following others, especially since we read so much of successful peoples way to the top. For me a successful person is someone that has such personal integrity, that he is ready to test things which others think is wrong.

Without doing that he will never create anything new.

Short example of what I mean.

You have Paul, a young talent that gets his first job. From there everything goes fast, he gets promoted, he gets a higher salary, and he delivers year by year to his boss. Until the day he gets appointed to the management board he just listens to other people’s orders on his way climbing the career ladder.

When he now enters the management board he is not old, but still at the age of forty something he is not considered especially fresh anymore. Innovative he has never been, and he has only delivered what other told him, so he has a hard time to show what made him special. He has to find someone under him, that now can help him shine, as much as he made his boss shine ten years ago. A new young guy in his department seems to have that something extra, and Paul promote the young guy. From that day Paul’s “ladder climbering” is over. He doesn’t reach any higher, and nobody remembers his him.

He did nothing wrong in 20 years. That is what he did wrong. He never tried his potentials. He conformed himself to others thoughts, and when not having anything to show that where you own thoughts you can only reach a certain level.

My advice. Never conform.

Try to fail to conform. Aim for an up’s and downs-life. Aim even on more downs than ups, that will make you remembered. Because then you form a track record of doing, and from doing things, you get respected, because there are not so many people that actually believe so much in their thoughts, that they are ready to quit their job for them if they fail.

Idea Blog: Why not do what you good at? – a note from Rovinj

I’m out on a little excursion. I tick off places in Croatia, which you usually hear about in the sunnier season.

Now, I have been in Rovinj in Croatia. I have done the thing most people do when travelling, I have walked the streets, and I have been eating dinners, and drinking finer liquor in bars overlooking the marina. I have also done what most people don’t do, I have been asking why. In Rovinj I come along the question of what people really shop in tourists cities, and what they would like to shop (even if the maybe don’t know at the moment).

What surprises me every time in lovely cities like Rovinj (but it could be wherever) is that the supply is the same you find the usual souvenir stuff, you find the food and drinks (most often good things are not displayed, instead the only the average pieces are for sale), and in addition are all these “art-shops”. I always wonder who are these people who buy art in touristic city in greece?

My why questions to all this is “why doesn’t a city like Rovinj go back to its core values (call it brand values if you want), and define a strategy of standing out?”

Just look at the pictures. Rovinj is a paradise, at the same time it is beautiful as nearly nothing in the world, it also has a mystique over itself. It is placed more or less in the sea, and it has roman heritage.

So, Rovinj here is for you. Rovinj, dig where you stand! Build a story about the cities historic experience in soaps, and healing creams. Learn from your Italian roots, and design an exceptional packaging line of products, go out in the world and help people feel better with the spirit of Rovinj. Through out the art, and replace it with the heart of your city.

Which more cities could go back to there roots, and learn to differentiate, and position themselves?

The Day You Start Believe

A lot of people say they believe in themselves, believe that they can do whatever they want. Not so many are truly sincere. I really think that most of people claiming this also live after it. My point is although that I don’t think they believe enough. They believe in themselves, but not in the change they really can achieve. When they start with a task, they don’t really think they can build a new Ikea or a a new Apple. That’s is the difference. I have realized that in the projects where I really have started to believe, amazing things has happened. At the moment I get this inspiration from two partners of mine, both of them have created things from nothing into huge things. They have learnt my to believe, and then just execute it. I’m grateful for that.

As easy as it gets

Really. Isn’t it so easy as making your products tell the story. Not make it complicating. Just choose a clear focus. Communicate it consistent. Make the product tell your story in different ways.

Why don’t more companies do it?

 

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How do culture influence our brain?

Quick thought. That bad culture on tv or elsewhere would influence our brain in a negative way I think most of us thinks. Like, if we watch to much of bad reality shows or hollywood influenced crap, we will put our brains to a low level.

But, now is it with the opposite? Does really good, and smart tv-shows makes us brighter? If that is the case it is still better to watch tv, than not to do it. Right?

Let’s not forget about the brand

In this times on globalization, and multimessaging, it takes a lot to cut the clutter. How many times have we not read that? In marketing books, and articles.

I can only agree, but where are we with solutions? I think marketeers in general are going more into the route of diversification, and want to work broader with different tools. I don’t know if I agree with this route. This fits the managers that always want to do it all. Many times only for the sake of it, they think that more energetic you are the better it is for you. They focus on quantity, meaning that some of the things they do maybe aren’t so thought through. But, in their reasoning at least things are happening!

I ask what happened to the brands, and the brand marketing? Why is it today nearly shameful to believe more in that, than in a total integrated approach or something elso of buzz words.

If a brand is as a good friend of yours you would not forget about him or her, you would come back to listen on what she had to say, and try what she offered, you would trust her judgement, because you know her, and liked to hang with her.

But for coming there you have to really know her, and hang out with her, learn her behavior and starting to like her because of her abilities, flaws and personality.

If she all the time would change her way of being, switch interests or couldn’t be seen in along while, except when she was at work, how do you think you ever would get to know her then?

This is what brand communication is about, getting people to know the brand as a person. It’s a paradox that alot of managers wants to be like coca-cola, but when they hear that they can spend up to one year planning a campaign they say that “that it doesn’t sound necessary, let’s do it instead in two months”, and then the paradox starts over.

For me great brand communication can only be done with consistency, focus, great quality, and a clear, very clear brand route. What do you think?

Digital tools does not help it all

Ok. I know I really praised the iPad, and the digital age in the former post. I stand for it when it comes to monitor your world and keep up contact with your contacts. Although, when it comes to creativity and especially generating new ideas, for me there is nothing like a notebook. Neither of all existing kind of applications or computer programs doesn’t help me at all. I get my ideas by writing in my little black notebook, and when I’m running. That’s it. How is it for you? Do you have any help by mindmapping digitally?

Lifechanging moments when you are thirty

I just got an Ipad this December, and it has really changed my life. I also have an iPhone, which is great and which I use alot. But, with the iPad a total much easier, more interesting world has open for me. I going to tell you what I mean. I am a sucker for keeping me updated of what happens In the world. Both in terms of news, as well as in terms of trends. I realized a couple of years ago that this is going to be among the most important things in the the near future for people that wants to be successful. To know what happens around you. I became even more sure of this after I read Swedish author Fredrik Hären’s book about what happens in the world and why this important to understand (it is actually named that). In the book he tells that people in, what we are calling development countries in the western world, actually are running from us in terms of innovation, curiosity, and knowledge. They know more about what is happening in the world than we do in the western world. We mostly care about what happens in our world. They care about both. After reading this my urge to keep myself updated was bigger than ever, but my way to do it was still hard. I mean, really, who goes in and read different news you don’t really know where to find! This is now What my iPad has helped me with! I can now be updated every day of what happens everywhere. With all the simple applications, and a device that makes it a pleasure reading them, I am in love. Now, I can’t understand how I ever could live without it. For me this is life changing, and in one month I feel more updated than ever. You should try it too. How much do you really know what happens in China, Nigeria or India? Now you have no excuse not to know.

Understanding Design – the next big thing!

The more looking around when travelling, and meeting places, the more clear it becomes which role designknwledge will become in the near future of business.

I’m not so much meaning the knowledge of designing yourself, but the knowledge of differentiating, the experience of how to make a company or a product special, how to be someone in the world out there. The people that can combine this with a pure commercial business understanding will make miracles.

Because,  in all countries the trend is gonna be the same, products gonna be cheaper, and people is gonna want to have nice looking things for a better price – H&M & IKEA has started the trend that will be longliving. It is not enough anymore to just be cheap, and then ugly. You will have to be cheap and good looking. For this it’s gonna demand a good trend eye & business understanding of the management.

Not crazy designers that just want to have fun, not just excel obsessed directors with no connection to the trends. It is needed a combination to thrive. Good luck you all!

This is what I think you can do for enhancing your positive thinking

Decide for optimizing your thinking in any situation. For some of us it is needed training and commitment to achieve, but the return could be fabulous. The good thing is: One can always choose to be positive!

Everyone has problems, big or small. All will experience and have to deal with illness, death, etc. as well as economic problems and so on. The difference is in the attitude. Where some see potential in all situations, a potential to grow and develop as a person. Other people see the opposite. They miss a flight, and straight away they call the airline just to have someone to yell at.

The positive group do not question what already happen. Instead they have a different attitude, and may for example ask whether anything can be done of the time they now have „won“. Can they read a book and learn something new, can they talk to someone next to them, and build a friendship. Quite simply they ask if they can use the time to something that can build them instead of destroying them.

Which of the two types are you mostly?

Inspire your thinking – Step Nr 3 – Select positive “mind food”

We are obviously influenced by all the impression that we are regularly bombarded with. The more positive impression, the greater the probability of an optimistic view of climate. Evaluate your sources. Then create a routine to use them to get an injection of positivity. Honestly, to just watch news or listen to experts a couple of times a week is not a good strategy. Try instead to spend time with positive people or read something that fills you with energy & inspiratiom. Always find time to read. Also try to identify every night and write down the three best things about your week so far. This will add a systematic basis for realistic optimism!

Inspire your thinking – Step Nr 2 – Securing a positive perspective!

 When you fired your question battery, put your efforts to produce at least one positive perspective on your problem. Your idea might prove impossible to implement, but if it happened, how would you go about it? Characteristic of the great geniuses is that they are constantly dealing with multiple perspectives, and a greater number of options. This will break the tunnel vision and embraces new and exciting opportunities. For example, a task that you instinctively know that you will not be ready for, let’s put the pessimistic perspective for a while and then challenge yourself to produce at least one positive perspective. Only after that, select the one that feels best, or perhaps a combination.

Inspire your creativity- Step Nr 1. Open the door for the positive!

Before the pessimisstic thinking was a way to survive. Nowadays, you really dont need it for that case. Therefore, it is important to fight it every time it shows up. If you find yourself having to throw an interesting idea in the trash or hesitation for an exciting challenge, it might be the case you are hold hostage by your thoughts.  Start challenge them, your underlying thought patterns, kindly but firmly. Be creative and confront your thoughts. Ask a rational set of questions, and it often opens up for a more positive interpretation of the situation.

Do it with some easy questions like.

-        How can I be sure that the idea really is not working?

-       What’s the worst that can happen if I am taking up the challenge?

-       How likely is it that it happens?

Do you have any other good questions?

Everything starts with thinking.

Winners know that success is in their head. There are countless examples of how barriers have cracked when people highlight the positive. You have all examples from the sport, but also from the business. Steve Jobs and Richard Branson comes back to it time after time. Also, the young entreprenurs of the digital generation talk about it, and contionously works on keeping it going.

You can also use the thought-training and positive thinking to improve your quality of life and achievement!

Let’s start with killing one myth, the one that the brain would be perfectly designed, and that we have an innate ability to think optimally. This is not the case. Human beings are programmed to think in routines and to be totally uncreative. Still our brains work in a very old-fashioned way. It warns very fast for danger, and are always on the run to find some negative sides that may threat our existence. This is when stress arises. As you see, in most of the cases totally without any purpose. Thinking you learn in the same way you learn using a computer.

So, how do you think if you want to create something creative or to achieve goals in your life? The magical mix is spelled realistic optimism. Here we are not talking about over-positive talk or about wishful thinking like „this year is gonna be the best“. No, we are talking about a realistic optimism. A, realistic optimism is the most effective way of thinking. Realistic optimism is something you can learn if you do not already have it naturally. The next post is about a first step in thinking.

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Think more of how you think best

Where do you get your most brilliant ideas? Funnily enough, we seem to be most creative when we least expect it.

When we change the environment and the focus we also stimulates new fresh thinking. So what is your creative strategy?

It is easy to automatically relax once in dusty old thinking when faced with new challenges. We may be thinking: “This has worked before. Why change a winning formula?” Although it is convenient as it is not really the way to innovative breakthroughs.

Creativity is about creating – and preferably something big. Your thoughts create, and creative thinking will help you make the most of your situation.

But, creativity involves two processes: thinking, then producing. Innovation is the production or implementation of an idea. If you have ideas, but don’t act on them, you are imaginative but not creative. So, find places to think at, and places to act at.

Find out what is best for you. Is it to unwind, go to totally new places, playing a certain song, take a shower or just surf online. Then, where do you get most things done? Find it, and start using it.

Mental tattoos

I am an eclectic gatherer of best practice, and happy to praise what I like about other places and cultures, often I compare this with my surroundings. I don’t care where people are from, I care mostly about what they are at the moment and what they want to become in the future. I care about the brain, the energy and the talent.

It’s a Sunday afternoon, and I come up with a few mental tatoos (tatoos that are inside me, but not yet printed on my body). The first says independence is my religion, the second I never give up. Two reminders in my world. Two reminders that always keep me going.

I also made my first mental booking on where to travel next. I made a note of Brazil, when ask when, I answer soon.

What’s next for you? Do you do mental tatoos?