The K-Factor.
When
it comes to world of business creation and branding, it's a small world after
all. I think that many entrepreneurs two tendencies around idea generation that
can work at cross-purposes with the need to focus when solving for a business concept, brand definition or marketing
challenge.
First,
we can fall in love too easily. Often, that first great idea that resonates
takes over in our minds, and we can't let go. We're in love. But, there are
other fish in the sea. The other
tendency is that we can generate so many ideas that we become completely
overwhelmed, dredging through a puddle of possibilities with no answer in
sight.
I
recently interviewed author Michael J Gelb, who is an expert on the great
inventor of our time, Thomas Alva Edison, and the co-author of the book, Innovate Like Edison. During he and
co-author, Sarah Miller Caldicott's study of Edison's
methods of innovation, they discovered his ability to employ "kaleidoscopic
thinking". I call it the K-Factor. Edison believed that if you need to come up with one
great idea, then you should come up with many
great ideas. Edison did exactly that. He
referred to his own mind as a Kaleidoscope. We can do this too.
Harness
our natural entrepreneurial tendency to generate endless great ideas, and, by
peering at them as if they were in a kaleidoscope, with critical thinking, we
can then isolate and select and one great idea that is the perfect fit. Then mold it carefully for the particular challenge
at hand. Keep all those other great ideas alive in your K-file for future
consideration, you'll want to refer back to them from time to time, to peer back
into your process.
As
an entrepreneur, you should celebrate your ability to create a multitude of
great ideas. It's your gift. But...don't fall in love too soon. And always remember
the K-Factor.
David
Wolf is the manager of Radio, Podcasting and Social Media at SBTV.com-The Small
Business Television Network. www.sbtv.com.
Email him at dwolf@sbtv.com.