Bring out the innovator in you

Since reading, and taking action on, my last blog I hope you are now in a better position to use your time more effectively.  If not or if you feel that your business has taken over your life and yet you still can’t achieve your goals then read on.

It’s time to bring out the innovator in you!

And for all of you who are saying “I’m not an innovator and never will be.  I know that I will never invent a great new product” please stop because everyone can be an innovator.  Being an innovator does not mean inventing new things.  According to Wikipedia, “the term innovation derives from the Latin word innovatus, which is the noun form of innovare “to renew or change,” … Innovation differs from invention or renovation in that innovation generally signifies a substantial change compared to entirely new or incremental changes.”

To bring out the innovator in you, you need to change the way you see and do things, a bit like thinking outside the box, and you can do this by asking yourself, “What can I do differently in my business today compared with what I did yesterday?” 

It is very easy to get stuck in a rut and to continue doing things in the same way that you have always done them especially if you are running your business by yourself.  However if you do, you cannot expect things to change or your business to pick up. And this is not a one off process either.  If you want your business to succeed, you need to be continually coming up with new ideas and ways of improving what you do – you cannot innovate once, it is an organic and ongoing process.

Every time you come up with a new process or system for your business, you are innovating.  Every time you find a better way to keep in touch with clients so that you get repeat business or referrals from them, that is being innovative.  De-cluttering your office so that you can find things quicker, that’s innovative.  Finding ways to work smarter rather than harder, that’s innovative.

So you see, you are an innovator and it’s not nearly as daunting as it seems. In fact, it can be fun – even if it is hard work. 

Be an innovator and start making the changes you need to make your business a success by answering the question, “What can I do differently in my business today compared with what I did yesterday?”  You may be very surprised by the results.

And don’t forget to let me know your successful innovations by adding them as a comment below.

Inspiring your success

Over the past few months I have written blogs covering a wide range of topics relating to careers and small businesses.  Some of which have been written on the spur of the moment as a result of something I have come across in my work that I have felt inspired to share with you and other times I have created a more structured approach to my blogging by writing a short series of blogs on a specific subject for example;

• Why some businesses succeed while others struggle
• Does social media bring you clients?
• Confidence
• Goal setting

Recently I have been writing a lot about some of the issues facing small businesses and my aim is to convert these into a short series of helpful and informative blogs.  During these blogs I intend to cover topics such as how to get more clients, strategic alliances, time management, branding, and innovation.

Later I will do a mini-series for those looking to return to work or change career and also on how to expand your network using social media.

In between these more structured blogs, I will continue to write about things that I come across on a day to day basis that I feel are important to share with you.

I recommend that you subscribe now so as not to miss out on any of this valuable information.

And please drop me an email if there is a particular topic that you would like to see covered.