Curiouser and Curiouser
Category: Blog - July 13, 2010
"Alice laughed: "There's no use trying," she said; "one can't believe impossible things." "I daresay you haven't had much practice," said the Queen. "When I was younger, I always did it for half an hour a day. Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast." Alice in Wonderland.
I’ve been a little obsessed with “Alice in Wonderland” lately. I haven’t read it since high school, but I loved the 3-D version of the movie. There was something about quirky performances, fantastical cinematography and the always-whimsical dialogue that inspired me. In fact, it made me realize that even when you think you know the story, there is still an opportunity for surprise and, well, wonder.
This might sound odd, but what it really made me think about was my job. The fact is, in our line of work, we are very often asked to believe six impossible things before breakfast. I like the Queen’s advice. The more you practice it, the easier it is to do. Creative solutions abound when you can shift your perspective.
I’m no Tim Burton, but I do have experience coming up with fresh ways to tell stories that have already been told. So do the smart and courageous people I work with – in both the agency and corporate worlds. But from time to time, we all need some help getting started.
Which is why we conceived of Livewire. Basically, we offer our brains (and arms and legs) for hire by the hour, day or project when our clients need a creative spark. We can do anything from research to strategy development, crisis management or brainstorm facilitation. The fabulous part is this is a short-term gig. We can be a seamless part of your team, behind the scenes or front and center, but when we’re done, we’re out. Clients love it because it’s fast and effective, not to mention budget-friendly. We love it because it keeps us sharp and it’s fun.
Even if you don’t want to bring in outside help, you can still find inspiration and new perspectives on the same-old. Here are three things that help me:
- Find the right cast: Brainstorming is a lot more fun and productive when you have the right players in the room. Do you have subject matter experts? Decision makers? Big thinkers? You’ll want to change up the mix, depending what you are trying to accomplish.
- Suspend your disbelief: Check your objections at the door. Set the stage for what is possible and push your team to take risks. You can sort out the practicalities later. Don’t let preconceived notions get in your way.
- Write your own ending: Start with the end in mind. Paint your own best-case scenario and ask yourself what you have to cause people to think, feel and do to get the result you want.
How many impossible things have you believed today? Keep practicing.
Vice President
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