Think outside the boxffice

This isn't a revolutionary idea but it is something I believe in, so it makes an appearance on the uber-exclusive Kliff's Notes blog.

Sometimes it is easy to get stuck in a rut walking into the office five days a week, sitting in the same chair, in front of the same computer for eight plus hours each day. This rut can affect your demeanor, your mood, and ultimately your creativity.

That's why some of my best thinking happens when you get the chance during the week to get out of the office. Whether it is heading to a clients, attending an event or just taking a half hour and walking around the neighbourhood, that bit of change seems to spark the brain into creating new opportunities that may help one of my clients. Some of them are completely off the wall and probably don't deserve to see the light of day, but giving the old brain a chance to breathe makes work a little more interesting and effective I find.

A couple of weeks ago I was taking the subway out to an event with my client and I found it much easier to articulate what I was working on for her and how it was going to help their business. Something about being free of the shackles and corporateness of an office just allowed my thoughts and concepts to flow smoothly.

Give it a try next time you are stumped or want to impress a client. Maybe i'll have all my client meetings on the subway from now on!

Writer's Block...or just Lazy Brain

Why can I not think of a new blog posting? It's just the same old thoughts that keep coming up in my head. Writer's block? I have no imagination? No creativity????.........

Nope, my brain is just lazy according to an article from Fast Company Magazine.

"The brain is fundamentally a lazy piece of meat. It doesn't want to waste energy. That's why there is a striking lack of imagination in most people's visualization of a beach sunset. It's an iconic image, so your brain simply takes the path of least resistance and reactivates neurons that have been optimized to process this sort of scene."

So thats great. Now I have to work out to stay in shape and somehow find the time to work out my brain also! Sheesh it is never ending. But according to the article the more you experiment and enjoy new experiences the more workout your brain undergoes because it has to process all this crazy, out of place stuff. So that is why social networks, and reading blogs, and heck even travelling and experiencing new things is so important for marketers and other creative types. It allows you to exercise your brain. Now I think i've stumbled onto a way to expense a trip to Thailand.