The AEC industry is overflowing with creative types…not only do we do creative things for our living, but we treasure our extracurricular creative outlets. Even engineers—whom one might initially think are less creative relative to architects and interior designers—collaborate to creatively solve problems relating to complex MEP systems or structural solutions to accommodate a unique architectural design.
In our industry, virtually every individual has his/her own creative outlet beyond their regular work. I know AEC professionals that are also photographers, painters, band members; creative writers; …the list goes on and on. Marketing/business development professionals within our industry are no different. They, too, have wonderful outlets to ensure continued creativity, above and beyond their inherently creative job.
I think of creativity now, as Halloween approaches. I adore Halloween; it’s my favorite holiday. Why? Because people can explore and expose their alter-egos, secret fantasies, and sillier sides. Everyone engages with one another at Halloween parties. For us business development and marketing folks, ‘working the room’ is nothing new. But for those who are typically shy and/or introverted, Halloween is an opportunity to be someone or something else for a night or three.
Typically, I design memorable Halloween costumes that I then have a tendency to wear for several years in a row before moving on. (Yes, this ‘repeating costume’ business is a fatal flaw of mine). I knew I would be mobbed and lynched if I once again showed up at parties with my ‘fortune teller in a booth’ costume. So there was extra pressure this year to come up with a new brilliant idea.
For some reason, I was blocked.
About three days ago (just in the nick of time), it finally came to me. But this was only because I pulled myself up by the bootstraps, and worked backwards. First, I named my criteria for this year’s costume: 1. interactive; 2. cheap; 3. timely/topical.
Once my criteria were identified, I placed ‘timely/topical’ as a top priority. From there, I became unblocked…my costume needed to be something around the exploding concept of ‘social media’. So, Twitter came to mind. But I figured the most playful of all would be to work on a Facebook concept. A Facebook profile—cheap, interactive, and easy (sort of!).
So far, I’ve been to two costume parties (the weekend prior to Halloween). The facebook profile costume has been a big hit! Mission accomplished.
I share this because even we creative types tend to get blocked. Everyone has different techniques of getting unblocked. This time, mine was to work from the end goal backwards. What’s yours?
