The inspiration for today’s article came from a visit to my hairdresser. He gave me a ‘zigzag’ part, when for many years I had had a perfectly straight, linear part in my hair. With a simple flick of his comb, he expanded my concept of what a ‘part’ was, encouraging me into an out-of-the-box idea that I had never even considered.
I hope to inspire you to think out of the box – to step out of our typical linear thinking and think more creatively and innovatively.
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On a road trip I took one time called “Back Roads and Country Inns”, we drove down many back roads and winding country lanes, often not entirely sure where we would end up. The joy was in the exploration and the journey, not in arriving at the destination.
It struck me that we are often willing when on vacation to put the roadmap aside and just explore. We discover charming towns and hidden beauties as we just follow the road wherever it leads, enjoying the journey, living moment to moment.
This spirit of exploration made me think about how we typically limit ourselves in our lives. I wondered where else in my life I took the usual straight and narrow path when it would be more interesting – even more exciting – to follow the road less traveled and take a curious jog on a path I’ve never seen before. Where would it lead me?
In the hustle and bustle of our busy lives, some of us forget that life is not a destination, a deadline, or a single event. Instead, it’s a complex, multi-faceted, organic organism, forever changing as new inputs stimulate its shape and character.
Most people act as if their lives follow a neat linear progression. But, in reality, there is no pre-determined pattern to our lives any more.
Just as there are no longer predictable stages to life, so too are there no longer predictable stages to a business. They follow a much more organic pattern, and it is almost impossible to predict what the actual results or outcomes will be.
Because our lives are constantly changing and evolving, we need to learn to improvise, to be comfortable with where change takes us. To let go of the ‘known’ and take the risk of exploring uncharted territory.
We can learn to ‘zigzag’ by charting our own path in life and business, our own individual course, while giving ourselves the gift of time to explore and enjoying the scenery along the way. Our life plan or our business plan will be shaped by these experiences, and we may end up somewhere we never expected to be – and loving it.
Ask yourself these questions:
- Where in my life or my business do I most need to step off the linear, well-trodden path, be open to what’s right in front of me in the moment, and take a different course of action?
- What could I try that I’ve never done before?
- Where can I zigzag to reach my ultimate goal so that I enjoy the journey instead of just focusing on reaching the end result?
- How could I innovate and step in a bold new direction?
Consider an out-of-the-box idea that you’ve never tried before. Take a more experimental, open-minded approach. Improvise, try something new, do something in a way you’ve never done it before. If that doesn’t work, try something else. Be open to learning something new. We learn more from our failures than we do from our successes, so be open to ‘failing’ – the surest route to innovation and creativity.
If you have a goal to change your business results, consider several different ways you could achieve the same outcome. In reality, it’s not the destination that is important. It’s getting there, and then starting off in another direction or down another road, relishing every moment of the journey.
Be open to stumbling upon where you’re going rather than mapping it out in advance. Notice which of the many opportunities that come your way really appeal to you most. Say yes to those good opportunities that tap into your passion but weren’t in your plan.
Take the more interesting path to reach your goals. Step off the well-trodden, predictable path and learn to zigzag. I assure you – you will be well rewarded!
I invite you to post your thoughts and comments below.
Wishing you much success,
~ Jan
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Excellent article, Jan Marie. You made some very good points and offered some great ideas about thinking outside the box and stepping outside your comfort zone. Life is a journey – many times we’re more focused on our destination instead of enjoying the journey and taking time to step off the well-traveled road onto some back roads and undiscovered trails. You’re an inspiration to many of us. Thanks!
All the best,
Ceil
Hi Jan,
I have always been open to learning something new but as always you have made some very good points and offered some great ideas about thinking outside the box.
Lynnette