How was your Summer'? For some of you, it was the same ol', same ol'. For others it was full and eventful. I'm hoping that for those entrepreneurs and business people in the bunch, it was the latter because whether you realize it or not, being involved in various activities (personal included) is a great way to further your own business. Let me explain. No matter what type of business you are in, you have to communicate with your customers. This is widely known as business marketing but I like to also call it 'Story Time'. And not the kind of story where you're trying to put someone to sleep, but the kind of story where you're asked to read it again and again. These kinds of stories require not just relevant facts but a huge dose of creativity to make the ideas fresh - dramatic license as you may. So, if effective communication is the difference between life and death of a business, and it's something that us entrepreneurs should be mindful of everyday, how do we keep those ideas flowing? As the vehicles of these stories, we have to keep ourselves fresh first. Here's 5 ways to do that...

1. Enjoy an event or activity that has nothing to do with business!

I can tell you that this is something really hard to do for single or few-person run businesses. I know I've been staying on top of myself concerning this and I still need work. But, when you visit your relatives or spend time with your friends. DO THAT! Don't go over to their house and start working on a project or putting together a sales letter. If you're going out to the movies, don't talk about work or at least don't spend 90% of the time talking about it. Sometimes, if what you're doing is fun, you can't help but to talk about it but for the most part, focus on where you're at and what you're there to do.

2. Play with children (Or at least children's toys)

The minds of children are free and if you can tap into that energy you are on your way to a boundless source of creativity and innovation. Children have a way of making up their own games, existing in make believe worlds and going with their instincts. Think about the last time you played anything with your young 6 year-old son or niece. If they even thought, they were about to lose they all of a sudden change the rules in their favor. Now although, not really fair on the surface, they're already using their ability to forecast and create a solution for the upcoming problem, which happens to be them losing. As complicated as running your business can become, these feelings should be tapped into as frequently as possible because they are sure to remind you of the simplicities of life.

3. Read something you've been meaning to read.

This is something that is really overlooked as a way to get your mind going on some ideas that you may have forgotten. If you're a business writer and you really love science fiction, take some time to read a sci-fi book. This goes back to the feeling of getting back in touch with your inner self and possibly, some original goals. Often we just read those books, magazines and articles that relate to our business or that will ultimately affect our business. We just don't have time to read anything else. While this may be good for business it's not good for our imagination. Our imagination is our greatest asset when searching for new ways to reach our audience and it's not stimulated by one thing. Feed your creativity.

4. Travel

I spent the early part of summer traveling domestically. I went through 3 states and when I returned home, I couldn't believe the energy and ideas I had fostered. The change in venue, the feeling of how other people live their lives, the way businesses operate in their local neighborhood - all of these things increased my perspective on what my company's mission was and how we would speak to our target market. By realizing those similarities and differences of New York vs. Georgia, for example, I was able to better formulate a 'story' that speaks to all groups in their own right. Traveling is a great way to set your mind free and keep your marketing campaign fresh.

5. Be a Social Butterfly

You may misconstrue this to mean attend every party you're invited to but, that's not the true meaning behind this. As human beings, we are social creatures by nature but as we get older, we tend to shut down that part of us that wants to really meet new people and hear new things. I recently attended a retreat in the Poconos and the people that I met there, I would have never met in the same manner at a networking event or party. We were in a more intimate setting and the information we shared and discussed was priceless. I could have easily turned down my invitation but my quest to experience new things pushed me to accept. As a result, I can now take some of those new ideas and thoughts and work them into my latest campaigns or projects.

Inspiration is something that can't just be made up or created scientifically. It occurs in situations, manifests in people and comes through any vehicle that touches your heart. At the heart of creativity is inspiration so work on keeping your spirits up, your inspiration high and your business creativity alive!

Ciao!

Danny