Need inspiration to do a better job of marketing, collaborating and growing a better future for your business? Then observe your kids (or somebody else’s kids if yours are grown). The kind of imagination we had as children tends to get put away as we grow older—but as a father who cherishes every moment I can get with my kids, I see the need for it more and more. And I’ve learned TONS of things from just watching my children interact that can (and should) be applied to growing a business.
For instance, kids are natural explorers—they’re open to ideas—they’re spontaneous. They play constantly. And it’s when they’re in a state of play that they’re the most focused and creative. We need to play MORE in order to get out of our adult box, build stronger relationships and let those creative juices flow.
At a talk recently I asked the question, “Do you think you’re a great artist?” Not many adults raised their hands, but I made the point that if you ask a room full of kids the same question, just about EVERY hand goes up! They don’t just think, they know that they’re great drawers. They don’t have self-imposed limitations, and they can’t wait to share their creations. Plus, they bond instantly with each other. Just think about the possibilities for your business if you could “let go” and tap into that childlike enthusiasm! Some companies are already doing it—and getting great results.
You’ve probably seen the astonishing pictures of Google’s workspaces. They need their employees to be on top of their game—always innovating—so their work environment is more like an elementary school kid’s dream than an office space. Bright primary colors, lots of open space, slides to get you from one floor to another, video game rooms, pool tables… seems to be counterintuitive to “getting things done at work” right? Well, they’ve got exactly the right idea for turning on their employees’ creative mojo, and it works! Look at all the innovation that comes out of them! A bunch of their initiatives might end up on the cutting room floor, but they’re always moving and shaking because the company has created the perfect environment for the creative brain.
You don’t have to have Google’s budget to do this, either. Start with yourself. If you get a chance, sit in on a young child’s birthday party or in an elementary school classroom and just watch them. Really watch them. What happens when new kids come into the room? They immediately run to the group and start interacting. If somebody’s building with blocks, suddenly you’ve got a whole table full building right along with him, with comments like: “What if we did it this way?” “Wow, that looks cool—let’s put some cars in here.” “What would happen if we put that umbrella on top?” Sounds like a think tank, doesn’t it?
By just observing how kids interact, imagine and play, you can come away with some ideas on creating a fun, collaborative environment in your business—things that really bear fruit. Unleashing a childlike imagination in a playful environment is where new products get invented, ideas germinate, and collaborative bonds become established. Is it any wonder that lots of profitable business partnerships are formed in social environments? When you can tap into the inner child, feed the source of creativity/imagination, and build relationships, anything is possible.
Thanks Ted. You’ve voiced my experience as well as a Canadian teacher. My students are at their best when “playing” with ideas and problems. How saddened I was at the recent ISTE conference to hear from my American counterparts that this isn’t an option for them. For them, it’s all about the testing. Students must be focused on mimicking what computers already do. Since then I’ve read that Texas passed a motion condemning “critical thinking” in the classroom. I can see how “No Child Left Behind” was intended to ensure a cheap underclass of service workers, but fear that the USA will soon need to be importing these workers if the education system keeps heading in this direction. It’s clear that the government isn’t interested in the opinion of educators. I think they will need to be influenced by a business community that values creativity and innovation. Too late already for so many who have dropped out of school…. Good luck.
Thanks so much for this valuable insight Gord. It is so unfortunate for our children, but I feel it is not just the government and educational system at fault. It is the ultimate responsibility of parents to encourage creativity, imagination and independence in our children. And then as adults it is up to us and the business community to foster and support as well. It is those families and companies who recognize this need, and opportunity, who will be at the forefront of our future.
You nailed it here “they don’t have self-imposed limitations, and they can’t wait to share their creations” –I’m not sure why we, adults, have imposing limitations on ourselves-we should have less. When you put it like that… we need to get out of our comfort zone and unleash our inner child. thanks for another great post!
Yes! Step out of your Comfort Zone… https://www.tedrubin17.wpengine.com/step-out-of-your-comfort-zone/
Excellent. Thanks for sharing.
My pleasure Susan. Thanks for reading and commenting.
Good post Ted, but kids do this well because they lack background knowledge.
Kids are free to come up with more ideas than us because we know too much, which allows us to filter out all the ideas that are not workable. Perhaps, we may be too hard on ourselves, but there is not much we can do about that, unless we condition to think like kids.
Having said that, I do agree we do need to more stuff out there and let someone else talk us out of it. Kids do that real well and still will try to prove why they are right. This is something we can learn from the kids in our ability to think outside the box.
One more thing on imagination, Einstein would probably modify his famous quote: “Imagination is more important than knowledge.”
Work in neuroscience shows that knowledge is a prerequisite to imagination. Mozart would not have composed great works without musical knowledge; Jobs would not have developed wonderful products without the knowledge he gained at Xerox PARC, calligraphy and experiments with religion and drugs.
Since you got me thinking I will have to write a blog on this now. Thanks.
Great input Jay. Thanks for sharing. Please be sure to come back 🙂