Leverage strengths and opportunities

We all have strengths and weaknesses, but in order to use them to our advantage we must acknowledge both sides in ourselves.

In terms of creativity, I have come up with a SWOT analysis for myself:

Strengths 

- excited to take on challenges

- enthusiastic to learn about new things

- great at communicating ideas

Weaknesses 

- an introvert when it comes to socializing

- memorization skills can be improved

- technology use can be improved (ie. video programming and design programs)

Opportunities 

- become part of more communities (ie. volunteering and clubs)

- involve myself in the marketing & design clubs at MRU 

- taking on extra design courses (ie. Photo Shop)

Threats 

- limited budget
- lack of time to take on opportunities
- high priced design courses

In my workplace, many of the points in my personal SWOT analysis are applicable. I have been employed at my current workplace for almost 3 years and am confident in my position and degree of authority. Considering my length of employment, I am very knowledgeable and pride myself in that. However, a main weakness I have is in my customer service skills because I am such an introvert. My weakness is also an opportunity because I have the tools and support from co-workers to help improve my skills in a safe environment. I have the opportunity to grow with the company but a there are threats that may prevent me from doing so. These threats include: low profitable business location and lack of higher positions.

Assumptions block creativity

Assumptions occur whether we acknowledge them or not. When we make daily life decisions, we usually base them upon assumptions and sometimes react based on misconceptions.

Retrieved from: http://pinterest.com/kycharms/

Some important questions to consider:

What forms our assumptions? Can we control how our environment affects our assumptions?

How is it that we seem to share the same assumptions (as displayed in class while discussing this principle)? 

Can our assumptions be found cross-culturally?

A large assumption I have is in my studies at MRU. As many students, I assume that by graduation I will have guaranteed my spot in the working class. By assuming, I disregard many resources that are available to me at my institution. 

Some examples of these include:

- Co-op programs

- Resumé refining workshops

- Information sessions

- Career Services department

By applying this principle correctly, it can create value in terms of strengthening my position in finding a career. 

What prevents me from applying this principle successfully, is my assumption that I do not have any that will prevent me from succeeding! 

This is ultimately the biggest assumption that I must overcome before I am able to apply it.

 

Retrived from: connectedprincipals.com 

 

Constraints enhance creativity

Constraints in our lives can be monetary, time, space, limited choices and alternatives.

On my past post about challenges being valuable opportunities, I discussed my experience doing a design sprint for my marketing course and this is an example of how constraints improved my creativity.

Some constraints on this project were lack of important information and completion time of 80 minutes. I believe both constraints enabled me to decide quickly and communicate my ideas concisely. This experience also allowed me to better manage my time effectively. Overall, it was a very valuable experience to me.

In class, our team KAGLZ was able to apply this principle effectively during our 5 minute Scavenger hunt presentation. This time constraint forced us to use a limited number of words to explain our pictures and therefore improved our word choice. In addition to a time constraint, our presentation had to persuade other groups we should win with a limited number of photos (3 to be exact!). We experienced some technical difficulties while loading photos to our team blog. As a result, we had to present part of our presentation with a very limited amount of proof.

This was the first proof of our ability to work well as a team and the constraints helped us get there!

This principle may be viewed negatively if an individual feels certain constraints lead to impulse decisions, and not creative approaches. The ideal way to apply this principle is to make decisions with outcomes in mind. By taking this approach, it may avoid the chance of making impulse decisions by focusing on how choices affect the outcome. 

Innovations make valuable differences

Innovations can be found anywhere. At one point in time, an idea was formed to improve our daily lives. Eventually they become obsolete but the innovations push us forward in an always evolving state.

As a marketing student, I have been exposed to many advertising pieces attempting to catch a buyer's interest in innovative ideas, concepts and products. 

My favorite innovative concept I came upon was in this YouTube video: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CR6vnFR8AnU

This YouTube viedo depicts how a simple innovative idea can create true value to a small town. 

As a student, I have started to use innovative ways in capturing course content:

- My class notes are highlighted in a specific way 

- I reference sample problems in notes 

- I always come prepared with chapter notes available to me

(iPhone screen shot of my personal course notes)

I believe my use of flash cards while studying for exams have also improved my studying methods. This innovative method to studying has made a valuable difference to me in the exam grades I receive. 

The limitation I find in applying innovation to my daily life is I believe we rely on others to be innovative for us. We live in a culture of constant communication and the internet is the hub for all our information.
What motivates us to create new innovative methods when a "how-to" can be easily found on YouTube? 

Does this easy way to share information hinder our ability as a society and individual to think creatively on our own? 

Challenges require risk taking

I believe that when we take on risks, we open ourselves to real opportunity.
The opportunity can be advancement or a valuable learning lesson. That being said, taking on risks can be a positive experience.

In my workplace, I believe I do take risks that push me forward. When processing business transactions, I take the risk of deciding discounts, returns and other crucial decisions on my own. Very rarely do I seek support from upper management to approve my decisions. I believe my approach advances my position with the company and also enhances levels of respect and authority. Without taking these risks at my workplace, upper management would not likely view me as a confident worker.

Like many students, I also take on the risk of choosing full-time post-secondary studies over full-time work. By taking this risk, I give up the opportunity cost of earning more money for guaranteeing my position in the working world as an educated individual. As students, we believe by choosing education we can further ourselves in the long-run.

One may look at this principle negatively because he/she may think that taking risks could ultimately set one back. In terms of business, taking on too much risk can lead to bankruptcy or excessive debt. To apply this principle successfully, an individual must understand both the positive and negative outcomes of taking on risk. Making a physical list of these outcomes can help an individual visualize the choices that need to be made. As mentioned before, taking on risks can still yield a valuable learning experience even if it results in a negative outcome.

Challenges are valuable opportunities

This has been the most straightforward principle, yet also the hardest principle to internalize while experiencing a true challenge. 

Retrieved from: http://pinterest.com/kycharms/

Buyer Behavior with Patti Derbyshire has been the most influential course I have taken towards my undergrad so far. My experiences in this class has helped me understand my strengths and weaknesses as a future marketing professional. The final project in this course was called a "design sprint" and it was just that. Prior to the in-class project, students were not notified of the company/organization that needed a marketing design for. In a nutshell, Patti literally threw pages of our assignment (with different organizations) up into the air and our designs were then chosen randomly. After 80 minutes, my end result was this:

(iPhone photo of finished Design Sprint assignment)

I will admit, this project was THE most nerve-racking experience I have ever had in a classroom. The value that this challenge brought to me was that I finally understood how well I was able to manage my time, ideas and concepts and how this will help me in my future career. The biggest challenge to me during this experience was the unknown, and that in itself brought out the most creativity within me. 

I believe many will agree that "the unknown" makes for the biggest challenges in many individuals. However, sometimes full disclosures can also create assumptions that prevent us from taking on a challenge. I am also a victim to this. For example, if I plan to take on a new rigorous work-out routine, I envision my failure and then therefore prevent myself from pushing beyond my "limits".

I need to understand that, until I push myself beyond my pre-conceived limits,
I will never know where my true self lies. 

Capture and manage all ideas

I can admit to being the typical 20-25 year old female that has her phone constantly plastered to her hand. 

Although this is nothing to be proud of, it is a concept that I have to use to my advantage in managing all my ideas. 

I have recently downloaded the Evernote application on my iPhone, and have yet to become accustomed to it. When I am on the go, I tend to keep to-do and grocery lists on my Notes application and have found this very useful. I have also used it in managing gift ideas for Christmas! However, I have realized that the Notes application is very simple and many may avoid using it for its lack of customization. I am personally happy with it as I like to jot down ideas quickly regardless of aesthetics. 

I believe, if an idea is written in its most basic form, 

it allows my creativity to flow and transform it into its true, final form.

(iPhone screenshot of current Notes application)

The only downfall to my approach to this principle is that it is limited to written ideas. I have yet to take a more structured approach to capturing visual concepts other than storing photos on my iPhone. 

My last and most recent approach to this principle is my recent download of the Pinterest application. For the longest time I avoided it because I have heard of it's addictive nature (unfortunately, it is very addictive) but it has also been useful in organizing my online information into categories. 

(iPhone screenshot of current Pinterest application)

My daily life as a student is the opposite because I am still the conventional paper and pen type of note-taker. As I follow along in class, I make side notes of my own interpretations of the content being taught. My method has proven to be successful as it makes it easier to understand my own  notes when studying. As a third year student, I have been accustomed to always having hard copies of course outlines, chapter notes, assignments, etc. as I have learnt it helps me to visualize concepts better than looking at online versions (it also prevents me from opening another tab and distracting myself with Facebook and the like).  

Communities best nurture creativity

As a business student at MRU, I have been in many classes revolving around group work. Through experience, I have learnt that these classes have opened me up to others and have made assignments manageable and usually a positive experience. Although many students may disagree, I believe these small communities form trust, boost creativity and sometimes even new friendships! As we all struggle through the similar fight of the student life, group work alleviates some stress and forces us to open up to others' opinions and points of views (usually, whether we like it or not!).

In my personal life, the best example of this principle in practice would be my connection with the yoga community. For the past 3 years I have been an avid Yogi and have appreciated the community's efforts in fostering a welcoming place of practice. Unfortunately, 4 months ago I sustained an injury to my left hand and am no longer able to apply full pressure to it. Upon recovery, my community has taught me ways in which I am still able to practice yoga considering my injury. I am taking modified approaches to poses that are guided by the instructors and myself. If it had not been for the motivating instructors of Moksha Yoga, I would have been given up on the practice and assumed that my injury would hinder my future in yoga.

Retried from: http://calgary.mokshayoga.ca/media/moksha_world_news/?item=27

Before my connection to the yoga practice, I never understood the power behind community. As I grow older and become a part of more communities, I realize that the power lies behind a collective group of people sharing the same visions. With true support, unimaginable things will happen. 

Creativity will improve your workplace

This first principle sets the tone of the importance of creativity in our daily lives.

I believe whether we acknowledge it or not, we tend to customize our workplace to our standards and thus, creativity flourishes.

I, myself agree with the concept discussed in the chapter that I best thrive in workplaces in which I can be creative. I had the best experience in my past part-time position at a small Canadian-owned retail location, Spareparts. Because the company was so small, there was no rigid rules in place for marketing displays. As a result, management relied on the associates to build mini accessory displays and this boosted creativity and excitement for product. A positive result of this, was that each associate was able to share his/her view of a specific product and share this with customers how it can be worn in different styles. Ultimately, this positively affected the company's profit because it did not limit the products being sold to only one type of customer style.

Retrived from: http://www.sparepartslife.com/about.html

My experience with Spareparts remains valuable to me as it has shown the positive results of a creative workplace! I stayed with the company for over 2 years and am confident that management and the owner created a fun and exciting environment to work in.

For an individual who may not see the value creativity adds to a workplace, I have one piece of advice:

Keep searching for a company that values your opinion enough to incorporate it into their business. 

It will be worth the search!