The light bulb. Bubble wrap. The Post-It. The iPod. The Snuggie. Facebook. Twitter. These inventions, products, and businesses all started with an idea. An idea that to anyone other than its creator(s) may have seemed like an insane thing to invest much time, money, or effort in bringing to fruition. But for the masterminds behind these great ideas, the risk paid off and so too can your next great idea. Everyone has great ideas. The problem for most people is realizing that even the most silly or outrageous idea they come up with could in fact work. Generating ideas—useful ideas—is a skill, and, like any other skill, it can be learned. The more you practice, the easier it will be to come up with ideas whenever you need them.

1. 21 Ways to Generate Business
Boosting Ideas
Brought to you by 5wh

2. Introduction
v The light bulb. Bubble wrap. The Post-It. The iPod. The
Snuggie. Facebook. Twitter.
v These inventions, products, and businesses all started with
an idea. An idea that to anyone other than its creator(s) may
have seemed like an insane thing to invest much time,
money, or effort in bringing to fruition.
v But for the masterminds behind these great ideas, the risk
paid off and so too can your next great idea.
v Everyone has great ideas. The problem for most people is
realizing that even the most silly or outrageous idea they
come up with could in fact work. Generating ideas—useful
ideas—is a skill, and, like any other skill, it can be learned.
The more you practice, the easier it will be to come up with
ideas whenever you need them.
February 2011 5wh Marketing 2

3. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
This work is not for sale. It was
This work is not for sale. It was 5wh is a relationship-based Business
5wh is a relationship-based Business
adapted from the book
adapted from the book Services company which
Services company which
“Attention! This Book Will Make
“Attention! This Book Will Make specializes in Internal Audits,
specializes in Internal Audits,
You Money: How to Use
You Money: How to Use Forensic Audits and Business
Forensic Audits and Business
Attention-Getting Online
Attention-Getting Online Systems Consultancy.
Systems Consultancy.
Marketing to Increase Your
Marketing to Increase Your
Revenue ” by Jim Kukral
Revenue ” by Jim Kukral To know more about our company and
To know more about our company and
our products & services and to start
our products & services and to start
Adapted into this presentation
Adapted into this presentation a relationship, here is Caleb:-
a relationship, here is Caleb:-
by Caleb Mutsumba, founder
by Caleb Mutsumba, founder Cell:
Cell:
Five WH Corporate Services
Five WH Corporate Services +263 712 620 287
(Pvt) Limited (“5wh”), Harare.
(Pvt) Limited (“5wh”), Harare. +263 712 620 287
+263 772 466 540
+263 772 466 540
Email:
Email:
caleb@zol.co.zw
caleb@zol.co.zw
Other:
Other
P.O. Box 1361 Harare
P.O. Box 1361 Harare
February 2011 5wh Marketing 3

4. 1. Carry A Notebook
v The only thing worse than not being
able to come up with an idea is
thinking of an amazing idea, not
writing it down, and then forgetting
it.
v "You may think you will remember,
but you won't," says Kukral. "Having
a small notepad or digital recorder
with you at all times guarantees that
those ideas will not escape. Keep
one in your glove compartment, on
your nightstand, and in your desk
drawer. Keeping a few spare sheets
of loose paper in your wallet or
purse is a good idea, too!"
February 2011 5wh Marketing 4

5. 2. Eavesdrop
ü Listen to people talking on the bus,
at the coffee shop, or in the
elevator at work. "You'll get a good
feel for what people care about:
their concerns, wishes, and
interests," explains Kukral.
ü "And you may also hear a great
idea or two in the mix. Build on the
snippets of conversation you
overhear to create a story, and let
that story lead you to a brilliant
idea."
February 2011 5wh Marketing 5

6. 3. Do Something New
Ø Sign up for a class, take up a
new hobby, listen to a
different kind of music, or do
anything that is new to you.
Ø Not only will it get new parts
of your brain humming, you'll
meet and connect with new
people—which is a great way
to find great new ideas.
February 2011 5wh Marketing 6

7. 4. Hold A Grudge
Ø What annoys you?
When you think about
the list of things you
wish were different,
the chances are those
things also annoy
other people.
Ø Keep a running list of
all things that bug you
and find solutions that
will make them better.
February 2011 5wh Marketing 7

8. 5. Find The Peanut Butter To
Your Jelly
v Take two ideas and put
them together to make
one new idea. "After all,
what is a Snuggie but the
mutation of a blanket and
a robe?" asks Kukral.
v "Think beyond the
obvious connections to
come up with something
truly innovative."
February 2011 5wh Marketing 8

9. 6. Get Physical
v Movement increases the flow of endorphins, as
well as sending more blood to your brain. "Okay,
I'm not a doctor and I don't play one on TV, so
maybe I don't have all the physical stuff exactly
right," says Kukral.
v "However, I do know that getting active helps me
think. I keep a mini-trampoline in my office and
jump up and down for a few minutes to get my
blood moving. Run, skip, jump, climb stairs, or
otherwise get your pulse rate up to get your brain
moving, too."
February 2011 5wh Marketing 9

10. 7. Get An Outsider's Opinion
v There are times when you are so close to a project that it
creates a mental block for idea generation. Bringing in a
fresh perspective can make all the difference. "Get
someone who is not familiar with your situation to ask you
questions about it," advises Kukral.
v "It may be over dinner with friends, with a colleague at the
water cooler, or in line at the grocery store with a stranger!
They may ask things that lead you to an idea that you
overlooked because it was too obvious. No one around?
Imagine that someone is coming to you with the problem
you are trying to solve. What would you tell them? Your
answer may be the solution you are looking for."
February 2011 5wh Marketing 10

11. 8. Just Listen
v It may sound obvious, but really listen
when customers talk to you. When you
do, you will hear ideas for new products
and services, ways to improve customer
service, and uses you never considered
for your products that can open up new
markets for you.
v "Your customers may not recognize when
they are giving you ideas, but you need to
be able to spot them," says Kukral. "Are
several customers making the same
comments or asking the same questions?
Act on it! You can get great ideas this
way!"
February 2011 5wh Marketing 11

12. 9. Change Your Routine
v New surroundings and new
experiences can help your
brain to shift gears and get you
to think differently.
v Drive a new route to the office,
try a new restaurant for lunch,
start work a little earlier (or a
little later), work in a different
place, or anything that busts
you out of your rut.
February 2011 5wh Marketing 12

13. 10. Listen To Music
v You may find that a little
Mozart awakens your
creativity, or you may
respond better to a little
Metallica.
v Whatever works for you,
fire up your iPod, get
into the groove, and let
your mind work.
February 2011 5wh Marketing 13

14. Take A Shower, Walk The
Dog, Do Laundry
v How many great ideas do you get in
the shower? It's not a coincidence that
great thinking happens in the shower.
v "Showering is a mindless activity (the
only thing you really have to think
about is, Have I already repeated, or
just lathered and rinsed?)," says
Kukral. "And the warm water is
relaxing. Other mindless activities are
great for brainstorming too. Wash the
dishes, walk the dog, or fold the
laundry. If you give your mind the
chance to wander, you'll free yourself
to come up with a brilliant idea."
February 2011 5wh Marketing 14

15. 12. Make A List (and check
it twice)
vThis is a tried-and-true method proven to
work wonders. "Get out a notepad, or fire
up your computer, and write down
everything you can think of related to your
issue," suggests Kukral.
v "For example, if you need a new slogan for
a product, write down every feature and
benefit you can think of, the types of
people who need the product, the
problems it solves, and so on. Pull out a
thesaurus and start looking up synonyms.
When you are done, you will not only have
your slogan, you will have a library of
words and phrases you can use in your
marketing and publicity campaigns."
February 2011 5wh Marketing 15

16. 13. Wear A Silly Hat
v Use a prop when it is time to be creative. It
could be anything (such as wearing a silly
hat) that signals to your brain that it is time
to go into idea-generating mode.
v "Have a routine that you follow when you
want to be creative," says Kukral. "It might
be to put on your hat, grab a ball to toss up
in the air, and lean back in your chair with
your feet on the desk. Once you are in your
'Creative at Work' position, start coming up
with ideas. Do this a few times, and you will
be conditioned to start generating ideas as
soon as you see the hat. Your brain will
have been trained."
February 2011 5wh Marketing 16

17. 14. Be a Bookworm
v Read everything you can get
your hands on: business books,
novels, newspapers, magazines,
blogs, and everything else.
v The more raw materials you take
in, the more you learn, and the
more you know, the better you
will become at putting together
seemingly unrelated concepts
to create something new.
February 2011 5wh Marketing 17

18. 15. Sleep On It
v Just before going to bed, think
about the ideas you want to
generate. Be specific: "I will come
up with great ways to promote our
new widget.“
v "Tell yourself you will come up with
a solution while you sleep," advises
Kukral. "Keep a pad and pen or a
recorder next to your bed so you
can capture the ideas as soon as
you wake up."
February 2011 5wh Marketing 18

19. 16. Ask The Almighty Google
v When you are stuck on an
idea, try entering a few
words related to what you
are looking for.
v "Google will try to
automatically complete your
query, and may come up with
just what you need," says
Kukral. "Then look at some
of the search results to see
what inspires you."
February 2011 5wh Marketing 19

20. 17. Doodle
v Make random doodles
on a white board or
piece of paper.
v Draw, jot words, make
circles, or what you
do when you doodle.
As you loosen up,
ideas may start to
form on the page
February 2011 5wh Marketing 20

21. 18. Forget Everything You
Know
v Too often, we let our biases
creep in and influence our
thinking.
v Start fresh, without
preconceived notions of
what you must do or what
is impossible. Be open to
anything and everything.
February 2011 5wh Marketing 21

22. 19. Borrow an Idea
v Everyone thinks that their business
is not like anyone else's. The truth is
that all of our businesses are more
alike than they are different.
v "Look at what others are doing in
other industries and see how you
can apply their ideas to your own
business," says Kukral. "If a
solution is working for someone
else, there's no reason it won't work
for you, too. By the time you adapt
their idea and tailor it to precisely fit
your business, it will be unique."
February 2011 5wh Marketing 22

23. 20. Hire a Professional
Ø If you're really and truly stuck on
something, or if a deadline is
rapidly approaching, there's no
shame in hiring a little outside
help.
Ø "Hiring a consultant can be a
great investment," says Kukral.
"Often times, they don't even
have to come up with the ideas
for you. They simply ask the
right questions that will lead you
to the great idea that's buried in
your brain."
February 2011 5wh Marketing 23

24. 21. Don't Worry About What
Other People Think
v I keep up with my great ideas on a Word document that I’ve
uploaded to Google Docs. This document holds some of the
most creative thoughts I’ve ever had. I’ve never shown it to
anyone, nor will I, as it contains ideas that might seem silly to
other people, but I value it greatly as a place where I can think
freely and creatively without criticism.
v That’s truly the key to coming up with great ideas. You need to
free yourself from worry about what other people might say. If
you have a place where you can brainstorm and record some of
your most outrageous thoughts for getting attention without
having to worry about someone else laughing at you, then you’ll
find that it’s much easier to be creative, and, well, outrageous.
And before you know it, your great ideas will be boosting your
business.
February 2011 5wh Marketing 24

25. Thank You!
To know more about our
company and our products &
services and to start a
relationship, here is Caleb:-
Cell:
+263 712 620 287
+263 772 466 540
Email:
caleb@zol.co.zw
Other:
P.O. Box 1361 Harare
February 2011 5wh Marketing 25