Marketing Your Consulting Services.pdf - epiheirimatikotita.gr

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Using this technique, you will tap into a list of concepts that “trigger” new ideas
for you. It is similar to the combine technique in that you have something (problem,
product, thought, or challenge) that you want to think differently about. However,
one big difference is that you will always have your lists available to you rather
than thinking of something new each time. Here are some ways that you can create
your personal “trigger lists.”
You may want to create a list of your favorite words. These are words that may
suggest actions or favorite nouns. It may, like mine, be a combination of both with
some adjectives tossed in. My list includes words such as serendipity, ocean, hot
fudge sundae, books, dancing, writing, design, Costa Rica, birds of paradise, destiny,
exotic, snow, suspenders, avocado, sapphires, pink, profits, eat, magnify, dissolve,
and gems. Update your list of words regularly, adding a word when you
stumble on one you like, removing words as you tire of them.
Some people like to use a list of prepositions to trigger new ideas. A preposition
list might include about, above, among, around, as, at, before, behind, between,
beyond, by, despite, except, from, in, of, on, outside, to, under, with, and any
others you choose. This list becomes action-oriented and may help you see the idea
from a different perspective.
When it comes time to think of a new idea for anything, just pull out one of
your lists and go through it, combining each word with your situation. As you use
these trigger lists, allow your brain to rest for a time on each combination to allow
inspiration to link the situation and the trigger word.
You may wish to refresh your entire list at least once per year. Some people use
the items on their desks as a trigger list. You may choose some other place that has a
variety of “things,” such as your child’s toy box or the supply cabinet in your office.
You may also use readymade lists. Roger von Oech has developed a Creative
Whack Pack, a card deck that will stimulate ideas. I have developed a deck of Idea
Sparkers that you can have in exchange for a marketing idea or story. E-mail your
idea to us (remember to include your physical mailing address), and we will send
you a set of Idea Sparkers. You might also pull up a chair to your computer and
work with software programs that unleash creativity, such as the granddaddy of
them all, IdeaFisher. The Chicago Tribune called it a thesaurus on steroids. One
model even has an advertising/promotion module. More information is available
at www.IdeaFisher.com.
Marketing Your Consulting Services