A mentor I had several years ago, talked to me about how she would make Hamburger Helper early in the afternoon and reheat it at suppertime. I think about cold Hamburger Helper every time I see it on a store shelf or in a sale flyer.
I have wondered for years why she would do that?! Why would you make dinner hours before you were ready to eat? Cold Hamburger Helper just doesn’t sound very enticing.
Well, recently, I was going to make something for dinner that needed to slowly cook for several hours. I decided to prepare the ingredients right after my kids got home from school… and ever since, I realized why my friend may have done what she did…
…making dinner earlier in the day, allowed me to interact with my children when they get home from school. While they get their snacks and I prepare dinner, we can share about our days, not distracted by computer work or house work.
Isn’t it interested, that as an artist and writer, I love living outside of the box. But, routine that is obvious is comfortable and often isn’t questioned.
So, why am I writing this and what does fixing dinner have to do with business or social media content? It is just another reminder to look at the obvious… not as obvious. Nothing should be obvious.
Recently, I saw this image posted:
Conceptual design and communication is still a reflection of our own perspective. Not until we are able to see something from someone else’s viewpoint are we able to truly communicate effectively… Maybe the most obvious time isn’t the best time management or maybe it isn’t the most productive or most effective. Maybe what we perceive as being the most brilliant concept isn’t reaching the right audience or being implemented in its most effective way.
Have a goal and a process…. maybe even use the recipe. But, be inspired and use imagination… then do all those same things using a different perspective. It may look like it’s just cold Hamburger Helper, but it may just turn out to be the most brilliant thing you’ve decided to do!
Darla
P.S. Here’s a list of tips for thinking outside of the box from INC:
1. Identify the issue.
2. Determine whether a regular or typical solution to the problem exists.
3. If one does, you’re done. If no, map out everything that went into creating the issue. In this aspect, be expansive. Include everything possible.
4. Once you start mapping out the issue more completely, start looking for ways to address the situation in one of the more outlying areas that was not considered previously.
5. Never dismiss a possible solution on the basis, “It simply cannot be done.” Consider everything. Go through every possibility until you know for a fact it can or cannot be done.
The Social Market LLC 