August has been quite a month for the Moments of Light Radio show on The Barefoot Broadcast.
You can’t plan this sort of thing, it just happened but my three guests are all wonderful artists with three different takes on art and spirituality that touches the soul at a fundamental level.
In case you missed them, you can listen to the shows again here … your comments, thoughts and social media shares much appreciated.
Note that the show will be off air now until the end of September as I have a much needed break and it will be returning in a new guise when I’m back … more on that soon. In the meantime, enjoy.
They need no introduction as the recordings speak for themselves 😉
Something rather magical happened over the last few months as this amazing force of nature called The English Sisters came into my world …
These amazing ladies are somewhat difficult to describe and encapsulate in words so, to get a handle on their insight, wisdom and erudition, have a watch and a listen to one of what I hope is the first of many chats below.
And to hear and watch more, subscribe to their hypnotic ramblings either on YouTube or on their Hypnotic Rambling site – www.hypnoramblings.com
Sometimes you can have a great idea and do nothing with it – only to see it successfully copied by someone else who you unwittingly inspired.
Sometimes your initial idea doesn’t quite live up to your hopes for it.
The solution to both these woes, lies in the Spin Off and here’s 12 ways to generate them!!
Think about your idea in these context …
1. Industry – could it be applied in new sectors?
2. International – could you change it so it works in new markets?
3. Inter-operable – could it be made to work with more ‘things’?
4. Demographic – can it be sold to a new target market?
5. Duplicity – can you replicate its essence, say with a minor change, but in such a way that it becomes something entirely new?
6. Down-size – can it be made smaller, cheaper or with a sub-set of features?
7. Education – how can it be made so that it can used to teach or be taught?
8. Entertainment – how can you make it more fun?
9. Extension – how can you add more features so it does something entirely new?
10. Augment – how can you add more features so it’s better value for money?
11. Amortise – how can you spread the cost of production to improve cash flow or spread the cost for the client
12. Agreements – who could you partner with to get to new markets or so that 1+1 > 2
Now if all this sounds wonderful but you have no idea how to introduce these practices into your business, get in touch. I am passionate about bringing these simple and freely available techniques into business – see Light Bulb Moments on Demand for more info
I am so thrilled to announce that, less than a year since I wrote the original book, Flavours of Thought is now in its Second Edition.
The second edition of course includes all the ancient wisdom in the same contemporary context as the first but now there are some added juicy bits such as:
– Seven brand new Chef’s Special Recipes (as requested by Facebook Fans)
– a brand new section on Practical Floughtology which includes
– how to concoct your own recipes
– how to use the flavours in business with five new recipes
– three special recipes on how to create abundance
The Second Edition is available straight away in the Amazon Kindle Store
Amazon DE – but in English, any publishers who would like to republish and translate, get in touch
The second edition print version is also available directly for orders placed on CompletelyNovel but will take a few weeks to ripple through the online publishing world – get the print version here
AMAZING DEAL OF THE DAY
If you already have a copy of the first edition and want the new parts of the book, I will email them to you as an ebook absolutely free – yep, for nothing, nada.
All you have to do to keep everything in karmic balance is write a review on Amazon (or any other online book store or site), let me know when it’s up and I will wing it over to you. Can’t say fairer than that !!!
What People Are Saying About It
“It’s brilliant! I love the idea of thinking about thoughts in a way that encourages my intuition, without embroiling me in my intellect.”
“This book is intrinsically simple. Simple to read; simple to understand; simple to apply. Its simplicity is what makes it genius.”
“This book takes personal development it to a different level. No stuffy 50 year old theories that people still hang their hats on. Refreshing, thought provoking and inspirational.”
“I find it absolutely fascinating and I read parts of it every day. It inspires me and is already enabling me to make adjustments and to fine tune areas of my life that are in need.”
“Oh my, you are brilliant with your wit and insight.”
“This is a delightfully simple journey into self development that can be used to build a much larger and more powerful framework. I believe it hints at an even greater innovation for the personal development industry. I thoroughly recommend you read it and judge for yourself.”
“Through gaining an understanding of the flavours in my thought process and applying the recipes, I am now positively dealing with being hurt and rejected and using them to remove frustration and to find my soul path.”
“I have applied recipes to my business, to my writing and to the way I chose to live. I can now see that in every situation, I have a glass half full mentality where before there may have been despair.”
“I am completely blown away by the concept of just 21 flavours creating zillions of recipes to enrich your life. You take our basic thought processes simplify them, map them and then suggest ways recipes to open up new thought process.”
“This is one inspirational, magical and thought changing book that has the power to change your very being.”
“This is a unique, insightful and thoroughly enjoyable read. If there is a more accessible way of accessing and understanding these issues then I have not, as yet, come across it. Tom has opened up a perspective to our thoughts, emotions and behaviour that is insightful and compelling. Thoroughly unique and enjoyable I will certainly be using this book time and again to follow the recipes as given and to create some of my own.”
“Tom’s a master at taking a concept and pushing it … he’s done it simply and accessibly. Readers have no option but to wake up and taste differences in their lives in all manner of ways. My feeling it is a turning point for many readers.”
“Flavours of Thought is so easy to read I hardly knew I was reading it. I ‘woke up’ from it feeling refreshed, calm and ready to embrace my fulfilment.”
“This is a delicious recipe book, filled with fresh ideas for thinking outside of the box. On first pass, I bookmarked several ‘recipes’ that resonated with me quite deeply and on my second read I discovered the richness that comes from combining deceptively simple ideas! If you are looking for a new way to think about your goals, challenges and emotions in light-hearted yet effective way then Flavours of Thought will certainly whet your appetite!”
Before we explore how to generate light bulb moments and make them happen in your business, it is worth finding out what stops them from occurring in the first place.
In my experience, it is the culture of a business that is the key enabler here. Get it right and then creativity flows in all aspects of the business. Get it wrong and you end up with disaffected employees, staff churn, unhappy customers and a problem with the bottom line.
These are seven ways to run a business such light bulb moments are stopped in their tracks. I am sure you will have experienced one or more of these mechanisms somewhere you have worked. They are often the tactics used by inexperienced or naive managers with the aim of controlling a work force.
1. Instil a lack of security
Nobody whose job is under threat feels like being creative. This is a bit of shame as when a company’s back is against the financial wall, innovative thinking is often just what is needed.
2. Breed a climate of fear
Fear of failure and fear of ridicule are an anathema to creativity.If you come into work and are afraid of suggesting new ideas or, god forbid, that something is less than perfect, any light bulb moments you receive will never materialise.
3. Take love out of the equation
People love to love and love to be loved. We like it when someone likes us and likes what we do. Love is a word that somehow doesn’t get mentioned in business. When you love the work you though, you will never ‘work’ again.
4. Fail to communicate
Communication works two ways in successful businesses. There is a flow from the top down and the bottom up. It is the responsibility of management to get the conversations going. People like to talk and if you don’t give them something positive to talk about, the conversations will turn to gossip and back-biting.
5. Lack of vision
You would never think of driving a car blindfolded, or blindfold your passengers, yet many businesses don’t see where they are going. We need visibility to function and this vision gives perspective. We can watch for pot holes ahead and also learn from looking at where we’ve been. With this clarity, we can be inventive of about planning the route ahead.
6. Quash free thinking
As human beings, we are only able to hold one thought at any one instant. If that thought is spent rehearsing a conversation yet to be had or replaying one that didn’t go so well, our brains are tied up with internal dialogue. A still and quiet mind is a creative one and thrives when given a challenge and an opportunity in a supportive and appreciative environment.
7. Be a killjoy
This is not about dress down Fridays or Paint Ball days. It is obvious that a happy worker is a productive worker. Apparently it takes less muscular effort to smile than it does to frown. Fun places to work become sought after and hard to leave. So simply start the day with a smile …
In summary, if you build a business based on these principles, you will always struggle. Do the opposite and you will create the climate for ideas to flow freely which, in turn, lays down the foundations for success
It’s often traditional practice in business that innovation is restricted to either the product development team or the marketing department.
While this is natural and to be encouraged, businesses who want to survive and thrive in these times should take a more holistic approach to ideas generation.
Back in 1984, I was the proud owner of an early Macintosh computer. In the nineties, I ended up being begrudgingly dragged into the world of PC’s. Two years ago, I returned from the wilderness and have become a proud owner of an iMac and am writing this blog on an iPad. If you call me, I will answer you on an iPhone. I use MobileMe, shortly to be iCloud, and all in all I am a happy bunny.
Why? What Apple do is bring innovation into all customer touch points – starting with new product announcements and rich product functionality through to simplicity of purchase, ease of set up and use. This is all capped with superb ongoing support. A good example of the benefits of such a philosophy is that most iPad owners pay the same price again as the device in apps over a product’s life span.
But if you haven’t got Apple’s billions, how do you even begin to emulate their success? Where do you start?
The answer lies in looking at all the areas where you connect with clients and tackling the ones that are giving you the most headaches. By looking at these first, everything else will be a breeze. The way you look at them is important though.
If you wallow in negative thinking, this engages the parts of your neurology that block light bulb moments from occurring. The key lies in positive thinking. Even if the area you are looking at is not so great, it will inevitably have some good points at least.
What you do is simply identify the good points only and see how you can improve them as opposed to focussing on any negatives. The results are surprising – especially when you engage an independent and objective facilitator 😉
This is the basis and start of a process known as Appreciative Enquiry (or Inquiry). It is an example of parallel and sequential thinking which I will expand upon later in this new blog series on Light Bulb Moments in Business. Using this type of thinking is the key to making sure ideas don’t get away.
I was reminded recently of the power of gathering a Circle of Influence around you from an email I got a lovely soul in my networking circle, Amanda Goldston. On my desk, I then spotted the book by author Kuumba Nia called The Circle of One. Then I had a conversation about collaborating with a circle of complementary archetypes with Lillian Ogbogoh.
When you get messages in threes, it’s time to pay attention !!!
As I am now entering a new phase in my life and career as a speaker and author. I thought it would be handy to garner together as much support around me as possible.
So I had a musing on a dog walk on which people and souls, both living and departed, I would treasure having around me over the coming months and years. I’ve come down to a short list of seven of them whose wisdom, experience and achievements I admire greatly. I will be checking in with them regularly in meditation and while talking about existing books and creating the next ones. For the three that are still living, I would dearly like to connect with them by electronic means and ideally meet them in person one day.
My thinking is that achieving just 1% of what one of them had done individually would be a fabulous goal in itself. Where this might lead when some of their guidance rubs of collectively, God only knows.
I thought too it would be fun to run a competition based on my Circle. I’ve now augmented my book Flavours of Thought: Recipes for Fresh Thinking into a Second Edition with loads of new recipes and some more insights. It will be available in print and as an ebook by Autumn. I will send a pre-release copy of the ebook version to the first person to identify all the seven people in my virtual Circle correctly.
Here’s my Circle below – click on the image to see a higher resolution version.
To enter the competition, put your answers below as a comment to this blog. I will respond to each entry telling you how many you have got right. Multiple entries are accepted …
So Good Luck and why not have a go at assembling your Circle of Influence too?
I am doubly thrilled that my new book, The Art and Science of Light Bulb Moments, has now made it on to the Nook platform just after becoming available on the Kindle.
What’s even more pleasing is how many places my publisher Obooks have made the book available. It’s taken a year but it is definitely worth the wait and it’s a joy just to have been able to write and for all this to happen around me.
I am so thrilled that my new book, The Art and Science of Light Bulb Moments, has now made it on to the Kindle platform a couple of weeks after it was available in print.
Especially as I have just been reading about how US-author John Locke has been going about selling over 1 million books in a few short months – see my Bookwright blog for details on this.
At the same time, bookings are coming in thick and fast for talks on how to experience light bulb moments on demand – see the schedule here – and contact me if you have a group you’d like me to talk to.
I’ll also be sharing some new about the full workshop programme I am launching in the UK in Autumn and extending worldwide to 2012.
It’s a real testament to the doors writing a book opens to an author … watch this space.
I had the great pleasure of being interviewed about my new book by Mike Quinsey on BBS Radio last week.
Listen to it back here … and if you have a show and would like to chat with me about the book, get in touch.
Likewise, if you’ve had a light bub moment and done something about it, I am looking for inspirational people to appear on my Moments of Light show on Carl Munson’s Barefoot Broadcast.
August has been quite a month for the Moments of Light Radio show on The Barefoot Broadcast.
August has been quite a month for the Moments of Light Radio show on The Barefoot Broadcast.
I am so thrilled to announce that, less than a year since I wrote the original book, Flavours of Thought is now in its Second Edition.
I had the great pleasure of being interviewed about my new book by Mike Quinsey on BBS Radio last week.