Find creative ways to look at getting value

Do you remember when you could buy a candy gram to spend a special treat and message to your friends? It was always a fund-raiser for some year-end party, but you didn’t care about that. You just liked to send a message to your friends or that person you had a crush on. 

Years ago, I was approached to create a digital version of this to send greetings to coworkers. Digital may not be as fun, you definitely lose the embarrassment factor, but adults appreciate a heartfelt note just the same. 

My challenge was to create something that could capture that same feeling. For a few grand, we could pay to add an e-card feature to the website. The only problem? We had no budget. 

What to do? I looked at what we had. Then I came up with creative ways to use those things to make something that would fit the bill. 

When someone comes to you asking for an e-Card, it doesn’t mean you have to give them an e-Card to make them happy.

You have to be willing to talk through a scenario to discover what someone wants to do, accomplish, deliver, or create. Uncover the desired end result. Back into a solution by starting with the end result in mind and assessing what resources or skills you can bring to the table.

So how did we solve the problem? With a web-based form that sent an email receipt upon submission.

This solution has been responsible for bringing over 18,000 smiles to coworkers. It also resulted in no less than 9 alternate versions over the years.

We have to do many things in our day-to-day. Some of them are things we love to do, some are things we get to do, and some are things we have to do. 

As you work through each of these things, you always have the opportunity to get something out of it. You have to train yourself to see the opportunity… and take advantage of it.

Let’s talk about ways to recognize an opportunity and provide a creative solution or take advantage of it.

Workout your creativity muscles to find the takeaway

I may be dating myself here, but how many of you remember this scene in the Princess Bride?

Inigo Montoya: No, there is too much. Let me sum up. Buttercup is marry Humperdinck in little less than half an hour. So all we have to do is get in, break up the wedding, steal the princess, make our escape… after I kill Count Rugen.

Westley: That doesn’t leave much time for dilly-dallying.

Fezzik: You just wiggled your finger. That’s wonderful.

Westley: I’ve always been a quick healer. What are our liabilities?

Inigo Montoya: There is but one working castle gate, and… and it is guarded by 60 men.

Westley: And our assets?

Inigo Montoya: Your brains, Fezzik’s strength, my steel.

https://giphy.com/gifs/the-princess-bride-cary-elwes-wallace-shawn-lV2lMRaDB33aM

…

Westley: I mean, if we only had a wheelbarrow, that would be something.

Inigo Montoya: Where we did we put that wheelbarrow the albino had?

Fezzik: Over the albino, I think.

Westley: Well, why didn’t you list that among our assets in the first place?

…

Westley: Oh, what I wouldn’t give for a holocaust cloak.

Inigo Montoya: There, we cannot help you.

Fezzik: Will this do?

[hauls out a black cloak]

Inigo Montoya: Where did you get that?

Fezzik: At Miracle Max’s. It fits so nice, he said I could keep it.

…

Fezzik: I am the Dread Pirate Roberts! There will be no survivors!

Inigo Montoya: Now?

Westley: Not yet.

Fezzik: My men are here! I am here! But soon, *you* will not be here!

Inigo Montoya: Now?

Westley: Light him!

Fezzik: [on fire] The Dread Pirate Roberts takes no survivors! All your worst nightmares are about to come true! The Dread Pirate Roberts is here for your *souls*!

This crew pulls off a daring masquerade and escape with nothing but an inventory of resources (Westley’s brains, Fezzik’s strength, Montoya’s steel, wheelbarrow, holocaust cloak) and a vision (steal the princess and escape).

But even here, at first, the inventory was incomplete. Sometimes things are so obvious we overlook them. Other times things don’t seem relevant, so we exclude them. Tap into that creative energy and find value – but be warned, sometimes you have to dig deep.

Creative ways to look at getting value

There are many different ways to find value in a less than desirable situation. Here is a list to get the inspiration flowing:

• In meetings
  • Steal a few minutes from the meeting to get an answer you may need on an unrelated topic
  • Learn 
    • Something new
    • How to facilitate a meeting
    • Handle someone who isn’t following the rules of engagement
• In social gatherings
  • Get an introduction to someone new that you share common ground with
  • Build new skills
    • Practice small talk
    • Try out a new joke
    • Practice asking questions to get to know someone new
    • Practice your public speaking
    • Practice playing the devil’s advocate
• Waiting
  • Practice your skills of observation
    • Challenge yourself to see someone doing something unexpected
    • Look for processes and watch to see what works and what doesn’t
  • See what you
    • Notice
    • Wonder
    • Are reminded of
  • Practice your people skills
• Professional travel 
  • Travel to a great destination
    • Bring someone with you
  • Make connections in a different region
• General
  • Get exposure to a new industry
  • See how others solve problems you may be facing
  • Find an alternative way to use your learnings
  • Learn new software

Beyond the list above, there can be long-term payouts you may not even recognize until you trace it back to a seemingly random encounter. You may see:

• Job offers
• Consulting opportunities
• Partnerships

Overall, I encourage you to find an alternative way to use your learnings. Be creative and find another way – there is always something.

This can also apply to the little things like scrolling your phone. You can set an intention for scrolling to be active, engaged, and involved. Depending on your intention – it could be to 

• Release stress – find something that makes you smile or laugh and share that with someone else you know that may need it right now. 

• Network or build community – find something to comment on, or reshare to help build up a connection’s following. (learn more in this short clip from Chase Jarvis – “Add MEANING to your community by engaging with REAL intention.”) 

• Give yourself a break (be careful with that). Set a time limit, choose your platform wisely, make sure your feed is curated so that it will inspire, calm or motivate you (or whatever it is you need), instead of making you sad, jealous or angry.

Use this value equation to make better decisions

“It’s useful to identify the minimum benefit you’ll get out of a given situation or opportunity, even if nothing else breaks your way.” Dorie Clark in “The Long Game: How to Be a Long-Term Thinker in a Short-Term World.”

If you turn on your creative energy and can’t find value in a situation, this is your sign to say thanks, but no thanks.

Use this technique to protect your time. Review your schedule. Are you double-booked? Ask yourself a few questions about each meeting to decide whether to attend.

• Do I have anything to contribute?
• Do I NEED to take notes?
• Do I have anything to deliver?
• Is there ANY value (Can I learn something new? Can I connect with someone I need to see? Can I practice any skills?)

If not, don’t go. 

Bonus tip: Give people the same allowance for your meetings.

Use this model for anything you’re being asked to participate in and give your precious time to. Clear space on your calendar for the important work by being sure about what to say yes and no to.

In Summary

• Recognize an opportunity and take advantage of it
• Workout your creativity muscles to find the takeaway
• Find creative ways to look at getting value
• Use this value equation to make better decisions

It’s Your Turn

Audit your calendar for this week to find:

• One creative way to get additional value out of one of your commitments
• One commitment you can decline to free up space on your calendar