IMAGINE THAT!

“When I examine myself and my methods of thought, I come to the conclusion that the gift of FANTASY has meant more to me than my TALENT for absorbing positive knowledge. IMAGINATION is more important than INTELLIGENCE.” – Albert Einstein

Chances are, you’re heard or seen this quote before.

But when one of the most brilliant individuals of our time shares his “best of” wisdom, we ought to pay attention, right?

We’re headed into a new year and new decade. 

We can make charts, set up systems and plan goals – and that’s all important.

The question is, “ARE WE USING OUR IMAGINATON?”

Are we envisioning what’s possible and fantasizing what we really want?

I know. That word FANTASIZIG is not normally used in business.

But, if EINSTEIN (!) said it meant more to him than his talent and ability to absorb positive knowledge, we should be putting it to work for us. Agreed?

That’s exactly what four enterprising college students at London’s Royal College of Art did.  

For a startup assignment, they first identified a problem they could solve with an innovative design. The price of eggs was going up and people were starting to keep chickens in their backyard so they could “have their eggs and cook ‘em too.” They envisioned a portable chicken coop that looked like a dome.

Now the question was, what to name it? Well, my POP! process can help with that.

1.       Create a list of CORE words that explain what your new product DOES.

2.      Create a list of DESCRIPTIVE words of what your product LOOKS like, SOUNDS

like, FEELS like.

3.      COMBINE those words to see if you can create new, viable options.

4.      ALPHABETIZE those words (run them through the alphabet) to create new variations.

For example, your CORE words might be chickens, hens, egg. 

Your DESCRIPTIVE words for this round-shape pen could be dome, igloo …

Wait a minute. That might work. Combine Egg and Igloo and you get EGLU.

Voila. A one-of-a-kind name that had people flocking (sorry) to www.omlet.co.uk.

A shining example of how imagination in business isn’t petty, it’s pivotal. 

When you give yourself permission to mentally play with creative word options, you can come up with a multi-million-dollar idea.

It doesn’t stop there.

When I use the Elgu example in my POP! workshops to inspire people to use imagination to coin creative names for their project ... people in the room start having fun. 

And when we have fun, originality has begun.  

People get playful and additional taglines start pouring out …  “THE CLUCK STOPS HERE” … “PUT YOUR EGGS IN ONE BASKET” … “DOME SWEET DOME.”

Eggsactly my point. Couldn’t resist.)

Once you start imagining and fantasizing (FUNtisizing?) … options pop up everywhere.

So, how about you?

Are you launching a new product?

Trying to come up with a one-of-a-kind name for your invention?

Brainstorming and strategizing a unique positioning for your business or brand?

Come up with a list of CORE words and DESCRIPTIVE words … and then let the wordplay begin.

Having fun isn’t frivolous ... it could be the start of a million-dollar name that pops you out of your pack.

P.S. Want an addendum to this story?

I just checked out the Omlet.co.uk website to make sure they’re still around.

Not only are they still around, they’ve EXPANDED with a variety of urban enclosures for birds, bees, gerbils, guinea pigs … you name it. A shining example of how strategic imagination can lead to an enduring business that scales over time.)

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Sam Horn,CEO of the Intrigue Agency and originator of POP! loves to faciliate workshops that help participants create a one-of-a-kind positioning for their product, business and brand. Want to host a workshop for your organization? Contact Cheri@IntrigueAgency.