“Are you busy?” is often a conversation opener between creative people in business. The implication is that you should be busy; if you’re not busy, then something is wrong. So it seems that the ‘correct’ answer is “Yes, very busy!” But wait a minute ! Busy doing what ? It’s easy to be busy, busy, …
Tag: Creativity
Winning in Hard Times
How will creative businesses cope in the economic downturn? That’s a question that I have been asked many times recently, both in the UK and overseas. In response, I make the following points: Though the general economic situation is difficult, the recession will not affect all businesses equally. It is not inevitable that all businesses …
The LEGO Crowd
Lewis Pinault from Lego Serious Play addressed the Creative Clusters Conference in Glasgow – and I had fun making a duck (see photo). Lego Serious Play helps businesses think creatively using Lego in group settings to discuss business issues. For example entrepreneurs can express their shared vision for the business by first creating a model …
Business Growth: Does Size Matter?
Part of my job as a business adviser in the creative sector is to ask questions – sometimes awkward or unexpected questions. So when entrepreneurs ask my advice about how to grow their businesses, my first questions are: “Why do you want to grow?” and: “What do you want to grow?” Why grow? There is …
… and what we didn’t do
The most focused creative enterprises are clear about where they want to go and have a clear vision of the future and exactly what ‘Success’ means. In a ‘Designing Your Creative Business’ workshop for creative entrepreneurs in Taipei, sponsored by the British Council in Taiwan and the Taiwan Design Centre, I suggested a technique to …
Viral marketing – MUTO video
Thanks to Danielly Netto from Newcastle University Business School, who’s researching business models in the creative industries, for including this viral video in her presentation. This is a video from artist BLU showing the awesome MUTO ‘animated graffiti’ work in Buenos Aires. Published on the internet using a Creative Commons licence, it’s already had about …
Don’t be a ‘Poor Pioneer’: create Barriers to Entry
I often advise creative entrepreneurs who have innovative products or services. Sometimes it’s a completely new idea and they are planning to open up a new market for it. Someone asked me whether I’m ever tempted to ‘steal’ the ideas people tell me about when I’m advising them. My answer was firmly No, for two …
3,14 or 50 Kinds of ‘Free’
Thanks to Hannah Rudman for sending me a link to an article on Chris Anderson’s ‘Long Tail’ website about ’14 Free Business Models’, which is based on a paper entitled ‘Copying and Copyright’ by Google’s economist, Hal Varian. The 14 business models which involve giving things away free include: ‘Sell Physical Complements’, ‘Advertise Yourself’, ‘Sell …
Passion in business
“Do you have to abandon your creative passion to become more businesslike?” is a question I am sometimes asked when I’m talking with creative people in business. My answer is that passion is essential in a creative business. We need to harness it, not deny it. And we must stay true to our values as …
Chase one rabbit (Chinese proverb)
Here’s some ancient wisdom from a Chinese proverb: “If you chase two rabbits, both will escape.” A useful thought for all creative entrepreneurs. It can be applied to: deciding which creative speciality to choose, from all the creative things you can do. deciding which particular market segment to focus on, rather than trying to appeal …