How to Become Innovative When Your Business is Lacking Creativity

Think way back to the very beginning of where this all started. Well let’s focus on the start of your business, I mean. We can discuss the beginning of the world at a later date. 

Now ask yourself one question...why did you start the business, to begin with?

I imagine that it all started with a simple idea.

Fun fact, I have a few relatives who are business owners. My aunt owns a tax and accounting business that has been successful for over 35 years. Similarly to her brother, my father, the entrepreneur spirit runs deep in the roots. Instead of being a “desk jockey,” my father chose to become a farmer. 

My father went to college and earned a Bachelor's Degree in Agriculture Business and was planning to join the corporate world. That was until my grandfather died of a heart attack at the young age of 55. This is when everything changed for the family. My father had two options: either sell the family farm or move back home and run the business himself. 

So upon graduation, he packed up that dorm room and moved back home to operate the farm.

That was 30 years ago. 

The crazy thing is that my dad had very little experience in operating a 1000+ acre farm. Sure he grew up on the farm; milking dairy cows, raising chickens, and growing crops. But my father never had the opportunity to work alongside my grandfather to learn the business side of farming. 

He had to learn along the way and grow the business himself. 

After so many years, my family now has to become creative with growing and developing the business. In a culture where local family farms are being bought out by large corporations, my family has to work together and focus on being creative. 

How will they ever adapt to an ever-changing industry?

I’ll tell you.

When the ideas seem to be stagnant, what does the family do to progress, improve, and grow the family business?

They innovate by focusing on these three questions:

1) What has worked in the past? 

2) What is one area in the business to focus on? 

3) Where can we go from here? 

Let’s dive deeper and see how the family farm has evolved.

What has worked in the past? The most consistent and reliable crop over the years has been alfalfa. Since I was a child, this was the main cash crop for the farm. Each summer we would grow, cut, rake and bale the mature alfalfa into one-ton bales of hay and sell them to dairy farmers in Texas. Unfortunately, alfalfa prices have decreased and the demand is no longer there. Not to mention that living in a desert region leads to more droughts causing the water supply to decrease each year. With that being said, what is one area in the business to focus on? The lack of consistent water has been a major focus for farmers. So, where should the business go from here? Focus on a crop that produces in drier conditions while also being aware of market needs. Crops that thrive in drier conditions include hemp, sunflowers, lavender, and CO native wildflowers. Now, these crops may not succeed in large scale production but they have the potential to develop with the right knowledge, equipment, and nurturing. 

When you feel as if the creativity well is drying up, ask those three simple questions.

Now let’s look at another example of creating more within the business while answering the questions. 

Imagine a beautiful brick and mortar boutique shop located in Small Town, USA. The business has been opened for over a year but sales are starting to decrease. Now what? Let’s become creative in building revenue and answer the three questions:

What has worked in the past? Opening a boutique in a small town with limited “big name retailers” was the best idea for an ambitious business owner. They were able to follow the fashion trends and slowly order an expanse in all sizes. However, after hitting the one year mark, the business is starting to slow down. Now they have a strong reputation along with offering all sizes, what is one area in the business to focus on? Time to outgrow the small town by not closing the front doors of the shop but rather sharing the unique product outside of town. So, where should the business go from here? By visiting local county fairs, conferences, or local farmer's markets. Better yet, start a website and sell the product online to outreach even further. Maybe one day they will be shipping products internationally!

When I feel as if my business is lacking some innovative creativity, I always step back and answer those questions.

Feeling a little stagnant with your business? I challenge you to write out the three questions and answer each one honestly. A word to the wise is to not over complicate it, keep it simple for now! Once the questions have been answered, step away and contemplate it, only to readdress it within a few days to see how it feels.

I’d love to hear more about this exercise after you complete it! Please email me at writer.kwdavis@gmail.com - I can hardly wait till I hear from you!