The "box" is the normal way of doing things and looking at things. It is the assumptions that almost everyone involved is making. The best way to start thinking out of the box then, is to identify and challenge all the assumptions that make up thinking inside the box.
One of the major liquor brands was faltering years ago, and they couldn't seem to boost their sales. Promotions, lowering the price, getting better shelf placement - these were the "in the box" solutions. Then someone challenged the assumptions, by asking "What if we stopped the promotions and just raised the price?"
The price was raised as an experiment, and sales soon doubled. As it turns out, some types of liquor are bought quite often as gifts. Buyers don't want to buy the most expensive one, but they also don't want to seem cheap, so they won't buy products that don't cost enough. Now imagine what happens to your profit margins when you raise the price and double the sales. That's the power of thinking outside of the box.
Ways To Get Outside The Box
Challenging assumptions is a powerful creative problem solving technique. The difficult part is to identify the assumptions. If you are designing a new motorcycle, write down assumptions like "speed matters," "it has to run on gas" and "it needs two wheels," not because you expect to prove these wrong, but because challenging these can lead to creative possibilities. Maybe the time has come for an electric three-wheeled motorcycle.
Another way to get to creative solutions is to "assume the absurd." This is either fun or annoying, depending on how open-minded you can be. All you do is start making absurd assumptions, then finding ways to make sense of them. The easiest way to do it is by asking "what if."
What if a carpet cleaning business was better off with half as many customers? It seems absurd, but work with it. Hmm...less stressful, perhaps. More profitable if each customer was worth three times as much. Is that possible? Commercial jobs that involve large easy-to-clean spaces (theaters, offices, convention halls) make more money in a day than houses, with fewer headaches. Focusing on getting those accounts could be the most profitable way to go - not so absurd.
Another way to more innovative ideas is to literally do your thinking out of the box. Get out of the house or the office. Look around at how others are doing things. On busses in Ecuador, salesmen put a product into everyones hands and let them hold it while they do a sales pitch. Then you have to give back "your" product or pay for it. It is very effective. How could you use the principle in your business?
Steve Gillman has been studying brainpower and related topics for years. For more , and to subscribe to the Brain Power Newsletter, visit:
Thinking Outside Storage Shed
With the increasing popularity of gazebos as well as patios, more and more people find that they need to use outdoor rugs to make these areas look more appealing and, in addition, it is also quite normal for people to place less than large sized outdoor rugs at the entrance of the home because these rugs help in keeping dirt out of the home since visitors who see a rug at the entrance tend to wipe their shoes clean before entering the home. (Some Southerners and others require adults and children to remove their shoes before entering the home as a standard procedure!) You can enjoy your outdoor rug more if you know how to clean it.
A Lot To Choose From
However, there are many options available to anyone interested in using outdoor rugs and they come in various materials including natural fibers as well as in synthetics. In addition, it is very common to use such rugs close to a lawn which helps in creating patio space and makes the area ideal for sitting purposes and this is because the area is then less exposed to moisture which would occur if you had to sit on the lawn grass. In fact, even in the case of a gazebo in your backyard, outdoor rugs serve to make the ideal place for sitting, and they also lend them well as decorative backdrops at parties being held in the open.
There are of course certain other considerations to think about besides their usefulness for sitting because you also need to understand how to clean and maintain outdoor rugs, especially as they are often prone to becoming dirtied due to spillages or because of various other mishaps. To understand how to clean and care for your outdoor rugs, all you need to do is follow the instructions detailing to you how to care for the rugs and which are usually printed on the back of the rugs.
You should also be aware of the fact that though outdoor rugs are ideal for use outdoors, they should not be left out in the open for too long because when they are exposed to the elements, they can deteriorate as well as weaken. In addition, before buying your outdoor rugs, remember that there are a number of big sized indoor rugs that can easily be mistaken for outdoor rugs, and so you need to specify to the salesman that it is outdoor rugs that you are interested in and not big indoor rugs. In the South, for example, rugs mildew easily because of the constant humidity and moisture in the air. Other areas present pollen as a constant problem for outside rugs and furniture, but again, if the rug can be cleaned, it is not a problem.
There is a lot of variety available when it comes to choosing decorative outdoor rugs and because these are sure to be a lot more expensive than ordinary such rugs, you need to exercise your discretion before buying them since they are primarily meant to decorate rather than be used regularly.
e Do Persian Rugs come from and how much do you know about them?
Authentic Persian rugs are noted for their quality and beauty. These rugs speak of the traditions and cultures that abound in ancient Persia, other wise known as modern day Iran. Up to this very day, the art of rug making or carpet making is widely practiced in the Middle East and some parts of Asia. Persian rugs or carpets are those that are traditionally handmade in Iran but there are now so called Persian rugs that are machine made. If you ever have an opportunity to visit there, be sure to return home with one of these beautifully crafted rugs as a souvenir. There are actually three kinds of Persian carpets that are available in the market and they are classified by their size.
There is also another way of naming the different kinds of Persian rugs and this is through their designs and the cities or areas in which they are commonly produced. Sometimes the classification is also based on the type of design used, the weaving technique and the type of material used for the rug. Persian rugs and carpets originated from Islamic regions and are still found in many Islamic regions up to this very day. When the Mongols invaded some Islamic areas, it is said that they brought the art of weaving carpets and rugs to China.
Nomadic Carpets or Kilims
These Persian rugs are the smallest of their kind and can be easily carried around rolled up in a tight roll. These are the ones that some Moslems use when they worship or pray while some use these for purely decorative purposes. I have seen this used in the mosques in the Mid-East and it is quite convenient and makes it easier on the knees of those who pray throughout the day on hard floors or on the ground for that matter. They are very portable and suit this purpose well.
Qalicheh
This is a Persian rug that is at its largest size at six by four feet, including those smaller than these dimensions. Most Persian rugs are rectangular in shape although other shapes are also found. Rugs of this size are commonly used as area rugs for smaller areas.
These Persian rugs are those that are bigger than six by four feet in dimension. These are the rugs tat are commonly called carpets because they cover a huge space. Nowadays, these very large carpets are usually used to cover living space and may be used to designate the areas for couches or sofas.
The reason why Persian rugs are one of the most highly sought after carpets and rugs may be because the art of weaving rugs and carpets is assumed to have started in ancient Persia. The tradition of rug making is handed down in the family and kept there for centuries. Persian rugs' designs and motifs may differ per region and city.
Both Admin & Kristie Chiles are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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