Lots of practical ideas for you to use in this issue!
Hope you find it useful as always.
Yours truly,
Amir
In this issue:
(a) Download articles - free!
(b) Creative ideas for...
(c) Creative tool - SCAMPER
(d) New on Best100Ideas.com
(e) Recommendation of the month
(a) Download the articles of Best100Ideas - FREE!
Best100Ideas.com tries to keep bringing you quality content on Creativity, Innovation, Management and more.
I know sometimes it is not that convenient to read the longer articles online. Now you may easily download most of the articles on the website. They are available in Acrobat PDF format, and are designed with a clean format so you may:
• Print and read them by yourself anywhere and anytime.
• Give your clients, employees, friends or anyone you like the chance
to learn all about creativity, innovation and management.
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All you have to do is go to the article index page and begin download!
It's absolutely FREE!
(b) Creative Ideas for Writing your Resume
Even if you are not looking for a new job right now, chances are that you or someone close to might be looking for a new workplace in upcoming months. Just in case - make sure you print this section and use it to give your resume that extra-needed edge.
There are basic rules for writing effective resumes. Those rules are not discussed here - they may easily be found on the Internet by looking for "advice for writing resume" or "resume tips" on any major search engine. This section focuses on making your resume stand out among thousands of other that employers see. You should follow the basic rules of resume writing, and then use the following tips for giving your resume that unique twist.
Hope this advice helps you land your next great job!
You are also welcome to contact me
if you have some questions on the subject.
- Write "Case Studies" of your successful projects: Even if you include all the basic information needed in a formal resume, there are bound to be other good applicants competing for attention. Writing one or two "case studies" of projects or achievements you've been a part of can help you demonstrate the qualities and skills that you bring to the workplace. It will also enable the reader to become more familiar with the person behind the data, and give them something to remember you by.
- Commit to achieve specific results for the prospective employer: You should take care not to boast or seem like you think too highly of yourself. However, if you are able to research the company you apply to and the specific job and its requirements, you may be a bit more bold by writing down some of the things you believe you can achieve on the job. Try to be specific about results and timetables - e.g. - "I intend to increase the sales of the product in existing markets, and explore to 2-3 new markets within six months".
- Stress your ability to learn from everything: In almost every profession and organization today, the ability to learn and improve is one of the most important traits. You may show how you also consider learning as a major objective by adding lines to the resume that detail major things you've learned on past jobs, through your hobbies, travels, etc. It will also make your resume more personal and interesting to read - e.g. "One of the major things I've learned from this job is how to be an effective team member, and how to be open to the ideas of colleagues".
- Begin with your favorite quote or motto: A short sentence adds a touch of your personality to the resume. Be sure to choose a quote or motto which is in line with the values and requirements of the company and position you apply to. Make it as honest as you can - then it will look more credible if you just pick one to please the reader.
- Fun idea - recommend great websites: Add a section on the end of your resume which is titled: "My favorite websites". This is especially appropriate if you are applying for a job that is about the Internet. However, you can also make it work if you choose websites that are related to the application - make a list of your choice of marketing advice websites for a marketing professional job, for example. Make sure you pick high quality sites and check that they are active - or you will be seen as unprofessional.
(c) Creative Tool: SCAMPER
SCAMPER is one of my favorite creativity tools. It is easy to understand and implement, and yet may be quite powerful and productive. It was developed by Bob Eberle, based on the ideas of Alex Osborn, the originator of classical brainstorming. SCAMPER is an acronym - with each letter representing a different manipulation or question that may be applied to an object, product, service or process in order to generate innovative variations. SCAMPER tools are best used as part of a "Function follows Form" approach, mentioned in the previous issue of this newsletter. This means that some of the ideas produced by SCAMPER will seem strange at first - and then you have to figure out what they are good for - and whether that function is worth developing.
Here is a short description of how this tool may be applied, with some examples to make things clearer:
- Substitute: Ask yourself what parts of the product, service or process may be replaced by other things. This may include components, objects, materials the product is made of, people and roles involved in a process, etc.
Example: use children instead of adults to greet your restaurant guests.
- Combine: Look for ways to assemble together things which are separate, to integrate steps and operations.
Example: when technicians make house service visits - have them suggest upgrades or special offers to clients.
- Adapt/Adjust: Make the product or service or part of it better suited to its environment or to things that come in contact with it, or to a specific group of clients.
Example: a real working telephone for children - smaller grip, funny ring, colorful design.
- Modify: Change the properties of the product or service to make it larger, smaller, of different colors, tastes, etc.
Example: art pieces of very small size, that must be viewed with a magnifying glass.
- Put to other use: Find other uses for the product or service, that are different from the original intention.
Example: a pencil or a pen may also be used as a ruler if measures are drawn on its sides.
- Eliminate: Remove a major function or component of the product or service. This may seem strange at first - as we are tempted to offer ever more features to products. However - often it may lead to innovative, simple and unexpected products that are high in demand.
Examples: shoes that have no color - "see-through" shoes; A product that has no fixed price - the client chooses how much they wish to pay after using it for a trial period.
- Rearrange or Reverse: Change the order of operation, turn things upside down, or arrange the components in a new order.
Example: an online version of a book in which the chapters are arranged in random order, not like the original printed version.
A new article has been added to the website: Lone Wolf meets Devil´s Advocate.
Read this article whenever you need to make managerial or organizational decisions. It includes valuable advice and a description of several tools that can reduce the dangers of common decision-making mistakes.
As mentioned in the Hot News section above - this article and other articles are also available for download as PDF files.
Enjoy your reading!
Some of you have already purchased Best100Ideas's "100 Creative Presentation Ideas E-book". However, you might be looking for other tools to make your presentations even better.
This "How To Create And Make A Presentation" toolkit, developed by Michael Green, includes loads of stuff that can help you make your presentations better - with valuable advice on making the presentation right for your specific audience and purpose, overcoming fear of speaking, even how you should name your presentation, and many other tips and "secrets" for making and delivering effective presentations.
Click to get the "How To Create And Make A Presentation" toolkit
Oh, and if you still don't have your copy of "100 Creative Presentation Ideas E-book" - now is a good time to get it...
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