Creative and innovative personal characteristics that are strongly entrenched in the person of a true entrepreneur. Businesses that are not based on creative and innovative efforts of the entrepreneurs usually can not grow forever. Such a dynamic business environment requires entrepreneurs to always adaptive and seek new breakthroughs. The character quickly complacent and stagnant tantamount to bring business to death.
Understanding the creative and innovative is often interchanged with each other. According to Zimmerer et al (2009) creativity is the ability to develop new ideas and to discover new ways to look at problems and opportunities. Innovation is the ability to apply creative solutions to problems and opportunities to enhance or to enrich people’s lives. Furthermore Ted Levitt (in Zimmerer, 2009) states that the creativity to think of new things and innovation to do things new. So creative nature always looking for new ways and innovative is the nature of the implementing creative solutions. Creative but not innovative idea is redundant because there is only a thought without realization.
All businesses were developed and developing countries until now stem from the creative and innovative efforts. Many foreign franchise restaurants that have a global reach and established since many years ago always show this character. It seems so easy and simple. But many business entrepreneurs who have felt neglected when it reached the level of maturity. Creativity and innovation may be seen as an effort to disrupt the balance that has been created.
Creative and innovative can be implemented simple. The key is sensitivity to smell the opportunity and ability to read the market. A member of the MRC for example. When customers are getting fed up with fried chicken, he sees there are other opportunities that can be developed. Since there are outlets in the school cafeteria, he tried to understand the tastes of students. Most students love the cheese flavor. He has an idea how about cheese combined with chicken. Creative thinking was later developed into a product called: cheesy chicken. Pretty good result. After testing the market and sold a limited, customers are so fond of this menu. Customers are always looking and always sold out.
Creative thinking and the development of ideas is not easy. This simple example occurs in the most unexpected times. Flowing like water. But Zimmerer (2009) asserts that creativity can be taught and individual creativity can be improved. The trick? He outlines 11 ways to improve individual creativity are:
1. Give yourself a chance to be creative.
Dare to think creatively without fear of arguably foolish by others. Ideas are usually born from things that might be considered stupid and meaningless.
2. Give your mind fresh input every day.
To be creative, your brain needs to be stimulated with new things varied. Listen to the radio and changing every day, listen to various types of music or doing other things that had not previously been done.
3. Observe a variety of products and services of other companies, particularly those in the market that is completely different.
Nothing wrong with borrowing ideas other companies, then developed into a brilliant innovation.
4. Be aware of the creative power of the error.
A wise man said that we should always learn from the mistake. Creative people say we can get an idea of the mistakes we make. The story of Charles Goodyear demonstrate this. After working for five years to formulate a combination of rubber, sulfur and tin, on a cold night in 1839, Charles accidentally spilled a bit of the mixture on the stove works. The mixture was melted to form new compounds that have been sought after!
5. Always carry a diary to record your thoughts and ideas.
Creative ideas sometimes appear accidental and at the most unexpected times. Rather than quickly forgotten, it helps bring the booklet to record ideas that might arise unexpectedly.
6. Listen to others.
Ideas do not always come from ourselves. Ideas can come from other people or even our own competitors. So always listen to other people because maybe he will bring good ideas to us.
7. Listen to what the customer says.
Listening to customers is obligatory. They consume our products and also become an endless source of ideas.
8. Talking with young children.
Children do not limit their thinking. They are so free to express their creativity without boundaries. They can be a valuable source of ideas.
9. Keep toys in the box office.
Small toys like yo-yo, tops and others can be a source of inspiration. When you’re confused, you can pick one and think about how the object is related to your problem.
10. Read books about how to stimulate creativity and take courses creativity.
Understand the principles of creativity will help improve our creative abilities.
11. Take your time.
Every now and then take time to relax, get away from routine for a moment. New ideas can arise when our brain is in a state of tension.
Finally, be creative and innovative is incumbent upon entrepreneurial without exception including you,