An Open Mind is Good for the Bottom Line

Jun 14, 2010   //   by Les Proctor    Great Ideas, Leadership  //  1 Comment

Do you have an open mind? Or, are you closed off to new ideas?

open mind

Try new things

If you sometimes feel like you’re stuck, or that your key employees are stuck, and that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, then you’d probably be interested in a fascinating piece in the New York Times that was entitled: “Can You Become a Creature of New Habits?”

In the article, it affirms that ”brain researchers have discovered that when we consciously develop new habits, we create parallel synaptic paths, and even entirely new brain cells, that can jump our trains of thought onto new, innovative tracks.”

Moreover, “rather than dismissing ourselves as unchangeable creatures of habit, we can instead direct our own change by consciously developing new habits. In fact, the more new things we try — the more we step outside our comfort zone — the more inherently creative we become, both in the workplace and in our personal lives.”

The Open Mind

“The first thing needed for innovation is a fascination with wonder,” says Dawna Markova, author of “The Open Mind”. Dawna, in case you don’t recognize the name, co-authored what many people call one of the most inspirational little books of all time: “Random Acts of Kindness“, and she is now an executive change consultant with Professional Thinking Partners.

“But we are taught instead to ‘decide,’ Markova says, ‘just as our president calls himself ‘the Decider.’ ” She adds, however, that “to decide is to kill off all possibilities but one. A good innovational thinker is always exploring the many other possibilities.”

Undoubtedly, Ms. Markova would agree and appreciate that the concept of testing in Direct Mail and e-Marketing is not only a good way to stimulate brain cells and foster innovation, but that it can also help lower the costs of acquiring and keeping customers, and that keeping an open mind can improve your bottom line.

If you have an open mind and are looking for some ideas to help you grow your business, contact me today.

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About Les Proctor

I'm a marketing consultant and I work with executives and and managers at small to medium-sized companies–real people who have a *big need* to do a lot with limited resources. I help them accomplish their goals and make more money with ideas and actions that produce results.

1 Comment

  • BizSugar.com August 8, 2010 at 12:31 pm

    Having an Open Mind is Good for the Bottom Line…

    If you sometimes feel like you’re stuck, or that your key employees are stuck, and that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, then you’d probably be interested in a fascinating piece in the New York Times that was entitled: Can You Become a Creatur…

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