Freelancers know nothing

But ideas come from everywhere

Okay, so I used a gotcha headline this week, but with purpose, so read on...

Ideas come from everywhere, and often from being out in the world. This week I had a dentist appointment, and for activities that are not my favourite, I sometimes look to pair them with something fun. The local Art Gallery of Ontario is just a few blocks from my dentist. I think you see where I am going here.

During my visit to the new exhibition Faith and Fortune: Art Across the Global Spanish Empire, a headline struck me and I took a picture of it. I am always looking out for inspiration out in the world and I find that creativity is everywhere, from billboards on the street to TikTok memes to Netflix shows that take off because they try a new spin on the traditional format. I'm always looking out for ways to cross-pollinate from other genres.

I thought this headline was interesting because it reminded me of online clickbait. A strong statement that contradicts past learning and draws you in to read more. This headline made me take a picture of it. And also made me think, how can I use this tactic in future projects? How can I punch up the headline in my next blog post or client project to add that extra pop?

As a freelancer, I often feel like a cross-pollinator myself. I can recommend ideas that I've seen working with one client to another, or even from one industry to another. I've definitely had occasion to enrich a client's knowledge of their field by showing them other examples of work in their field (often they are already aware of them and sometimes they even share them with me), or even to suggest they try something from another industry. For example, my major niche in education spends time to highlight student and teacher success stories - wouldn't my business clients also benefit from highlighting the contributions of their people and putting a more public face on the business?

My challenge to others is to keep noticing things, and every once in a while to take a picture so that you remember to put that creativity into action at work.

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