Comments on: Creative Constraints: How to Use Them and When to Lose Them

By: Creative Content: Resources, Tips and Freebies | Social Media Marketing by Mike Smith

Sat, 03 Jan 2009 21:49:24 +0000

[...] Creative Constraints: When to use them and when to lose them [...]

By: Roberta Rosenberg

Roberta Rosenberg — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 16:17:25 +0000

This discussion reminds me of the movies in the 30s/40s and 50s where screenwriters and directors had to be both wise and clever in getting around the censorship rules. In some respects, the constraints forced their best, most creative work because they couldn’t be direct or obvous in the their approach.

By: Christian

Christian — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 21:22:28 +0000

This is great, because a comment on Lateral Action prompted me to write a piece on why time, money and other constraints can be a positive thing for business. I posted it here: http://snipurl.com/8wb7b. Now you guys have come full circle and posted an awesome article about how these concepts apply to business. It’s true: ample financial resources can actually be an IMPEDIMENT to success, while constraints like fear need to be let loose as soon as possible. It’s good to say this stuff as much as possible, because our economic climate has tightened financial resources for most of us AND incited fear. A bad combination, especially when the FACTS are that there is just as much opportunity, if not more, to build wealth and have success than there has ever been.

By: When I Grow Up - The Blog » Blog Archive » Freakin’ (Great Links) Friday: Installment 7

Fri, 19 Dec 2008 17:59:11 +0000

[...] Lateral Action wrote about Creative Constraints: When to Use Them and When to Lose Them. [...]

By: James Chartrand - Men with Pens

James Chartrand - Men with Pens — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 12:14:14 +0000

Good analogy with the elephant – couldn’t have delivered your point faster or better, I think. Never thought about the time/money/etc constraints either. Hmm…

By: Tito Philips, Jnr.

Tito Philips, Jnr. — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 10:28:53 +0000

The constraint of money did really give me some new insights, seems to be an entrepreneurs greatest challenge. Like you said, the internet is really helping out these days trying to put every one on the same pedestal.

By: John Sacco

John Sacco — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 22:59:51 +0000

Brian:

Your take has awoken a sleeping giant. I am in the process of a start-up venture, with no working capital, and no assistance. Everything is on my shoulders. Talk about fear! My greatest fear is that my site will never be finished. I keep tinkering and tinkering and find that I’ve fallen victim to my unrelenting standard of perfectionism. This post couldn’t have been more timely. I will use your advice wholeheartedly. Thanks a bunch.

By: Sonia Simone

Sonia Simone — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 22:14:48 +0000

That elephant thing has always made me so sad. Poor lovely things.

By: Bamboo Forest - PunIntended

Bamboo Forest - PunIntended — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 20:23:25 +0000

I love the reference to the elephant. That segment has gone straight into my swipe file.

By: MaryAnne Fisher

MaryAnne Fisher — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 18:00:33 +0000

Fear is the most insidious and powerful constraint of all. Trying to start or run your business while under its influence is what leads to “me too” marketing.

When you’re unclear about what makes you different from the crowd, it’s almost impossible to see what makes your products and services different.

And when you can’t see this uniqueness, you fall into the trap of fear-based “me too” marketing.

Awareness of the unique–and uniquely beneficial–aspects of yourself allows you to tap into a root level of self-confidence which in turn, engenders confidence in your products and services.

“Innovation happens when you help people desire something they didn’t know or think they wanted.”

You (and Henry) are so on the money. This should become the mantra of both aspiring and established entrepreneurs.

Thanks for this, Brian.