The fact is–we get in a groove. Things are going reasonably well, we are holding everything together and managing to a pretty decent jobs of running our home businesses and our lives, so why rock the boat? Well, sometimes what seems like smooth operations can actually be a rut. In order for a business to grow, we need to interject some “new life” into it occasional and we may need to stimulate some new, innovative, ideas in order to jump-start and invigorate our home businesses.
Innovation does not necessarily mean that you need to invent an entirely new way of doing things (although that can be incredibly cool!), what it does mean is that you bring in new ideas, new ways of doing things–you look around and find methods and elements that could modernize your business and move it in a new, progressive direction. If you have been doing things the same way, or find that your days are filled with habit and routine, innovation can be a very good thing.
Where do you find innovative ideas? Try reading current business magazines, entrepreneurial publications, and visiting web sites that are geared toward the entrepreneur and the small business owner. Business is all about growth and opportunity, so these resources tend to be chock full of ideas for how to do things in a new and progressive way. Even committing to read the business section of your local paper a few days a week might open your mind to innovative ideas and methods that you could incorporate into your home business. Do not overlook newsletters and list serves and other professional organizations you may already belong to–these often have testimonials and stories about successful businesses and offer great places to find innovative suggestions that could be adapted to your own business needs.
See Also: Does Your Business Have a Clear Purpose? and Write Those Ideas Down and Getting Psyched Up for Extra Challenges