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Working with a client from unfamiliar industry? Take the time to read up on widget-making or mortgage insurance. You might stumble on some context or history that illuminates the problem at hand.

Some times one comes across situations unknown. Treating these situations as a way to learn something new is vital – both to yourself and to the situation – as opposed to turning your back and ignoring the situation.

By taking the time to learn from the situation you grow your own knowledge, your personality, and you can create stunning results. How can you go about to learn? Ask peers in that industry, go to the library, or use the source of information that is called Internet. Many topics are also offered through trainings – both online and offline.

You may also join interest groups. A couple of years ago, I was asked to do some work for a company dealing with oil sand. My task was not at all related to that area of expertise, but I decided to look into it to understand my client better, and to understand their requirements and possible solutions. So I joined an interest group who dealt only with oil and gas, and spent quite some time with them. This actually helped me understand their business from their own perspective, enabling me to serve my client much better.

As a bonus, I both learned enough about that particular industry to understand the controversy when I read about it today, and I could participate in their lunch discussions.

What do you do when you go on a fact-finding mission? How do you deal with new situations? What tips can you share?

Is your motivation flagging at 3:00 pm? Set an egg timer for thirty or sixty minutes and challenge yourself to get as much done as possible. You can always revise this fast-paced work later.

One of my challenges is my habit of working constantly, around the clock. As soon as I wake up, I check e-mail, during the day I make phone calls, and as the rest of the world leaves the office, I continue writing e-mails, reports and articles. No 8-hour work day for me. This is good in the sense that I can take time off whenever I feel like it, and it usually does not matter if I am finished with whatever I am doing at 3PM or 3AM.

The downside is that there are periods of the day – and the week – when I am more productive. And I am constantly trying to find ways to increase my productivity also in the down periods. Beat the clock work great for me. I am not yet at the 60 minutes interval, the 30 minute works wonders for me. I have had to add rules like “No twitter, No e-mail”, and lately also “No Internet”. Then I can focus on what I am supposed to do, and usually I find that I produce quite some results. And that is a great energy booster!

What is your experience with beating the clock? How do games like this improve your efficiency? What variations of this game do you do?

Check in with each other once a week about your creative aspirations and how you’re going to achieve them. It adds accountability when those personal goals start slipping to the bottom of your to-do list.

Setting and achieving goals are two very different things. At least in my life. I use many different means to remember my goals – long term and short term. I have pictureboards where I have images of my visualized goals, and I use lists. And I find it a challenge to focus both on personal goals and on business goals. Some how it seems so much easier to focus on the business goals – perhaps it is because so much time of my life is spent working?

Goal buddies are great. We use them at work – where our project manager, boss or someone else constantly asks how we are progressing on our tasks, and how we are reaching the goals. But who is there in your personal life to guide you, kick your but and to keep you from letting yourself down?

A goal buddy can be a private affair, like your partner, a friend or your workout buddy. Or, in the world of social media, it can equally well be a public thing – nothing is more motivating than all your online friends asking how you are progressing on your goal. As you know, I have used this very blog to promote my goal of running a half marathon this year. And dammed if I want!

Who is your goal buddy? How has having a goal buddy helped you achieve your goals?

How would a carpenter handle a difficult client? What would a lawyer do if he or she were snowed under with deadlines? Look for approaches and best practices to adopt from other business arenas.

Chances are you know your job very well. You are the specialist, or at least one of the specialists. And even as a specialist – some times you encounter a challenge that you are not able to solve just like that. When that happens – what do you usually do?

Next time, consider what a specialist in a different field would do. Try to attack the challenge from the point of view of someone in a totally different industry from your own. Step outside of what you know. Look beyond what you see.

This step is easier said than done IMO. When I need to apply this trick, I tend to forget about it. Those times I do remember, I find fascinating results. Like when I where to make a training for information security for top level management, and I where stuck. After a while, I considered what my friend Terje would have done. He is a car mechanic, and his knowledge of computers are, well, he do not send e-mails to anyone. Thinking of him, I came up with a series of examples where I used cars as examples. Needless to say, the training went on as a dream.

What are your experiences with this approach? How do you apply this tip?

Buy a small notebook and tuck it in your bag. Then use life’s spare moments – standing in line or sitting in gridlock traffic – to write or draw.

I love drawing and writing in my notebooks! It channels out excess energy, and helps my creativity flow. Sometimes I wish it was connected to my computer, so I could easily use the ideas, drafts and stories I jot down on paper. On the other hand, the paper allows a different form of creativity to flow.

If you have never done this, I suggest you go out and buy a notebook that fits in your pocket right away. My preference is the Moleskin notebooks, but there are many alternatives available. Find something that suits you, and your style. Also pick up a few different pens and pencils. Try them out to find the one(s) that is most suitable to you.

Then, then next time you sit on the bus, or wait for a plane, or just want to turn on the TV without having planned what to watch, bring out your notebook. Do not plan what to write, or draw, just let the pen and the paper interact – like two persons about to get acquainted. Dribble. Make lines, circles, squares – any shape your want! When you feel the urge to write something, do it! One word, one letter, a sentence – perhaps even a poem! You’ll be amazed at what may show up on your notebook after a while!

What do you find in your notebook? How do you use this scribbling to boost your creativity and inspiration? Where is your favorite location to bring out your notebook? What is your best tip on using it?

When you feel stuck, pack up your laptop and head to the park or the corner coffee shop. An environmental shift might be enough to shake things loose.

I did this today, as a matter of fact. My office was not a giving me the energy to fulfill my work, it was draining all my energy instead. I were sitting there, pondering all the things I need to do, trying to find the inspiration to write the reviews, stories and reports I am supposed to deliver. And all I seemed able to do was wasting time on Twitter.

I then decided that I should move over to a new coffee shop I found the other day. I brought my laptop, my phone, went there. I ordered a Chai Latte, read the business newspaper, and then picked up my laptop. And started writing on this series. I probably would have written it sometime anyway, but probably not today, had I not changed my scenery.

What are your experiences of changing scenery? How does it help you do your work? Where is your favorite spot?

Look for someone whose work you admire or who simply excels in a single area where you’d like to expand your skills.

Mentors are a great asset! I would never have reached the levels I am at without a number of mentors. Mentors have made such an impact in my life that I decided to offer mentoring services to companies and people together with one of my mentors, Thor Erik Gulliksen . We do this in Trainifique , as you may already know.

A mentor is someone who helps you reach your potential. He or she offers advices and acts as a beacon that enlightens your path. Sometimes a mentor is merely someone who inspires you, someone like an author or great achiever in business, someone you are only looking to for inspiration. Other times a mentor is someone who is taking active part in guiding you towards your goals.

It is not hard to find a mentor. Just take a look around you. Your boss may be a candidate; someone working in a different company or department may be too. Perhaps someone in your family. Or a friend. It all depends on what you want to achieve.

I have had mentors who turned into friends, and I have had mentors who, through their behaviors though me about ethics and lack thereof. In the end, it is all up to yourself how you use the knowledge and experience you get from your mentor.

What are your experiences with mentoring? How has a mentor helped you succeed? Do you have any “dream” mentor, someone you really want to have as your mentor?

Somehow, the automaticalicious technology decided to play me a prank this week, so the posts that where supposed to appear, did not. Since I am traveling these days, I am not able to repost them, so they will have to wait a few more days until I get back to Oslo.

In the meanwhile, I give you this link: http://www.onlinecollege.org/2009/08/11/100-twitter-tips-and-tools-to-stay-on-top-of-your-field/

Thank you so much, Amber Johnson for tipsing me on this one! Keep them coming!

Some of my readers have asked me where I find my inspiration to blog. Well, some of it comes from reading book, other blogs. Some come from traveling, sometimes from my trainings.

The most important source of inspiration for me is actually you guys! You, my readers. By adding your comments, and sending me emails with questions. Like for instance when Zancy_ sent me an email a couple of weeks back, she added 30 inspirational tips she had found in a book about graphic design, and adopted to her workspace in PR. She sent me the list, and told me she had put this list on the bathroom door of the office.
 
The book was called "Design Matters: An Essential Primer for Today's  Competitive Market", and I have to admit I never read that one myself.

I liked the list very much, so much that it turned into a 10 week series of inspiration on my blog. Admittedly, I add my own comments to her list, and I look forward to your comments too!

Other sources of inspiration I use is film. I am a huge fan of Hayao Miyazaki, the Japanese animation film artist. And of course, my son Leo is another inspiration.

I truly appreciate your help and inspiration! Please keep it coming! Thank you!

Sign up for a fencing class or master the art of baking puff pastries.
It is amazing how our brain reacts to new impulses. No matter what you are doing to make a living, chances are you have other interests too.

So you are already familiar with the joy of doing something different, something not directly related to your job.
To up the amp a bit on this task, I suggest you try something you never tried before.

If you are a guy, it is pretty safe to assume you never did aerobics and similar rhythmic workout sessions. I know I never did. I always considered these classes to be too simple, and not at all efficient for my male body. Until I actually tried it out.
Halfway through the first session, I realized that I had to reprogram my own brain – I had to accept my lack of rhythm, my lack of experience of moving like this, and the fact that this workout really was great both for cardio vascular workout, and for my brain!

Given, it did take several weeks for me to learn the movements and start to really enjoy it.

Other things I have tried:

• rebuilding a TDI engine
• building an EFI unit, and fitting it to a V8 petrol engine (yes, it worked…)
• mountain climbing
• playing instruments (piano, guitar, harmonica, clarinet, saxophone)

What kind of activity can you do to create a similar effect? How many activities have you tried so far? What did you learn about yourself in the process? What activities would you recommend us to try?

Filmmaker David Lynch swears his daily practice is crucial to all his creative work.

Image courtesy of: Thomas L. Kelly

I am currently writing a 30-day series on things you can do to get moremotivation and creativity. The series will start next week, and go on daily for 30 days.

Please contribute with your ideas and comments too! The more we share, the better!

Happy weekend and stay tuned!