Seeking inspiration

Creativity is key to business development. Yell surveyed 1,500 small business owners in the UK to find out how they get inspired. Take a step outside Almost a third of the people surveyed by Yell said they didn’t feel inspired by their work environment, so why not consider getting headspace somewhere new? The countryside (29…

Creativity is key to business development. Yell surveyed 1,500 small business owners in the UK to find out how they get inspired.

Take a step outside

Almost a third of the people surveyed by Yell said they didn’t feel inspired by their work environment, so why not consider getting headspace somewhere new? The countryside (29 per cent), the beach (17 per cent) and different cultures (11 per cent) are the top places small business owners go to provoke new ideas. Or it could be as simple as taking a different route to work once a week, as you could spot something new which blooms into an alternative way of thinking. New sights and sounds get your brain working, making it easier to find the inspiration that could benefit your business.

Collect what inspires you

One of the best ways to spark your creative mind is to simply always be on the lookout for things that inspire you. Try taking photos on your phone and saving them in a ‘favourites’ album, bookmarking webpages you find interesting, pining cuttings from magazines on an ‘inspiration board’, or keeping a small notebook in your pocket to write ideas down when they come into your head. When you get to a point where you’re feeling a little stuck, go back to these places and it may help you to unlock ideas that could move your business forward.

Mornings are best

Creativity is at its highest after sleep, and 93 per cent of those surveyed by Yell said they are at their most focused first thing in the morning. Why not dedicate the first ten minutes of your day to sitting down with a coffee, and thinking about the next step to aid the development of your business? Note down the first step of what you need to do to get there, set yourself goals and a review date. Every day go back to your plan and add the next step. And don’t forget to put it into action – you never know where it may lead you…

Soak up information

When it comes to inspiration, learning from other successful entrepreneurs can really motivate your own business development. Business advice books, real life stories and podcasts are easily accessible, and the knowledge gained from them can be priceless. Whether it shapes some of the work you do, changes your mindset or inspires new ways of working, there’s no downside to soaking up wisdom from people who have been there, done it and are reaping the rewards.

All statistics, unless noted are taken from a survey of 1,500 small business owners and 1,500 consumers by Yell Business in February 2017.