Solutions

Solve The Big Problems Better

Solve The Big Problems Better

Garth Beyer

Often times we dig to find a new problem, an issue someone else missed. If our business or product isn’t getting talked about, if our profits aren’t rising, then there’s a problem we’re just not seeing. Right?

Perhaps we see it that way because it’s easier to turn rocks over, searching for little issues than it is to tackle a current problem in a new way. Why? Because trying something new, doing things differently is risky, especially when it comes to existing problems.

What if the solution you try worsens the brand experience? What if you execute it poorly and lose customers? What if you’re unable to fulfill your new promise? Risky. Risky.

But worth it.

You can keep searching for small problems and come up with simple solutions or you can get innovative with the solutions for problems you’re already facing, the problems that matter, the problems that convert.

 

Stay Positive & Focus On The Work That Matters

Movement Tells A Story

Garth Beyer

Story Ladder

What you’re passionate about doesn’t necessarily come easy. No matter if you’re doing what you love or not, you’re still climbing a ladder, trying to reach the top, trying to make progress.

Creating art is a method of taking on problems from an outer level with complete focus and forming them into an almost subconscious solution process that allows you to then focus on the next problem. Each step of the ladder presents a new problem to solve. At face value, it’s not enjoyable, not fun, but what sets an artist apart from others who climb is that they find a way to love the process, to enjoy the struggle.

We build value in ourselves when we climb the ladder, when we accomplish goals, when we are moving. When we stop moving up the ladder to say “look at me now,” we tell the wrong story. Humans are inclined to see narratives where there are none because it can afford meaning to our lives, Cody Delistraty at The Atlantic writes. Storytelling when standing still is an oxymoron. It doesn’t resonate well, it doesn’t inspire, it doesn’t tell the message you really want to be telling.

People view you differently when seeing where you’re at now, compared to where you’re going. Sure, saying where you’ve been and what you’ve accomplished and how you got to where you’re at now can be remarkable, but only if people know there is more to come from you; that where you decided to stop and shout down is not the highest you will climb.

Movement tells a story, and people die standing still.

If tasks start seeming easy, if you tackle all your problems subconsciously, if there’s no longer need to focus, no struggle with a problem, it means you’ve stopped climbing, that you’re standing still.

 

Stay Positive & Is That Really The Story You Want To Tell?

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Three Phases Of Trends

Three Phases Of Trends

Garth Beyer

Trends

First, people start a trend. Naturally they don’t know it’s a trend yet. Massive quick adoption of the act makes it a trend. Political blogging only had a trending impact once many others started blogging.

Second, people begin noticing the trend. Journalists start writing about political blogs. People other than the bloggers themselves talk about the impact of political blogging.

Third, people start following the trend. The increase of political blogs, not necessarily the immediate early flood of them, but the later consistent growth of them is a representation of following a trend. Instagram, Toms shoes, #scarystoriesin5words, Apple products – all examples too.

Although it is difficult to predict what action will become a trend, it is not impossible.

I had a dream the other night where I ran into Seth Godin at an eyewear store. Although he was dressed up as if he worked there, he wasn’t working. Instead, he was watching everyone who walked by, everyone who came inside and picked up frames to try on, and everyone who voiced their issues.

He was observing all three phases of trends.

1. He listened to the problems people came in with. After all, most trends are just solutions to a problem.

2. Those who entered the store to try on the frames were the ones noticing the trend. After all, the store pushes and showcases what they see is a recent trend in eyewear design.

3. Lastly, everyone who made the purchase of a showcase item or knew full well what they wanted when they entered the store were followers of a trend. After all, there’s not much convincing needed for followers of a trend.

I see it as this: there are actions taking place, things happening that are waiting to be written about, pointed out, learned from, and shared. We can play a role in any of the three phases of trends. We can start them by creating the solution to a problem or we can jump on the bandwagon.

 

Stay Positive & Do You See These Phases Happening?

if not, perhaps you need new glasses

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Two Ways To Start A Business

Two Ways To Start A Business

Garth Beyer

Starting A Business
One way is to start with your own idea, build a business plan around it, and shout, shout, shout with hopes people hear you, switch from competitors to you, and give their attention. To be successful with this, you have to change the way people think, act, and feel.

Damn difficult to do.

Another way is to start by searching for a niche, an area that’s been untouched, perhaps listening to more than a million complaints of people until you come up with a solution. The method: you find a small problem and you provide a small solution.*

To be successful with this, you gather a tribe of like-minded people who have the same complaint, the same problem and you give your solution to them. Instead of changing the way people think, act, and feel, you’re listening, understanding and reacting to how people think, act, and feel.

You can shout, advertise and sell or you can connect, gather, and give.

Two ways to start a business. I think you know which way is better.

 

Stay Positive & Either Way, Have Fun With It

*All big problems have been solved with big solutions. Times have really changed. Think the taxi industry. Big solution for big problem. Then think of Uber and Lyft. Small problem. Small solution. Huge success.

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Remarkable Work

Garth Beyer

doesn’t have a schedule. Remarkable can happen any time of the day. The old 9 to 5 plan is just that, old.

The calendar of an artist is messy, clustered, and generally, all over the place. There are work meetings and social coffee meetups spotting throughout the week. The frantic-ness, the hysterics, the last-minute changes of plans perpetuate remarkable work. Why?

Because the lack of true routine allows you to connect with everyone better, allows you to attack a problem from multiple angles, and allows you to maintain an open mind about everything.

It should go without saying here that time needs to be made to relax, to be with close friends and family and to have some real reckless fun. However, these activities become greater memories when they’ve got to be fit into your day. You enjoy them more, you look forward to them more, you get lost in them – often finding the solution to a work problem. Go you.

A real artist is always on.

 

Stay Positive & Laugh When You Are Asked What An Average Day Is Like

There Are Too Many Unasked Questions

Garth Beyer

It’s been nearly two months since I added the “Pose A Question” page to my website. Through this trial, I have also altered the name in hopes that it would stand out for viewers to ask a question. Zero questions have been asked. I’m not disappointed, but that doesn’t mean that it isn’t disappointing. Disappointing because there are so many questions that need to be asked and are not being voiced. I was thinking about it and of course, when you mull things over for a long enough time, the answers begin to float to the surface.

The reason I was not asked any questions (questions that had absolutely no boundaries) was not that I am not a great source of information, it’s not that I don’t have the credentials, experience or willingness to find the answer because I do. If anyone has even glanced at my website, they know I’m in a full-scale warfare against the world and to find every secret to success possible, no matter the definition of success. It’s clear. I can give you an answer. One that solves a problem, one that get’s you to think, one that opens your mind, one that makes you question further, one that requires you to ponder, one that is funny to read, one that can change your life. Still no questions.

The real reason people have hundreds of questions related to their muse and never ask them is because knowing the answer calls them to take an action. Always questioning what is right, what you should do, what is the best/quickest/easiest path to take to get X is simple, it’s easy, it takes no energy and it produces no results. There is no action in an unanswered question. There is no next step. You can stay on the stone you’re on now for a lifetime and only when you ask and receive an answer is when you need to take the next step.

That step is scary. It’s dead frightening. It’s paralysis. It’s fear keeping you from seeking answers because fear likes to play a safe game and doing nothing is safe and as a result, you die very safely. See, fear of action is the dullest of fear. It is what a person who has never had a real experience feels. What happens then when you do ask a question and get an answer. You will have to conquer your fear of rejection, fear of success, fear of failure, fear of risks, and fear of life. If you do not wish to live a safe, dull, banal, mortal, boring life, then you need to ask questions. Questions you don’t want to know the answer to.

Trust me, you have a lot more to worry about once you get over your fear of knowing the answer. But hey, we will get there. I’m here for you for your first question, second question or 1,000th question, I’m here.

 

Stay Positive & Will You Take That Step?

Garth E. Beyer