Issue 009: When Creativity and Engagement Meet
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“You can't use up creativity. The more you use the more you have.”
– Maya Angelou
My “8 Days of Ireland” has ended. It’s one “trip” that I didn’t gain weight, break the budget, and arrive home exhausted. 😊
The week’s Bounce-Up™ theme combines creativity with engagement. Whether you’re trying to nurture your social network, boost your list, increase your client base, or grow a business or membership, engagement is a core foundation.
The more you engage others the more organic the relationship becomes. When I sold custom homes from a blueprint out of a storefront (yes, imagine buying your next home without seeing it), my clients and I would take exterior materials, such as stone, siding, shutters, and shingles, outside to see how it looked in natural light the way it would on their home. I’d ask clients to feel the textures, feel the weight, knock on the OSB (oriented strand board) so that they could experience it.
In my “Bounce-Up™” [resilient] presentations, audience members participate in the Reset Button activity, write answers on beach balls, and join bubbles contests. They laugh while learning about resilience fundamentals.
This week’s idea served both sides of a community: businesses and residents.
With most of the businesses closed due to pandemic limitations, as Executive Director of Fayette County Cultural Trust, Daniel Cocks wanted a safe way for people to get out and enjoy Connellsville’s downtown area. Within the 16 blocks designated as downtown, there are many beautiful historic-looking buildings, a Carnegie Free Library with fabulous architectural features, and a great public art scene. Dan focused on how to get people to enjoy the short two square miles, while social distancing.
“I thought this would be a great time to do a photo contest to eject pride not only for the residents of Connellsville,” says Dan, “but also those who lived within driving distance.”
That thought became an eight-week contest with a different weekly theme. The weekly winner gets a $25 gift check to one of the downtown businesses.
“This type of ‘prize’ served two purposes,” shares Dan. “It gives a downtown business that remained open, mainly restaurants, an extra customer they probably wouldn't have had and gives the winner an extra $25.”
Though the contest started with a tangible vision for the local businesses and residents, several intangibles occurred. The act of giving was one. The first week’s winner wanted to remain anonymous and donated the prize to someone who was unemployed due to the mandate. As community members shared contest photos, it inspired curiosity from people living in bigger cities.
“In a time where the downtown in Connellsville became almost vacant, the Downtown Connellsville photo contest has sparked new life and interest,” says Dan.
If we were talking baseball, Dan’s idea hit a grand slam!
What occurred the last time you felt inspired?
How can you engage others to create stronger relationships?
What is one challenge that you could resolve with a bit of creativity?
Until next time, have a Bounce-Up™ day!
Mj
P.S. I will soon be offering Revenue Rescue: Rejection-Proof Your Sales online workshop. [It’s interactive, too.] Email me at Mj@MjCallaway.com for more details.
