- “There was something
missing from my life, but I
couldn’t quite figure out what

‘it was,” says Mary Curtis, a

~ successful communications
“consultant. “I knew I had to
make a change, but I had no
- idea what that change should:
‘be: ”

_ West Coast business con-
- sultant Jim McBride believes
“that most. good ideas in busi-
‘ness come from problems that
need a solution. “I tell people
to think about the things they
complain about, then think of
ways to solve the problem.
That kind of brainstorming
.can generate some interesting
‘ideas.”

Let your brain loose
* ’ Roger von Oech, author of
a 6} A Whack onthe Side of the
~Head, says, “The difference
‘between creative people and
‘ others is that creative people

‘Often, the starting point for -
| those ideas is simply’ opening

; your eyes and ears to what's
‘happening around you. One
‘really basic way is to read
-your local newspaper.
Another is to talk to people

might say something that
. Sparks a whole new, and prof-
-itable, train of thought.

_: Market, marketing experts J.
‘Ford Laumer, Jr, James R.
Harris and Hugh J. Guffey, Jr.
recommend using unconven-
tional ‘ways to get at new.
‘ideas.““Gatbage’ offers’ an"
_ Opportunity, they say. Look at
a” , What people throw out, then
+ figure out why. They also rec-
! ommend looking for what
> ; they call bonus information,
? the useful. nugget in someth- _
‘ting that starts out looking like
d a problem. An example is the
‘B tetailer who gave away pea-
- 4 nuts as part of.a promotion.

‘i 4 The result was trails of peanut
'? shells throughout the store.
™ .; The shells were a mess to

- learn to pay attention to their -

you work with now. One of -
“your customers or contacts .

In Learning About Your.

ea ype

clean up, but the bonus was
that they also showed traffic
patterns.

Your own life offers anoth-
er important source of infor-—

mation and ideas. Ask your-
‘self what you've enjoyed most

: at. different..stages. Recall.

ideas that you didn’t take
Seriously at the time or
couldn’t follow up for some

_teason. Talk to family and

friends. Ask them what they

think is the most interesting

thing about you. All of this is
designed to help-you identify
and match personal needs,
interests, skills and attributes
to marketable concepts.

That's what Curtis did. On
holidays, she always made a

beeline for the local crafts
market.

wanted to do more than just
look.” a

‘Make it real -

Curtis decided to open a

gift store: specializing i in raku
pottery and folk art, by

The breakthrough -
came during a trip to Atlantic.
Canada. “I suddenly realized I

| How brainstorming and networking —
| can lead to new business ventures |

Canadian attisans. She started

with basic market research,
talking to family, friends,
business associates, to
Strangers on the street and in

" restaurants, to suppliers, arti-

sans and other entrepreneurs.
She also did a lot of walking
and looking. Eventually, she

" confirmed what she suspect-

ed--that there was room for a
unique gift gallery in her own
neighbourhood. During’ this
time, Curtis wrate her busi-
ness plan and lined up a small
business loan to supplement
her savings. From idea to the
day she opened Moose

year.

“1 don’t -know -what ‘the
future will bring,” she says

"today. “What I do know is that

it’s a pleasure to open the
door each morning.”

That, too, is important,

says Jim, McBride. “Liking

what you do is a good way to

be successful, The things that
work, successfully are the
things that people are most
enthusiastic about. ”

‘Learn to listen well .

- (SOP) Many people are

uncomfortable with silence.

We encourage, even insist,
that people speak up. We
rehearse the eloquent question
and perfect a quick comeback.
We overexplain, interrupt to
show we are listening or
launch a cheap shot...
"However, with our
tendency to speak up, to be
purposeful, direct and time-
conscious, we can become

express themselves, be
sensitive.

— Give people time to
collect their thoughts and
room to make their decisions.
In negotiations, let the silence
stand. Avoid physical
movement. Resist the urge to
summarize, restate, lobby or
show empathy. Grip your
chair until you are white-
knuckled. to avoid saying
more than you need to, want

ecarenNe erbearing and”. " sb RPTESS cranks OED mean, to... Ea iy bie Sapa we gascbiphus ah

significant issues.
" Here are a few ways to

make silence work for you:

-— Let people complete all
their thoughts before you”
reply. Avoid being too eager
to ask a question or too. quick
to explain. Instead, wait in
silence and. stillness for
people to finish: ’

Watch excessive head
nodding, piercing eye contact
or saying, “I -know,” which

can distract from the message.

When people ‘struggle to

~— Practice pausing tr
thoughtful responses rather
than blurting something,
anything immediate. Use
_pauses.to handle inappropriate
remarks. .The — silence
following can be your ally.

— Become aware of what
does not need to be said. ‘You
-néed. not ‘respond, clarify,
- comment, answer or explain
everything. You also should
control your urge to have the
last word or tell the best story.

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home. Whatever your needs -- from vinyl

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You'll find top quality brand-name
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Crossing took well over a

_ The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, October 25, 1995 -

For Any Occasion

The name is somewhat misleading.
While Central Flowers is known for fresh
flowers, live plants, and dried or silk
arrangements, you may not know about
the many delightful specialty gift items in
stock,

“Far example, we now carry a great ia
selection of Yankee candles,” says Lara |#
Roldo. She and Jennifer Kerr took over [3
Central.Flowers a short 5 months ago.
“We've also got the Cornell Trading
inens -- table cloths, napkins and pillow
covers,” she says. “It’s gorgeous stuff, in
really vibrant colours.”

_ She also likes the Boyd Bears, a line of old-fashioned teddy bears and assorted —

D9

stuffed animals known to collectors. “We've also got a new line of china -- Port Meirion -- '

it’s beautiful.” That's not to mention the baby gift bundles, special parcels of baby :

clothing, toys and accessories.

Both Lara and Jennifer invite you to stop by ( Central Flowers and have a look -- at’

flowers and —

‘CENTRAL FLOWERS _

|. 101 4716 Lazelle Avenue _

The Hair Gallery may have stayed [-
in the same location for 16 years, but ;
# the salon itself has changed at
s dramatically.

Stylist-owners Carol Adam and
Betty Ross are still known around
town for their trend-setting haircuts, |
styles, and hair treatments. The Hair
Gallery continues to offer quality. hair |.
and ‘skin care- products: Matrix,
Redken; Joico, Rusk, and Advanced
Group, to name a few. -

What's changed is the rest of the
inventory. “We've expanded a bit,”.
says Carol. “We're more than a hair |;
salon. We carry a lot of jewellery and
accessories now.”

_ What began with hair accessories.

“There's 5 § quite a few unique gift ideas here. i"

Hair Gallery 7
Lazu D Keith Av Ave. oe, ON ak

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“Big Changes... same great styles!

and simple jewellery, became a special retail collaction of gift items -- watches, gloves, panty” ;
hose, purses, clocks, wedding jewellery and more. “We just kept adding more," ¢ Carol says.

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“We can coordinate everything for a
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For both large and small projacts, Your
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- Your Decor

Tarrace Carpet Contre Ltd. |
9202 Munroe Street at Hwy 16 W, Terrace

|. 638-2976 1-800-665-1657

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