Everything has become a commodity; we find more inexpensive versions of the same things. Even though we know that new, different and distinct is what gets people’s attention, most of our services and products look like what people expect or what have already been done. We are stuck in a pattern doing what we’ve always done. How do you keep your edge? How do you get remembered? How do you develop your Stand Out factor? In Stand Out thinking, being different is key. The goal is to know what others do and insist on doing something better. We don’t try to fit in; we separate ourselves because in a crowded marketplace fitting in is failing. As Tom Peters states, “In a busy marketplace, not standing out is the same as being invisible.” If the point of being in business is to develop a loyal customer base —those customers who return and bring their friends, it is not going to happen by doing what others do. Regardless of the case, it is about getting noticed and being remembered. Standing out is about creating something original, exciting and dynamic. Stand Out thinking starts with the permission to let yourself invent. This happens in an open and accepting environment. It happens when your workplace is diverse in both background and experience and when all employees are required to openly invent, think and participate in decision-making, and say what is on their minds. This is way to invite the new, the different and the great. As we were herded into similar thinking, much of our ability to Stand Out was challenged, diminished or eliminated. Over time we became great at doing what others did. We learned to be okay with blending and fitting in. The good news is that we can relearn how to Stand Out. To get back in touch with your Stand Out abilities first, learn to reconnect with your creative side. Over 90% of 5 year olds are creative, but only 5% of 13 year olds (and older) are creative. We have trained ourselves out of being creative. Train yourself back into creative thinking by learning how to revisit a problem, issue or opportunity in the following ways: Frame it differently. Make it a product, a hobby, an inanimate object, a cartoon, a food, a superhero, etc. See it from another perspective: man, woman, child, minority, friend, enemy, teacher, employee, customer, affluent, poor, honest, greedy, etc. Morph the problem by changing it to the best, worst, an object, a person, a policy, a fruit, a car, a game, etc. Link it to an unrelated item to see the correlations; identify how it is similar, how it is different. This forces the brain to see connections it would normally ignore. Use pictures to visualize the problem, issue or opportunity. How does the visual encourage different thinking? View the problem as a color—what does it make you think of, how does the color offer a new perspective? Brainstorm using the phrases, “What if?” “How about?” or “Just consider…” Use word association to generate ideas. Write a headline, poem, obituary, news report or book title that relates to a business issue, event or other need. This forces a new perspective on the situation. Build a culture of creative thinkers in your organization by allowing employees to invent and take calculated risks. Reward excellent failures; punish mediocre successes. Encourage greater thinking. If you are not failing every now and then, chances are you are not doing anything innovative. Visibly applaud creative efforts that focus on value, profits and customer service. Applaud employee reach and innovation. Break a few rules. Identify the rules that do not add value for a customer, business or process. Challenge pattern thinking by constantly questioning everything. Be sure it is the best way to do something, respond or make a difference. If not, suggest a change. Stand out as an employee who focuses more on value than rules. Invent a Creativity Zone—an area of the workplace that is committed to extraordinary thinking. Invent the “Creativiteam”—a team assembled to generate ideas to solve an issue, invent something new, create an event, etc. Require an idea a day from each employee. Create a new theme each week to direct employee thinking. Insure that the only requirement is that the idea must not look like what is already done. Create an idea journal and add to it each day. Organizations that openly encourage all employees to think, dream and invent, create the possibility of standing out. Service that stands out encourages customer loyalty. Workplaces that stand out encourage employee loyalty. Remember the bad B’s: bland, boring and blending as a way of going bust. To succeed, Stand Out. Think unique, valuable, exceptional and exclusive. Think success by focusing on what makes you different and distinct. Then help your employees show up to get it done, step up to do it right and Stand Out to be remembered. Jay Forte is a powerful performance speaker, consultant and founder of Humanetrics, LLC. He applies years of research, along with his training as a CPA, to help organizations maximize performance and profits through improved employee productivity, creative thinking and customer service. Renowned for producing results, Jay is working on the forthcoming book, "Own It! Getting Your Employees to Think Like Owners." For information on keynotes, speaking, programs call 401-338-3505 or visit www.humanetricsllc.com.