Let's explore some awesome ideas...

A great place to share ideas and stretch your imagination -> The OutThink discussion forum

This is meant to be an exciting, CREATIVE place. Please feel free to
share any ideas or comments...

This forum has one main purpose:
- IDEA SHARING
in the hope that through sharing, discussing and debating big and
small ideas, some will lead to action and will change a life... or
perhaps even more.

What ideas can be discussed - anything constructive! Whether it be
ideas for a small business, ideas for improving an individual's
lifestyle or huge ideas that will change the world.

So please contribute - your ideas are worth unbelievably more than you
or I could ever imagine!

What's the big idea?

Please read this post to get a better idea of what this is -> collaborative business model engineering

Please note that this forum is set up within Google Groups and access is "restricted" [see below] to members, so you need to be registered to access it and contribute [this is a fairly quick process, so please don't let it put you off - it will be worthwhile!]

Why a member's only forum?

This is not an open group, for
several reasons:

1. In anticipation of some great ideas being built and shared here, it
would not be right nor fair to have them immediately available on the
public domain. There should be a certain level of freedom to really
get stuck into good discussions and detail where necessary, and this
is intended to provide a suitable foundation for this.

2. Networking - members are invited here for a specific reason and all
have specific skills which could be invaluable to ideas shared. Good relationships should hopefully also develop from discussions held in this forum.

3. Members can invite other members to join here, so if you know
anyone who would want to contribute and take part, please do so.

4. This is not an "exclusive" group by any means. This structure just helps to make sure that people posting and joining in discussions are not just passers-by, but rather people who really want to be here.


Considering the desired target content on this forum, its probably
appropriate to define the terms and conditions of use upfront. Please read this carefully as this is what will govern this forum's use.

Terms and conditions of use

1. Use of the forum is free.

2. All intellectual property ("IP") posted belongs to the person who
posted that information (or who originally created it, if different).
Ideas and IP are posted here for purposes of sharing, collaboration
and development. We do not steal each other's ideas.

3. No qualifications are required to participate. What is required
from all members is creativity, energy and vision.

As use grows, these may require revision, so comments are welcome.



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Click here to get started -> The OutThink discussion forum

A new job everyday

One aspect of our society which is now commonplace is to see people alongside the road [everywhere you go] advertising their services as painters, tilers, builders and a variety of other 'professions'. While this is considered by many to be a nuisance, I can't help but look at the flipside -

- everyday, each of these people effectively looks for a new job, with a different employer, a different location, and a different wage/salary.

When last did you change jobs? I recall seeing that changing jobs fell into four of the most stressful events of a person's life [along with getting married, death of a close relative and moving house]. The most difficult part of changing jobs is not necessarily once you know where you're going, but all the uncertainty when you're still looking.

Now imagine looking for a new job every single day.

Here's a thought - in a each neighbourhood, establish a central venue where all such skilled people can go daily, register as available, and possibly even receive a meal. Their details [name, ID number, skills, contact number, etc] would be recorded here. Any people looking for workers with these skills could go straight to this 'agency' and find a tradesman with the skills they are looking for.

It may take a while to become readily accepted, but could provide huge benefits to both sides, including:
For the tradesman: a central destination each day, possibly a meal, credibility through verification of their details, and keeping them away from potential danger at busy street corners and intersections.
For the public: a central source of skills when required, verified details of the individual you're employing and more safety in public areas that work-seekers currently frequent.

This kind of idea would probably require government initiative, but with a bit of creative flair, could also prove to be a profitable business. How? Sale of advertising to a captive market each day; visibility through sponsorship of food, tools, etc; commission on people placed; revenue from transport facilities going directly to/from the venue. These are just off the top of my head - I'm sure there are endless possibilities.

Perhaps it sounds a bit ridiculous. Perhaps it could work.

Graphic designers in training

I've said that this should be a forum for sharing ideas, so here is the first one. [Please use the link alongside called "What's the big idea" which will link to blog posts marked as ideas.]





In considering how to get a logo designed for another company I deal with, I was challenged to find an alternative way to get a logo designed.

Consider this - a competition open to all interested students (and teachers too?) at selected high schools. Their challenge would be to design a logo for submission to the company, with details about the company, its business, target market, etc given to them. All designs are submitted to the company's directors to make the final decision. For the winner - prize money [eg R1,000] and the satisfaction of seeing your design in use as a company's logo. For the company - substantial visibility [particularly where the target market consists of school students], a spectacular [should be!] logo design, and access to a large number of possible future recruits [goodbye HR recruitment problems].

Simple. maybe. But still a win - win!

Subsequent to this, I came across a story about a very interesting company - Logoworks - which has really applied an incredible model to widening the sphere of design creativity available. Yuo should read the fascinating Inc.com "How I did it" story of the founder, Morgan Lynch.

New era. Great model. Amazing success. We could learn a thing or two here.