Do the Unexpected

Time for a little inspiration. Let's take a card from the Creative Whack Pack. Okay, here goes. It's #59 which is "Do the Unexpected." As you read it, ask yourself how it applies to a current problem or issue.

In 1334, Hochosterwitz Castle was besieged by the Duchess of Tyrol. As time wore on, the defenders became desperate: their last food was an ox. The Duchess's situation also was severe: her troops had become unruly, and she had urgent matters elsewhere.

Then, the castle's commander had an idea that must have seemed utter folly to his men. He had the last ox slaughtered and thrown over the wall in front of the enemy. The Duchess interpreted this scornful message to mean that the defenders had so much food that they could waste it.

At this, the discouraged Duchess quit her siege. Because the commander did the opposite of what the Duchess expected, he made her believe that her siege wasn't working. What are the two most unexpected things you can do in your issue?

Some years back I went to an advertising conference. For two days, I listened to speaker after speaker share their theories on how to improve product. But the only speaker whose words I still remember today is adman Tom Yobaggy who succinctly stated:

"When everyone else zigs, zag."

No matter whether you're in politics, sports, product development, warfare, marketing, fiction writing, film making, or looking for a job, doing the unexpected is not a bad strategy for creative action. It may not always lead to success (the Duchess in the above story might have continued her siege, after all), but at least it's a step away from doing the same old thing.

Technorati tags: Creativity, Reverse, Creative Whack Pack

Comments

[Timothy Johnson]

This is one of my favorite cards in the deck, Roger. I like using it in conjunction with the Wayne Gretzky quote about his success: "I skate to where the puck is going to be; not to where it's been."

One of the worse things we can hear in business is "I knew you were going to do/say that."

[Maxim Semenov]

Here comes a question: should you do something, that is not expected by others or by yourself?

I guess, that surprising yourself is much more difficult, but also more useful for creativity...