So What If I Did

One of the most important traits someone looking to start a one-person business can cultivate or strengthen is creative curiosity.

Creative curiosity doesn't simply refer to painting or sculpting or anything else we think of as traditional creative work. It's an approach to life and, as a significant part of life, an approach to business.

Creative curiosity happens in the moments when we say to ourselves, "I wonder what would happen if..." or "If I changed this one thing, I wonder..." Notice the tiny little word anchoring both of these examples - IF. Creative curiosity flourishes when we stay in a perpetual state of "What if?"

Here's a specific example. In my work as a nonprofit fundraising data analyst I spend my fair share of time in different organizations' databases. When I'm in a system to conduct let's say an assessment, I'm constantly asking myself, "If I were [insert member of an organization's fundraising team], what would I want to see when I log in? Where would I go? What would I expect? How would I interpret what I'm seeing?" This technique helps me step into the shoes of someone on the fundraising team and helps me better understand their system configuration.

Be curious. Keep asking what if. Act as if.

Pull on that quirky thread of a thought. See where it takes you. It may just be the idea that takes your one-person business to the next level.