Oct 15, 2013 By Raman Frey

How Appreciation for Art Can Improve Your Business

in Featured, Sales, Small Business

Frey Norris Gallery, Photo credit: flickr.com/veritatem

During my ten years as an art gallery owner, I learned that people wanted to connect, to hear a compelling story about the art in front of them, and opening this door was a big part of my job.

As entrepreneurs, we so often hunt for the answers and ideas ourselves. We think in a very linear way from problem to solution. However, we can be as creative as the art on the walls. And your team (or art gallery attendees) want to be creative as well. In fact, more creativity lends itself to greater success.

Here are three suggestions for entrepreneurs to be more creative.

1. Have a meeting with everyone

Invite absolutely everyone, even the most unlikely employees who’s specialization is far outside the purview of this challenge or opportunity. In particular draw these people into the conversation and ask them how they might approach it. Once ideas from across the organization begin to manifest, the culture will shift and ideas (good, bad, impractical and maybe brilliant) will flow organically towards pain points and create faster and more effective solutions.

2. Ask the entire organization to send you one problem or opportunity you’re not tackling, but should

Novel application of your goods or services can grow from this, as can the invention of entirely new goods or services. Every person receives thanks for their idea. Occasionally these are implemented or folded into a pre-existing initiative.

3. Start without an objective or proscribed outcome

Your team has far more good ideas than you realize. They may know best how to inspire inventiveness, in ways that are especially appropriate to your company’s culture.

Raman is an entrepreneur, writer and world-traveler, a guy obsessed with creativity. He is VP of Customer Experience at art-tech startup Artkick and co-founder of Good People, a lifestyle brand and supper club that seeks to foster community, trust and friendship through food, drink and conversation. He recently served as business development lead at Gershoni Creative and was co-founder of Frey Norris Gallery, a "micro-multinational" contemporary art business. Having spent 15 years operating in the art world, he continues to consult privately to art galleries, non-profits, private and corporate collectors and artists.   He has authored the introductions to two artist monographs, written extensively on art and is currently co-authoring a business book, Bigger Pie with ReTargeter CEO Arjun dev Arora.

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