Jun 15, 2023
Non-obvious thinking is an essential skill for
marketers who want to innovate and stay ahead in their respective
industries. By being open to new ideas, recognizing patterns
between seemingly unrelated things, and fostering a
curiosity-driven mindset, marketers can unlock significant
opportunities that others may overlook. Non-obvious thinking
enables individuals to explore new territories and challenge
conventional wisdom, leading to breakthroughs in marketing
strategies and business growth.
During the conversation, Rohit Bhargava discusses this
crucial aspect of thinking and its relevance in today's rapidly
changing world. He shares his journey of developing the non-obvious
platform through his books and thinking, emphasizing the importance
of intersection thinking and breaking away from media bias. By
adopting non-obvious thinking, marketers can effectively navigate
the ever-changing landscape and consistently deliver exceptional
value to their audiences. In this episode:
- Tap into the significance of non-obvious thinking for
exceptional marketing and business approaches.
- Discover the magic of storytelling as a powerful
method for resonating with and engaging audiences.
- Develop a savvy mindset to detect non-obvious trends
within data to stay ahead of the game.
- Embrace the indispensable roles curiosity and
observation play in cultivating trailblazing ideas.
- Transform your perspectives to see a brighter and
more promising outlook on the future.
Show Notes:
- 00:00:00 - Introduction,
Melina welcomes Rohit Bhargava: a bestselling author and speaker on
trends, innovation, and marketing. Rohit talks about his background
and expertise in non-obvious thinking and behavioral
economics.
- 00:06:30 - Non-Obvious Thinking,
Rohit talks about his platform, Non-Obvious, which emphasizes the
importance of being a non-obvious thinker and finding ideas in
unusual places. Melina talks about combinatorial thinking, and
Rohit shares his framework for intersectional thinking, which
involves seeing connections between seemingly unrelated
things.
- 00:09:00 - Importance of Diverse Perspectives,
Rohit emphasizes the importance of exposing oneself to diverse
perspectives and media to avoid being manipulated or outraged. He
notes that this approach can also lead to creativity and
innovation.
- 00:14:45 - Non-Obvious Examples,
Rohit shares the example of Starbucks and how Howard Schultz's
visit to Milan led him to discover the importance of coffee shops
as community spaces. (An idea he would have missed if he had been
looking down at a phone.) He also talks about the importance of
non-obvious thinking in marketing and advertising to creatively
solve problems and understand people's behavior.
- 00:20:25 - The Future Normal,
Rohit discusses his latest book, The Future Normal, which offers
insights into what the future may hold. He emphasizes the
importance of being adaptable and open-minded in a rapidly changing
world.
- 00:15:03 - Importance of Being Observant,
Rohit Bhargava shares the story of how Howard Schultz's observant
nature led to the creation of Starbucks. He emphasizes the
importance of being observant and paying attention to the things
around us instead of being distracted by technology.
- 00:17:01 - The Five Habits of Non-Obvious
Thinkers,
Bhargava talks about the five habits of non-obvious thinkers, which
include being observant, curious, thoughtful, fickle, and saying
things elegantly. He explains that these habits can be learned and
practiced to improve communication skills.
- 00:21:24 - The Importance of Understanding
People,
Bhargava emphasizes that people who understand people will always
win, even in the age of technology. He explains that emotions play
a big role in decision-making and that understanding how to connect
with people is crucial in many fields, including marketing,
advertising, and leadership.
- 00:25:32 - The Power of Storytelling,
Bhargava discusses the importance of storytelling in communicating
ideas and engaging with people. He shares the story of Dick
Fosbury, the Olympic athlete who revolutionized the high jump with
his unconventional technique (now known as the Fosbury Flop), and
explains how stories can help people understand complex concepts in
a relatable way.
- 00:28:27 - Using Analogies in Storytelling,
Bhargava suggests that storytelling doesn't always have to be long
and drawn out, but can also be as simple as using an analogy.
- 00:30:00 - The Importance of Storytelling in
Presentations,
Rohit emphasizes the importance of storytelling in presentations
and how it can take the audience on a journey. He also stresses the
need to read the room and adjust the storytelling approach
accordingly.
- 00:31:07 - Storyboarding for Presentations,
Bhargava talks about storyboarding, a process of outlining the flow
of the presentation, which he compares to scene planning in
screenwriting. He suggests watching master storytellers or reading
books on screenwriting to learn the techniques used in creating
engaging stories.
- 00:34:19 - Becoming a Great Presenter,
Bhargava shares his journey of becoming a great presenter,
emphasizing that natural talent is not the only factor in achieving
this goal. He recommends finding what you are good at and honing
your skills, investing time and effort into learning new ones, and
practicing.
- 00:35:44 - Tips for Writing a Book,
Bhargava suggests being honest with oneself about their
relationship with writing and finding joy in it. He stresses that
there is no one right way to write a book, and one should choose a
method that works for them. Bhargava also talks about the different
experiences he's had in writing his nine books.
- 00:39:00 - The Future Normal,
Bhargava's latest book, "Future Normal," showcases trends that will
shape the future, spanning topics such as space tourism, virtual
relationships, weather control, and artificial intelligence.
- 00:44:39 - Conclusion
Melina's top insights from the conversation. What stuck with you
while listening to the episode? What are you going to try? Come
share it with Melina on social media -- you'll find her as
@thebrainybiz everywhere and as Melina Palmer on LinkedIn.
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