The Box

by Chris on November 5, 2009

“Thinking outside the box”… what does that really mean?  What are you thinking about?  Better yet, are those thoughts turning into any action?

I don’t think outside the box.  I break boxes.

When I decided to leave my cozy desk job in March to pursue my own dreams of business ownership, I really had no clue what I was in for.  On November 13, it will be eight months since my departure.  Soon it will be a year.  Throw in the fact that my daughter is here with me full time and my plate is full.

I started my online-based insurance business with a web cam and a video blog because I knew I would have to do something different in order to try and establish long term survival in a crowded industry.  I have no store front, no marketing budget, limited time, and I’m tied to the house during business hours.  The odds are certainly against me but I wouldn’t have it any other way!  I’m a hard worker and creative too, so in April I began the process of trying to reinvent the wheel (another cliché that I strongly dislike).

So here I sit, breaking boxes and reinventing wheels…

I’m in too deep to turn around and every so often a carrot of success gets dangled in front of me as I reach certain milestones.  And they come along at the oddest times… just as I feel like I’m about to break.  I get the impression from some that they would rather me flee to the safe zone of a traditional business model.  But let me ask you, what is safe, in business, in the year 2009?  That’s what I thought.  So for now I’ll just continue on the path of the unknown.  When I get to where I’m going, the rewards will be far greater than the low hanging fruit that everyone else is reaching for.

Stop thinking outside the box.  Break the stupid box because the box doesn’t exist…

Tagged as: "outside the box", differentiate, innovate

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  • http://www.thetrainingfactor.com Jonathan Saar

    Great post Chris. There is nothing safe anymore and there is nothing traditional. You need to feel your way through, learn from others but not necessarily follow their steps. Today’s business model reminds of Barry Sanders, to me the greatest running back ever. What made him so good was his vision. He could feel his way through any line. He could avoid those who were trying to take him down. When the moment was their to seize, he gave it that spurt of energy and the victory was his. I love your box analogy…. to be great and succeed you must make your own model and see it through. Thanks for the post.

  • http://www.marketingbyDM.com Diane Meyer

    Yes, I have always chuckled a little when people say “think outside the box”. Very over-used and not clear to most….including me. I have always felt I was in the box, very purposefully setting my goals, objectives and open to change THEREFORE preparing for whatever is OUTSIDE THE BOX. Being ready, steady and focused seems to be where you are right now. The best is yet to be…..as long as we continue to move forward and embrace change. Maybe that is part of thinking outside the box.

  • http://noteasytoforget.com James Ball

    Chris, you keep doing things just exactly like you have been lately. Let me know if there’s anything I can do to help you out. I love what you’ve done with Thesis on your sites, looking great!

  • http://www.ihihomeinspections.com Bonnie

    Great article, continue to think out of the box! It does wonders for you! We also stepped out in faith and in the process stepped right into home inspections right before the market turned downward, so we’ve had a few boxes to break also. Keep on keeping on, many blessings to you my friend!

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