By Anne Marie Levis
Guest Columnist

I sit in meetings most days and wonder, "Where are all the insightful people in this world?" Where are those "big ideas" that when you hear them, you kick yourself for not thinking of them first?

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying that I amaze people with my bright ideas from sun up to sun down. I do have my share, but I also have an ability to pick out insightful people and know when an amazing idea comes across my desk. Lately, I’m not hearing them. Finding that rare, insightful person is like stumbling across a Vuitton handbag on sale. I’m at once thrilled, shocked, and suspicious that it’s a knock-off.

Let’s be honest, the marketing communications/advertising/design business is not rocket science. There are rules that make advertising and marketing communications work. We aren’t solving world hunger or brokering peace. That said, I take what I do very seriously. As an MBA, I take great pride in knowing that what I do helps to make the economy thrive. Capitalism is alive and well in Eugene.

Ideas drive what we do. I hear all the time that there are no new ideas. I disagree. New ideas are rare, but when you find one, grab onto it like you’re slow dancing with Brad Pitt!

Can big and insightful thinking be taught? I think so. Here is how we do it:

Listen first. How can you come up with insights if you don’t take the time to listen to the customer first? If you jump to solutions too soon, you are just regurgitating an old idea that you think fits.

Take time to open your mind. Do whatever it is you do that quiets your mind. I do some of my best thinking while I blow dry my hair or drive in my car. When are you your most creative? Find a way to make those times more frequent.

Don’t disregard ideas too quickly. Some of the best ideas come out of silly, laugh-filled discussions.

Get ideas out and down on paper right away. Whatever the idea is, get it down and out of your mind. How many times do you focus on something that isn’t a good idea, but you can’t get it out of your brain? Put it down on paper and move on.

Surround yourself with good thinkers. I find that my competitive spirit makes me rise to the occasion when I am around smart people. I surround myself with smart, clever people. In doing so, I am motivated to elevate my creative thinking.

Big ideas are out there. Sure, they’re elusive, slippery, and often times require a bit of mental sweat. Maybe they’re not rattling around in your brain all the time. That’s where your leadership becomes priceless. Surround yourself with people who have the potential to think big. Doing so will help you elevate your own game, make you look good, and keep your clients happy.

Anne Marie Levis is president of Funk/Levis & Associates, a strategic marketing and branding firm based in Eugene, Oregon. Anne Marie received her MBA from the University of Oregon after relocating to Oregon from the Bay Area where she worked in the high-tech industry. Visit www.funklevis.com.