Cultivating Creativity

Business leaders often tell us to “think big,” “think outside the box,” “be different,” and so on. From my experience, I think that is easier said than done. When I try so hard to be creative, I ended up being frustrated and disappointed in myself because everything that comes to mind doesn’t seem to “make sense.” I realized, however, that not everything should necessarily make sense at first. Many creative ideas start off by not making sense. The distinguishing factor for a creative idea lies in people themselves. 

People who have the courage to step out of their comfort zones to take “the road less traveled” and think of something that may sound ridiculous to other people. They don’t get discouraged when others scoff at their ideas. Instead, they persist through challenging times.

In business, creativity is part of the organization, regardless of whether we like it or not. We need to come up with ideas for business strategies, start-up companies, branding, marketing and the list goes on and on. That is why creativity is such an important asset and skill for businessmen and women.

Here are some things that I found helpful in cultivating creativity:

Brainstorming — When in a large room full of people, we have the opportunity to interact and share ideas with each other. With many working minds, those ideas can lead to something great. Granted, some people are extroverts, while others are introverts and the introverts probably work better when they have some alone time. What they can do is list ideas that they have and bring them to the table during brainstorming sessions. There should not be any judgment during this time and everyone should be allowed to speak freely without any restrictions.

Sleep on it — My “A-HA” moment sometimes comes when I am well rested. When we are too tired, sleepy, hungry, or worse, all of the above, our brains sometimes don’t work, nothing comes to mind and we lack enthusiasm to come up with ideas. It is important to sustain ourselves with adequate food and sleep.

Seek inspiration from your surroundings — There are many things that could spark creativity: the media, the people that we talk to, nature, and even our very own office. We just need to look at things from a different perspective and find things that can benefit others. This can be difficult, even for me, but practice makes perfect.

 An article from entrepreneur.com provides more exercises to boost creativity. 

— Nadiah Johari

Stepping Outside Our Comfort Zones Into the Unknown

A lot of us struggle when it comes to leaving our comfort zones. It is often times the unknown that we fear when we don’t know what to expect. As a result, our lives can become stagnant and we must remember that if there is something that we are unhappy with or we desire things to be different, we have to initiate that change from within ourselves.

Many business leaders, as we know, are willing to take risks and go the extra mile. I don’t think many of them would be where they are today if not for their willingness to step out of their comfort zones. I have to admit that it is not easy and I, myself, have a problem with leaving a comfortable position. I do realize, however, that a lot of successful people have to trade comfort with uneasiness at some point in their careers to seek improvement in their lives.

Some people complain about their unsatisfactory jobs or businesses. Instead of wasting time complaining, why not do something about it? Go back to school, relocate or do whatever it takes to get to where you want to be. The first step towards change is often times scary especially when dealing with the reality that stepping out of our comfort zones can involve lots of money, career change, loneliness, etc. Our efforts, however, will pay off when we are finally rewarded with the things that we originally left our comfort zones for. That is why we need to shift our focus to the big picture instead of the momentary obstacles.

This article from entrepreneur.com provides some tips to help us step out of our comfort zones.  

— Nadiah Johari

A Different Kind of New Year's Resolution

It’s the new year and many of us have probably created lists of things that we want to achieve this year. A great article was recently featured on this blog about setting goals that stick. My article, however, will focus on one particular goal that should be on everyone’s list for a happier year.

For some of you, the new year brings in many new projects and it can be easy for everyone to fall into the trap of work. As exciting as it is, you have to learn to take some time off or at least a moment to breathe. It will do wonders in helping you clear your head for a fresh start and view an idea from a whole new perspective when working on your projects. I would suggest that for at least five to ten minutes each day, stop doing whatever you’re doing at work and start appreciating the things around you, such as listening to the birds chirping, looking at the sun setting, spending some time with the family, etc.

This article from inc.com provides great tips toward becoming a stress-free workaholic. 

- Nadiah Johari

Ace At A Young Age

I recently read a book titled “The Trump Card: Playing to Win in Work and Life." If you have been following the Huntsman Blog, you would probably know that I wrote a blog post on Donald Trump’s reality television show, “The Apprentice.” This time, I am going to write a review on the book written by his daughter, Ivanka Trump.

In addition to being the vice president of Donald Trump’s real estate company, Ms. Trump is also a businesswoman and former model. I first noticed Ms. Trump when she became one of her father’s assistants on “The Apprentice,” where she was responsible for observing contestants as they performed their tasks. She would then report their performances to Mr. Trump to help him decide which contestants should stay and which one should get fired.

In this book, Ms. Trump writes about what it was like growing up in the Trump family and how she started working in the real estate field. I prefer the second half of this book because she provides more business advice such as preparing for job interviews and building a brand.

My favorite part of the book is the “Bulletins From My Blackberry” section, which opens each chapter of the book. This section contains input on empowerment, making an impression, managing a team and other words of advice written by successful people such as Arianna Huffington, Co-founder of Huffington Post; Jonathan Tisch, chairman and CEO of Loews Hotel; and Mark Burnett, television producer.

Ms. Trump also talks about her modeling career, her great interest in real estate and her jewelry business. She writes about her struggles to prove herself when she first started working for her father. During that time period, she talks about how people would assume that she was as smart as Donald Trump, just because they are related.

Ms. Trump might have gotten a head start in business because of her name, but I do not think she would be where she is today if it was not for her sharp business skills.

— Nadiah Johari

"Who am I?"

This is a line from the movie “Wall Street" (1987) that made me rethink about my dream of working in the financial industry in the Big Apple. The movie depicts the life of an ambitious stockbroker who is willing to go the extra mile, regardless of whether his actions are ethical or not, all in the name of money, power and success.

Bud Fox is a struggling stockbroker who was raised by his father, Carl Fox, who has strong moral principles, especially when it comes to honesty. Bud decides to do business with Gordon Gekko, a powerful, wealthy businessman whose work ethics contradict Carl’s values. 

His illegal work with Gordon proves profitable and Bud lives a luxurious life, which I call the “triple P’s”: promotion, penthouse, private secretary. He is caught in the middle when he has conflicting opinions with Carl, who is not at all fond of Gordon. 

Eventually, Bud realizes that his father has been right about Gordon all along and that Gordon has been using him. He sets to straighten things out and finds a way to defeat Gordon.

Personally, the movie opened my eyes to a whole new perspective about business. I am fortunate to work in a laid-back environment with people who have strong values. Wall Street, on the other hand, can be a completely different world. By watching the movie, I can deduce that some people are driven by money, decisions must sometimes be made in a matter of seconds and if you let it, work will consume your life.

That brings me back to the quote: “Who am I?” In such a busy world, it is easy to lose yourself, not knowing who you are anymore, and not knowing the person you are becoming. It is important to stop, take the time to listen to yourself and reflect on the things that you do to gauge where you stand in your career and in life, as a whole.


Eventually, Bud realizes that his father has been right about Gordon all along and that Gordon has been using him. He sets to straighten things out and finds a way to defeat Gordon.

Personally, the movie opened my eyes to a whole new perspective about business. I am fortunate to work in a laid-back environment with people who have strong values. Wall Street, on the other hand, can be a completely different world. By watching the movie, I can deduce that some people are driven by money, decisions must sometimes be made in a matter of seconds and if you let it, work will consume your life.

That brings me back to the quote: “Who am I?” In such a busy world, it is easy to lose yourself, not knowing who you are anymore, and not knowing the person you are becoming. It is important to stop, take the time to listen to yourself and reflect on the things that you do to gauge where you stand in your career and in life, as a whole.


- Nadiah Johari

"The Apprentice": A Provider of Worthwhile Business Skills

Most of you probably remember the reality television show, The Apprentice, where contestants have to put their business skills to the test to win the coveted prize of running one of Donald Trump’s businesses. Although most people that I've talked to have different opinions about the show, I can honestly say that I’ve learned a few lessons that I apply to my own business skills. 

1. Don’t take things personally

The business world is one of competition and sometimes, it can be a bit harsh. One fragment of advice that I’ve received about dealing with rude people is to just “brush them off.” In other words, don’t let them get to you. Don’t hold a grudge against that person and don’t pretend to be nice. Just be your own professional self and as my mom always says, “never stoop down to their level.”

2. Don’t take “no” for an answer

In my last blog post, I provided tips on negotiation. Although it can be difficult to not take “no” for an answer, don’t give up in your quest to get the best deal possible.

3. Be passionate

From my observation, Donald Trump seems to be very passionate about buildings and as a result, he made a career out of it. When you are passionate about your work, you wake up everyday to look forward to the rest of the day because your job does not feel like a chore. It is important to love what you do in order to excel in what you do.

— Nadiah Johari

Negotiation Navigation

Over time, I’ve come to learn that negotiation is a necessary skill, not just in business, but in everyday life as well. The following is a list of tips and tricks that might help you close your next deal, whatever it may be.

1. Prepare
In an article from entrepreneur.com, it is suggested that you list your purpose, goals and desired outcome. It can be easy to lose track when you are negotiating because certain goals might change, but always focus on your primary objectives. Do your research, know your facts and get more information about the other party. If you practice beforehand, be aware of your body language and keep your emotions in check. You don’t want the other party to know that you are nervous or easily agitated.

2. "Take your ego off the table"

Use “we” instead of “I”, states this from an article on forbes.com. Using “we” shows that you are willing to work together to achieve your individual goals and reach a win-win situation.


3. "Listen before you speak"
An article from inc.com suggests that in the art of negotiating, it is best to be patient and let the other party talk. Observe their body language and analyze the facts or offers that they bring to the table. This will help you come up with a good offer, or counteroffer, when it’s your turn to speak.  

Based on experience, CONFIDENCE, for me, is key to successful negotiation. With confidence, half the battle is won. 

Nadiah Johari

Apple vs. Samsung: Innovation vs. Plagiarism

Although I don’t own a smartphone or a tablet, I’ve been following the news on the ongoing lawsuit between Apple and Samsung religiously. If you’re like me, you should know that in the US, the patent infringement lawsuit rules in favor of Apple. 

I love Apple products and I am biased toward Apple. In fact, I’m typing this blog post on a MacBook Pro. This case, however, made me think about the negative message that Apple is sending to potential entrepreneurs.

As entrepreneurs, creativity, invention and innovation are essential to start businesses. Common sense tells you that creativity leads to invention and creativity plus invention equals innovation. Innovation, by my definition, simply means improving an existing entity for the betterment of society.

In my opinion, although creativity and innovation are not the same, they are similar in terms of the mutual relationship that they have with one another. Without innovation, there won’t be any room for creativity. Just imagine if mankind were not allowed to innovate. There wouldn’t be digital cameras as we see it today. We’d probably still live in caves and people would still drive steam trolleys instead of cars.

So where do we draw the line between plagiarism and innovation?

All I can say is that potential entrepreneurs might be afraid to innovate for fear of hurting their reputation as a result of the ugly battle between Apple and Samsung. Businesses should probably think twice about the future of innovation before they start suing each other for plagiarism.  

Until then, you can view some of Samsung's advertisements at the following link, which may or may not be an act of retaliation toward Apple (Apple fans be warned): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DateFKa5j_c


Nadiah Johari