They're Not Listening....

Or are they? An article in September's Inc magazine describes how Cynthia Rowley got a contract to design a new line for Pampers. The New York Post ran an item on the Page 6 which mentioned her interest in diaper design. She says in the article: "I guess Procter & Gamble keeps up with the gossip columns".

There's three lessons in this. Yes, "they" really are listening, reading, scouring the net, twitter, facebook and so on to find out about you. That can be good (lesson 1). Express your passion for a product or a company, talk intelligently about your industry, make connections, and you could be asked to do something you've always wanted to. It could be bad (lesson 2). Whatever you put out there which is negative, is also being read, analyzed and judged. If you wouldn't say it in person, or behave that way in front of your boss, don't put it on the web.

The third lesson is that inspiration often comes from combining two disparate ideas: in this case, fashion and diapers. In order to get that inspiration, you need to be reading outside your industry, meeting people outside your industry and thinking about what you learn. Expose yourself to something new, and create something new.