In 2017, entrepreneurship is definitely a buzzword. A lot of people are getting starry-eyed at the idea of running their own companies and becoming millionaires. With so many companies popping up, people are bound to launch some of the same products. As the market becomes oversaturated in any area, it is wise to maintain a strong trend-setting mindset. As a trendsetter, you’ll stand out from the crowd. In many cases, it’ll technically allow you to eliminate the competition. There are a few ways any company can work on becoming a trendsetter instead of a follower.
- Watch trends and patterns.
Take a look at fashion. The outfits that were popular in the 1990s are making their way back in 2017. Before long, the looks from the 70s will emerge back on to the racks of the malls. Much like fashion, a lot of industries recycle products in waves and just put a fresh, new spin on things. No matter what industry you’re in, you can always look to the past to see what was trending and rework it. Everything just gets recycled and reworked. David Bowie once stated that “the only art [he’d] every study is stuff that [he could] steal from.”
He’s not the only artist to do this. Many pop stars look at trends from the past and find ways to incorporate old acts into their tours and shows.
- Know your target audience.
Once you define your target audience, you should be able to know them intimately and understand their desires. Truthfully, your target audience might be a lot like you. In that case, create the product that you desire. Only you can know what you’d want, but there are many people who would want the product. They just don’t know it because your spin on the product hasn’t been produced yet. In the same ways that many authors are encouraged to write the book they’d want to read, you’ll want to create the product that you know you would want. When you create out of that authentic place and with your consumers in mind, it’s easier to become a trendsetter instead of a follower.
- Focus on developing creativity.
It’s incredibly important to strengthen your creative muscles. If there’s no process of actively creating, it’ll be hard to stay ahead or on top of trends. Consider what exercises can help you stimulate the creative juices. There are many books with creative exercises that can jumpstart your creative flow. Listening to inspiring music can really help. Another great creative exercise involves pulling out a sheet of paper and doing a brain dump. Writing can really help to clear the brain and stimulate creativity. When you get into this regular practice of developing the creative muscle, trends don’t tend to matter anymore. The products created will become organic to your brand and stand out on their own.
- Develop other outlets and hobbies.
Take a look at many artists, musicians and creative people. The ones that become trendsetters draw inspiration from other influences outside of their field. As a result, it’s an excellent idea to spend time immersing yourself into other hobbies and projects that can help you become more inspired. For example, become a movie buff or start a new hobby like Pilates. Learn a new language or begin reading more about a different culture. As your appreciation and respect for the hobby grows, it’ll naturally bleed over into the work you create and sell in the marketplace. With your work coming from an authentic place, it’ll be impossible to be an imposter or a follower in your industry.
