You have heard the think outside the box expression many times in business. I have heard it countless times and I am not sure people realize that they are even saying it anymore. As I have mentioned this topic while speaking, I will blog on it here. Instead of thinking outside the box, I challenge you to break the box in your thinking. Let me say it again...break the box. Let me explain it even more. Tear the box, destroy the box, live outside the box, shred the box...and decide to no longer be defined by the "confines of a box."
This expression think outside the box dares us to peek out...but isn't this also limiting? What does box even mean? Let’s think about it is as there are boxes everywhere. Most people sleep on a "bed/box," talk on a "phone/box," e-mail/tweet/text from a "smartphone/box," type on a "laptop/tablet box," eat from a "drive thru/box lunch," drive to work in a "car/box," and set their wake up call on an "alarm/box," etc. No wonder people are so comfortable with box-type thinking.
Here is the challenge. Be the leader who is willing to approach life in a unique and unorthodox way. Furthermore, look at every obstacle and see the opportunity that lies behind it. You see, behind every problem lies a solution. To be a top performer we must think, act and behave in a different manner than everyone else. We must not be adverse to trying new ways of doing things and/or taking calculated risks. I call this "zig/zag" thinking. If everyone zigs do not be afraid to zag. It is much like taking the "Road Less Traveled" blog post I wrote a few weeks back.
So, never settle and always seek to find better ways to do things, and then, make them a reality. I call this "as if" thinking. As if you could do it today. This is what a "break the box" mindset is all about. This style of thinking is uncomfortable to many in the printing world who love a simple, black-and-white (no gray), four walls up, procedure-following, technical and box-oriented world. However, to compete now and the years ahead in a rapidly moving and changing world demands that your box go away to allow free energy, creativity and unbridled ideas to occur. What box do you face? Are you now sick of hearing the word box? Good, then break it.
- Categories:
- Business Management - Marketing/Sales

Ryan T. Sauers has spent nearly 30 years running, leading or consulting with printing, graphics, promotional and visual communications-related organizations. Sauers is CEO of two companies, Sauers Consulting Strategies LLC and End Resultz Inc. that among other things, owns magazines and is a media firm. Key areas of focus of the firms include sales training, marketing strategy, personal branding, leadership development and organizational change.
Sauers is a frequent national speaker and columnist. He has been recognized as one of the top 80 CMOs globally and achieved the top designation of Certified Marketing Executive through Sales and Marketing Executives International.
Sauers is an adjunct university professor teaching leadership and communication courses to current and aspiring leaders. He is a Certified Myers Briggs, DiSC and Emotional Intelligence Practitioner (one of few in the U.S. to achieve all three rigorous certifications related to human communications, personality and behavior).
Sauers has completed his doctoral-level coursework in Organizational Leadership and is now (ABD - All But Dissertation) working on his dissertation on why some entrepreneurs and small businesses achieve initial and long-term success, whereas countless others do not.
Sauers is the host of the Marketing Matters radio show in Atlanta that later becomes a global podcast. He also is the host of the Community Connections TV show that comes out in video and podcast form. Sauers is the author of the best-selling books, Everyone is in Sales, and Would You Buy from You? More info at RyanSauers.com or call (678) 825-2049 or email Ryan@RyanSauers.com