There's Nothing We Can Do
Lousy weather left the plane full of passengers stranded on a cold runway. Air Canada had to reroute the flight for safety, leaving passengers frustrated, late, and uncomfortable. As the plane languished on an open runway, passengers became restless and hungry. The peanuts were gone and airline catering was closed. When demands for food intensified, a flight attendant apologized that there was simply "nothing we can do."
As disappointment grew into outrage, angry passengers began tweeting that Air Canada said it was "impossible to get food at that hour." Seemed legit, until a clever competitor leapt into action.
Growling stomachs were delightfully surprised when a WestJet pilot unexpectedly arrived with plenty of pizza for all. Observing the unfortunate plight of a competitor's customers, WestJet seized the opportunity to demonstrate their creativity and commitment to customer service. Naturally, Twitter erupted with digital high-fives to the progressive airline as the hapless Air Canada could only sheepishly apologize.
In life and business, we often run into roadblocks - situations where we feel there's "nothing we can do." Too quickly, we throw our hands in the air in defeat instead of pursing alternative solutions.
Where are you stuck? What seemingly insurmountable obstacles are holding you back? By redirecting your frustration into the groove of creative problem-solving, you may discover a less obvious path forward that makes all the difference in the world.
Transform "can't be done" moments into a heat map of opportunity. Seek out the no-can-do situations in your industry, company, and competitors. A sprinkle of imagination can yield outsized results if you're willing to shun tradition and explore unorthodox approaches.
If you want fresh results, it's time to deploy some fresh thinking. Shake it up. Destroy industry norms. Send pizzas to your competitors customers.
I'll take mine with pepperoni and mushrooms, thank you.
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