Sometimes the best way to stand out from the crowd and get noticed is to be the one who notices what's missing. Or even better what need is not being met by anyone else. It is in this gap that many breakthroughs in business and relationships occur. Often it ends up being a personal need or problem we have that is unmet that drives us to imagine what life would be like if a solution existed.

Creativity at it's best is framing something in a completely new and refreshing way. It grabs hold of something and exposes it from a new angle. The response from people is usually a sense of recognition that there was a need there and a feeling of relief that someone finally did something about it.

In business, or in relationships in general, it is good practice to check in on occasion to see what needs are unmet. So simple, but not done enough. See where there is a vacuum and fill it. Make sure you're not just filling empty space, but rather creating something meaningful out of the nothingness that's there. We don't need more clutter, but we do need fresh ideas and new, better ways of doing things.

Slowing down and listening helps in this process. Just pay attention to what's working and what's not working. Where is the awkwardness and stumbling happening? Where are we or they getting tripped up again and again?

Sometimes creating something new means we have to walk away from the old ways. This can be a simple process or depending on the level of comfortability, a painful one. But just because something's comfortable doesn't mean it's working. Good to take an honest look at it and see if it makes sense to keep moving in this direction.

All successful business owners as well as successful relationships are good at asking the tough questions and then following through with tough decisions. This is often the only way to break up stagnating patterns and habits and infuse new blood into a situation.

See what's being neglected and either remove it or resussitate it. Whatever it is, it is taking up space and it either needs to go or it needs to be brought to life again.

The right questions can open doors. Open a few of your own and see what's there. It may be just the thing to propel you in a new direction.