Do you ever just stop and watch people?
You know, grab a coffee or a bench to sit down on and watch people go by?
This simple activity as the world hurtles by around you will teach you a myriad of things and, most telling of all, reveal amazing insights and ideas on what humans do, what they might need to do or why they are doing what they are, and show you what no-one else has spotted that can lead to huge success.
In the 1930’s famous Hollywood producer Hal Roach, who discovered Laurel and Hardy and Harold Lloyd, began to experience a downfall in his affairs. Times had changed, the old stars were no longer pulling in the big audiences or had retired. He badly needed another hit act or angle to boost his fortunes.
One day while sitting and contemplating his next move he was drawn to a group of young children. He watched in both mirth and admiration at how they conjured up games, pretended to be other people, fought, fell down, rolled over and got right back up again, and played and laughed. They were completely unaware of the world around them as they were so immersed in their own playful version.
He realised that just as he too laughed and got lost in their antics, the public themselves would do the very same. A new brand of entertainment was born as he formed Our Gang, a bunch of young previously non-acting children, who he featured in short films and ten minute storylines. It was a roaring success.
When he was stuck – people watching showed him something that lit a lightbulb in his mind.
Free Lightbulb Moments.
The Lightbulb moment – the ‘Aha’ realisation of an answer to a problem or a big idea that hasn’t existed before. People watching is THE best cause of this.
Witness the Post-It story.
As of today an estimated 50 billion separate Post-It notes have been sold all around the world. But, when the product first started you would never have guessed in a million years that it was going to become the global can’t-do-without home and office companion.
In 1968 Spencer Silver was working at 3M and was tasked a creating a strong adhesive for the aircraft industry. He managed to develop one but it wasn’t robust or powerful enough for further development as a viable product. Spencer knew it had a use somewhere but had no idea where or what that could be.
One Sunday he was at a service as he was a member of the church choir. He had told some members about his work and the organist asked if he could try some of the adhesive to hold his hymn notes in place. Curious, Spencer looked on as the pieces of paper remained perfectly in place to the organists delight. There and then a lightbulb switched on. He saw the use of the adhesive on a smaller note that everyone from teachers to secretaries, journalists to office workers, could benefit from to write reminders or tasks they could stick up without having to file away.
The rest, as they say, is history.
Become A People Watcher.
As you can see, these two hugely lucrative ideas would never have happened if a) there wasn’t a problem in the first place to solve and b) Hal and Spencer hadn’t engaged in some people watching to follow.
People are the market. We are the clues and the solutions in one. How we live, move, travel, interact, communicate etc etc gives hints to what we need, are missing, could do with help with, would benefit from, and could damn well enjoy for whatever reason.
Flying about at breakneck speeds in cars, trains, and planes will never show you that.
But chill it down and commit to being a people watcher, in time (and maybe a very short time), you are going to be shown EXACTLY what people’s lives are missing that you have just been given the answer to. It’s all right there in front of your eyes.
And the great thing is there is a never ending supply of people to inspire you. It’s the gift that keeps on giving.
People watching – the No.1 free success key.