The “ZiZoZi” Framework Billionaires Secretly Use To Find Creative Ideas

Let me start by saying this, we all want to come up with a billion $ ideas to be added to the FAANG list one day. This looks far from reality, but let me tell you it’s not impossible completely, I don’t promise that after reading this you will come up with the next Apple or Google but what I can say is that you will get to know the thought process of a successful person (not only entrepreneurs) but people like Thomas Edison and many more.

This method is known as “ZiZoZi“ (Zoom in Zoom out), sounds simple enough, believe me, it’s simple like its name. Not easy not quick but simple.

Let’s start by looking at a case study of a famous inventor and then we will learn what this method is and how we can use it. How does this method truly take our creativity to a whole new level which is the key component in coming up with new disruptable ideas?

Case Study

Brilliant inventor of the 18th century named Thomas Edison. Despite facing challenges in his childhood and being hard of hearing, Edison's unique way of thinking led to some of the greatest inventions of all time. One of his remarkable creations was the phonograph, a magical device that could capture sound vibrations and play them back.

Edison's cleverness didn't stop there. He knew that to make his inventions successful, he needed to think about how to market them. So, when he introduced the phonograph to President Rutherford B. Hayes, everyone was amazed by its capabilities.

But Edison didn't stop with just sound. He also revolutionized how we see the world with his invention of the light bulb. He didn't just focus on making a bulb; he understood the entire business of electricity and how to make it work for everyone.

From Edison, we learn important lessons. He taught us to understand our business inside and out, to think about how our inventions can help society, and to prioritize making things affordable for everyone.

Edison didn't just invent products; he created entire industries. His company, the Edison Company, became a platform for countless other inventions and innovations.

But it wasn't just about coming up with ideas for Edison; he knew how to manage the process of discovery and delivery. He created buzz around his inventions, built systems to support them, and made sure they reached as many people as possible.

When Edison tackled the electric light system, he didn't just focus on one element; he understood that success required getting every part right. And he believed in the power of the whole system working together.

Edison showed us that creativity goes beyond just making one product. It's about creating an entire ecosystem where ideas can thrive and impact the world.

Take the Centrino Chipset, for example. Its success wasn't just about the chip itself; it was about how it worked with other components to create something amazing.

Edison teaches us that creativity isn't just about having cool ideas; it's about making sure those ideas reach as many people as possible and make a real difference in the world.”

Zoom Out Collecting Wild Ideas

Let's see and understand this method with some examples. what is this zoom-out method, the concept is pretty straightforward forward you get out of your comfort zone explore the possibilities, and bring your creative imagination to life. So in the example, we will take a look at three creative geniuses: Pablo Picasso, Luigi Pirandello, and Georges Bizet.

1. Pablo Picasso: If you are not living under the rock you know or have heard who Picasso is but those who don’t Picasso was like a fearless explorer, always trying new things and never afraid to break the rules. His paintings were like a colorful adventure, filled with shapes and forms that nobody had ever seen before.

2. Luigi Pirandello: Pirandello, a playwright who turned the theater world upside down with his play "Six Characters in Search of an Author." Instead of sticking to the same old stories, Pirandello dared to challenge tradition and push the boundaries of what theater could be.

3. Georges Bizet: And finally, we had Bizet, who shook up the world of opera with his controversial masterpiece "Carmen." Mixing tragedy with comedy, Bizet's opera was unlike anything anyone had ever heard before, leaving audiences both shocked and amazed.

Lessons learned: 

• Picasso's spontaneity in creativity, embracing risks.

• Pirandello challenged norms in theater, turning criticism into a classic.

• Bizet's courage to combine genres, facing initial rejection but achieving long-term success.

So what they all have in common they were not afraid of thinking outside the box. They keep experimenting and trying new things and never give up rest is history. Imagine yourself going on the quest to discover treasure but often encountering obstacles. This is similar to what happens when you're being creative. Sometimes, people might not understand your ideas or might even criticize them. But just like a brave adventurer, you need to have the strength and determination to keep going, no matter what.

Benchmarking

We can not forget benchmarking, a crucial tool for implementing and enhancing creative ideas. It's all about learning from the best practices of others and applying them to our advantage. Whether you're a big company or just one person, benchmarking is for everyone.

For example, a software company learned a lot about improving their service by studying how hotels treat their guests. By widening your options and trying new things, you can create amazing solutions that surprise and delight people. But remember, the only way to know if your idea will be a hit is by sharing it with others and seeing how they react. Remember to keep an open mind, observe the world around you, and be ready to adapt – because that's the key to successful creativity!

Is it innovative to borrow and adapt?

The short answer is “Absolutely Yes“ I have many examples on this point the famous one of Facebook, the king of all social networks. But does the idea come to Mark organically? No Winklevoss twins came up with Harvard Connect for only Harvard like Elite Institute. Mark simply borrowed the idea adjusted it to his needs and launched. In the start, it was only for Harvard students but soon he expanded and today we all have FACEBOOK installed on our phones.

Second Let's take a look at M&Ms, those colorful chocolate candies loved by many. It all started during a time of war, when Forrest Mars, the creator, noticed something interesting. Spanish soldiers were using a clever trick to keep their chocolate from melting in the heat by covering it with a hard candy shell. Forrest saw this and thought, "Hmm, I could use that idea to solve a problem."

He zoomed in on the issue of chocolate melting and voila! M&Ms were born. But Forrest didn't stop there. He teamed up with others like Round Trees and Hershey to make his idea a reality. During World War II, M&Ms became a quick energy snack for American soldiers. Fast forward 60-70 years and M&Ms are still a hit, virtually unchanged.

So, what's the lesson here? Creativity isn't just about inventing something new from scratch. It's also about spotting clever ideas and adapting them to meet different needs. M&Ms and Facebook show us how discovering and tweaking ideas can create something timeless and beloved.

Zoom in: Choosing the best of many ideas

Now we will look into the zoom-in part where the real cooking happens, let also try to understand this concept with an example of creative person Arie Ruttenberg, a keen observer always on the lookout for new ideas. Arie wasn't your typical office worker; he believed that creativity stemmed from experiencing real-life situations.

One day, while wandering through a mattress factory, Arie noticed something intriguing. He saw a worker adding supportive foam to the mattresses, sparking a brilliant idea. Instead of just focusing on comfort, why not promote mattresses as crucial for spinal health? Arie's campaign challenged the assumption that mattresses were merely for sleeping comfortably. At first, people shrugged off his idea, but soon competitors took notice and followed suit.

Before long, Arie's campaign led to a surge in mattress sales, proving that challenging assumptions and observing real-life scenarios can lead to groundbreaking success. Creativity isn't confined to the office; it's out there, waiting to be discovered in the world around us.

The Tradeoff Between Delivery & Discovery

We all know there are two types of people in this world, no we are not talking about good and bad but deliverers and discoverers and you are one of them. In rare case scenarios people will fall into both categories that’s a rare case but I will encourage you strongly to take the test to know your trait.

Discovers are good at identifying the ideas and deliverers are good at implementing them. Only in the RARE case do we find people who lie in both categories. Whatever you are you need an alternative partner for yourself to excel. For example, if you are a Discovery person you will need a person with delivery traits and vice versa.

I would highly encourage you to take the test do a self-reflection and align your career choices, passion, and skills whether you enjoy generating ideas or implementing them.

Creativity everywhere

Creativity isn't just for artists or inventors but for everyone, from CEOs to interns. Creativity can permeate every corner of an organization, not just the top levels. Think about your daily tasks whether you're a teacher, a mechanic, or a chef, there's always room for innovation and something creative. Take Facebook and Dell, for example. They didn't just innovate with their products; they revolutionized how they did business, building strong relationships and designing new ways to connect with customers.

Platforms like Coursera offer a wealth of knowledge, empowering people to learn and innovate. Companies like Intel go beyond just selling products; they create entire ecosystems around them, adding value at every step. And let's not forget about providing new experiences. Great services aren't just about what they offer; they're about the stories they tell and the transformations they enable. Innovation knows no bounds, and it's up to each of us to unleash our creative potential in every aspect of our lives and work.

Conclusion

The Ahha Movement will not come until you prepare and work for it, let me summarize the whole post in a few lines.

First, we had the case study of Thomas Edison the greatest inventor how he managed to make his limitation his power and achieve and invent what we cannot think of. And that’s the issue (Imagination) we are not imaginative, first, we imagine things in the brain and then build in the world. Just remember if you think you are limited, Limitations give birth to opportunities.

Next, the zoom-out framework allows us to observe the situation from a wider and broader perspective and then use our creative muscles to solve it in a new disreputable way, it can be as small as opening the door or drinking water. In the process, you need to benchmark to enhance your ideas.

Borrowing or taking innovation is not a bad thing as I discussed with a few tech giants example above. Sometimes you get a great idea just by observing other’s flaws and solving them in a better way with your offering. After zooming out you need to zoom in to come up with a solution to solve that need or problem. get out of your comfort zone, Creativity isn't confined to the office; it's out there, waiting to be discovered in the world around us.

Finally, you need to find your trait of discoverer or deliverer and align your work, passion, and skills around it. And creativity is found everywhere we must be trained to do so. and let me tell you the hard truth that you will fail countless times because good things take trial and error and every time you fail you will have an advantage of learning the next time, so I will tell you one word and if you hold it through your journey you will be creating a meaning full future with your invention, and it is “PERSISTENCE“

So, as we conclude this session, let's remember to keep dreaming, keep exploring, and keep creating because the possibilities are endless when you dare to think differently.