8 TIPS ON USING

8 Tips on Using Disruptive Thinking to Improve Innovation

You might be wondering what disruptive thinking is. How can anything disruptive be good? Well, if you’re caught in a stagnant place, shaking things up might be exactly what you need to gain some momentum in your personal or professional life.

Sometimes taking a step out of your bubble will give you a much needed perspective and allow you to achieve the breakthrough you need to take things to the next level. There is no more valuable commodity in today’s business world than innovative thinking, and the key to innovative thinking is breaking down the norms that keep you from being creative and implementing big ideas. Here are some simple things you can do to find opportunities that might be hidden if you stay stuck in the status quo.

1. TAKE RISKS Without risks, there usually won’t be any major rewards. Sure being steady and careful might keep things going marginally well, but if you really want to go big, you need to go all in sometimes. If you go through the history of great innovations, none of them

were achieved by playing it safe. Embrace mistakes. Learn from them, they often provide valuable insight and that will lead to great success on your next attempt.

2. FAMILIARIZE YOURSELF WITH A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT INDUSTRY This might seem counter-intuitive, but you’d be amazed at what you can learn by looking into successful companies, no matter what the business type is. You’re almost certain to find valuable solutions, systems or technology, that might fit your business, giving you a unique advantage over the competition.

3.BE CURIOUS Break some of your daily habits, even if it’s as simple as ordering a new dish at your favorite restaurant. Even the smallest changes can help spark a new idea. Always be on the lookout for new ways to do things. Little innovation are all around you. If you remain curious and keep an open mind, you’ll be surprised as to what might spark the next great idea. 4. PICK THE BRAIN OF A NON-EXPERT Yes, there is a lot to be gained by having access to someone with an expertise in your field, but you can learn a lot from a newcomer as well. They are a blank slate, and may inspire you with their completely unique point of view on things as someone just starting out. 5. BE LESS JUDGMENTAL It’s very easy to dismiss a new idea. You have experience and that can oftentimes lead to a million reasons why something won’t work. But there really is no harm in ignoring your initial impulse and thinking it though a bit more. If you or someone you work with has passion for an idea, it’s definitely worth pursuing.

6. CHANGE YOUR PERSPECTIVE We tend to look at things in a linear way. If you feel like you’ve stalled out on something, literally flip the script. Re-imagine it from different perspectives, reverse engineer the process. Anything you can do to see it from all angles, might get the creative juices flowing again, and could even lead to a breakthrough.

7. VALUE CHAOS Yes, it’s great to be organized and have a plan, but sometimes a little randomness can be that added ingredient that makes it all work. One of the major keys to successful disruptive thinking is breaking up everyday patterns. Sometimes the path to rational

solution is filled with chaotic moments. 8. BE WILLING TO LET GO Don’t be rigid. Even the best ideas can always be refined and improved. You’ve invested a lot of time in your idea and it can be hard not to cling to it, but input from other people will only strengthen what you want to do.

Having big ideas is great, but you also need to be pragmatic. Recognize changes you might need to make to get your big idea implemented. Disruptive thinking is all about flexibility.

JENNIFER PORTNOY

Jennifer Portnoy began her real estate career in 1996. Raised on the Marina Peninsula, Jennifer worked at her mom’s company for 24 years and just last year she moved to Compass. Jennifer’s clients value her hard work, personal attention, and the comprehensive customer service experience she offers in helping them achieve their real estate goals.

Jennifer serves the Marina Peninsula, a 1.2-mile strip along the beach in Marina del Rey that is walking distance to Venice and Santa Monica. “This is such a wonderful area to live in,” Jennifer says. “You’re close to the boats, and even though the beach is public, it feels private.” A significant portion of Jennifer’s business comes from repeat and referral clients, and it’s easy to see why people keep coming back. “I give 100%,” Jennifer explains. “People feel comfortable working with me because I treat them the way I would want to be treated.”

Jennifer’s local expertise proves to be an indispensable asset to her clients. “Because I know the area so well, I am able to explain things that other agents may not understand or know,” Jennifer says. “I can give specific insights about the property, and about the area. There are nuances with each property that somebody who’s not as familiar with the area might miss.” This knowledge combines with her honesty and straightforwardness to help her clients make the most informed decision possible. “I provide full disclosure and I’m very open,” Jennifer says. “I tell everybody everything they need to know.” private marketing team who does my social media,” Jennifer explains. She also keeps in touch personally with clients. “I keep a list of people who’ve been looking, and I call them when anything comes up. All buyers have their own particular things they’re looking for, so I keep track and keep them updated.”

Community involvement is very important to Jennifer. She offers her help when it’s needed, including recently helping to organize a committee with some other neighbors to coordinate security when crime was rising in the area. Their efforts were successful, and Jennifer continues to work on keeping the Marina Peninsula a safe and beautiful place to live. When she is not working or giving back, Jennifer enjoys spending time with her husband and 10-year-old son, and hanging out with friends, family, and neighbors.

In the future, Jennifer plans to continue doing what she loves and serving her community. “I don’t think there’s anyone who knows the area better than me,” she says. “I love my job, because I’m always learning and the business is always changing. I’m very fortunate that I get to work with people I really enjoy being around. I’ve had such lovely, wonderful clients over the years, and I look forward to working with many more.”

When it comes to marketing her listings, Jennifer makes use of all the available resources to ensure maximum exposure. Her listings are syndicated across Zillow, Homesnap, and other platforms, and through Compass she is able to market her properties nationally as well as internationally. “Compass does a great job with their marketing, and I also have my own

To find out more about Jennifer Portnoy, please call 310-420-7861, email jennifer.portnoy@compass.com, or visit www.compass.com/agents/jennifer-portnoy

BLAKE SHAWN

Blake Shawn learned the skills and leadership necessary to run an excellent team as the general manager of the Kevin Blain Real Estate Team—which had over 60 team members and was the number one team in California and the number one team in the nation for Keller Williams. “Kevin was an incredible mentor,” Blake said. “He taught me so much about the ups and downs of this industry.” Blake was able to officially join the Blain family when he married Kevin’s daughter, Mia. After Kevin Blain passed away in 2018, his widow Dani honored his legacy by founding her own brokerage, Dani Blain Real Estate. As a way to continue the fantastic, supportive culture he learned from his beloved father-in-law, Blake joined her brokerage as the leader of The Shawn Team.

“I wanted to continue to be part of something greater than myself and carry on Kevin’s legacy,” Blake says. “My goal is to keep creating this amazing, Christian, faith-based culture.”

For Blake, real estate has always been a family affair. He first realized he had a passion for the industry back when he was helping his grandparents to run their local property management company. After deciding to become an agent, he became officially licensed in 2014. property on social media, Blake is able to drive conversation and interest in both the property and the community as a whole. In 2019, the Shawn Team closed $18 million in transactions.

Blake’s favorite part of the job is getting to know his clients. “I love to nurture warm leads. We are able to show our character through social media posts, videos, and fun photos with clients, so new clients who come to us already have an idea of what our culture is like. That allows us to work with people we like, love, and care for already!” Blake leverages his relationships to put on hyper-local fundraisers to benefit those in need. Recently, his team led a water drive with donations of thousands of bottles of water for homeless people in the area.

Blake enjoys the opportunity to lead his team and help them to be of service. “I believe everyone on this team is 100% sent from God to be an impactful component of the community. I train them to understand that each home purchase or sale has a huge impact on the lives of our clients,” he says. “We are dealing with lives and livelihoods. It’s not about how many homes we are going to sell, it’s about how many families we can help.”

Blake and his team now serve the Central Valley and Central Coast of California with an impressive 65% of their business coming from repeat and referral clients. “A lot of our clients are family and friends. And if we don’t know them before, they become friends by the time the transaction has closed,” he says.

To market listings, Blake and his team use a combination of great photography and compelling storytelling to bring the property alive in the minds of potential buyers. “We have a vision of restoring the downtown of our city, so we meet with owners to ensure we understand the history of each property we are a part of,” he says. By highlighting the most interesting aspect of each

For more about The Shawn Team, contact Blake Shawn at (559) 631-0562 for the Central Valley, or at (805) 835-1727 for the Central Coast. Reach out by email to: Blake@TheShawnTeam.com or visit https://card.get-card.com/blake-shawn