Use Limitations to Prompt Creativity

It’s a common complaint: “things would be so much easier if only we weren’t limited by X”. Whether it’s systems, policies, resources, the natural desire is to remove limitations, and in some cases that’s the right thing to do.

The next time you’re facing some limitation, though, look at it as an opportunity instead – an opportunity to push what can be done within the limit.

The Twitter Example

Twitter is frequently derided for imposing a 140-character limit. Their limit, of course, has a very obvious source: SMS. Twitter has as a core function the ability to send and receive messages via SMS, which are limited to 160 characters. So why 140? To allow 20 spaces for people’s Twitter usernames and Twitter commands. Simple, and absolutely inflexible, given Twitter’s method of operating.

Yet, Twitter users, while still occasionally complaining, have managed to thrive within the limit. Many say that the limit is integral to the nature of Twitter – that longer entries would make it much harder to choose when to post something to Twitter versus when to post to a blog. Longer Twitter posts would prevent people from being able to easily follow as many, as each post read would require more time, and likely more than one response.

I know personally that my copy writing has become much tighter thanks to Twitter. I’m much less likely to use a 3-syllable word when a 1-syllable one would do. In addition, I don’t use passive phrasing nearly as much because it inevitably uses too many characters.

So, instead of viewing Twitter’s 140 character limit from the negative:

• Limited characters

We can see its positive effects:

• Easier to manage
• Clearer differentiation
• Easier to understand
• Tighter prose
• More active tense

The $99 Music Video

The principle applies to much more than social media.

Verizon FiOs and Next New Media have partnered to create The $99 Music Video Project. Not only did they impose a cost limit of $99, they put even more restrictions around the project. Specifically:

1. It must be made for $99 (or less).
2. It must be shot in one day (24 hours).
3. It must be edited in one day (this doesn’t include rendering, digitizing, or exporting — just the creative part of editing).
4. It must be a collaboration between the band and the filmmaker.

Many will balk at these restrictions, but according to Melissa Schneider, executive producer, “Creating a cap on the budget turns the process into a creative challenge.”

Yours

Focus brings clarity and frees creativity. Clarity and creativity allow you to truly stand out. Take advantage of all the opportunities you have, including your “limitations”. Use them to make your company, product or service better.

What limits are you facing?
What limits should you impose?
Which limits have you already used to your advantage?

Please share your thoughts, challenges and successes.