Hold a meeting. That's how 21 percent of small-business owners say they come up with creative ideas, according to a new American Express Small Business Services survey of 300 business owners. Other leading ways to come up with ideas include informal get-togethers outside the office, networking with peers and observing competitors. For 9 percent of the owners, the process is more mysterious.
Business owners view creative ideas as vital, according to the survey.
They squash one in three ideas. Formal brainstorming sessions were the most popular way to get the creative juices flowing, but only 2 percent of business owners surveyed used the venerable suggestion box to find ideas. U.S. Highway 1, North Palm Beach, Fl. Bankrate Inc. all rights reserved.