Question

Topic: Advertising/PR

How Would You Visualize Synergy?

Posted by Anonymous on 1/5/2008 at 6:26 AM ET 250 Points
Hi,

I'm looking for an idea to visualize synergy. An idea for a sketch, a similar one or the like.

I observed that many people benefit from cooperating with me. The only problem is: we don't know about each other. I need the client (for obvious reasons) and the client needs me (to make progress). Both on their own have little power, but together they can.

I have analogies in mind like these:
* prerequisite + opportunity = achievement (logical view)
* harmless + harmless = lethal (chemical weapon design)
* strength + strength = super-power (management theory)
* fuel + catalyst = clean air (vehicles)
* component A + component B = fixed (glue)


I will elaborate on your ideas for promotional material I'm going to market myself soon.


Can you please share your thoughts and ideas with me?


I look for a way to visualize synergy to include it in my self-promotional material, be it as a sketch, a logo, a word: your idea counts.

Thank you in advance.
Kind regards, Michael
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RESPONSES

  • Posted by mgoodman on 1/5/2008 at 4:26 PM Member
    Many years ago, I stumbled across a software package called "IdeaFisher." You entered a keyword (like "synergy," for example) and it generated a long list of related words, phrases, quotes, animals, famous people, references, or what-have-you, that expressed the keyword in some way. It was really a great tool.

    Well, the new operating systems didn't particularly like the IdeaFisher platform, and the app pretty much went away.

    Then someone developed the updated and enhanced version, called ThoughtOffice Innovation Software (XP). (Or ThoughtOffice for Mac OSX.) I haven't tried ThoughtOffice myself, but if it's anything like the old IdeaFisher, it will give you more ideas than you can handle.

    Good luck.
  • Posted by mgoodman on 1/5/2008 at 4:31 PM Accepted
    I just found the ThoughtOffice website, and here's a short exerpt from their description of the newest version:

    "We’ve loaded it with 7.4 million words and associations, and over 1,500,000 image associations to help you develop your ideas. ..."

    I'd be very surprised if it didn't solve your problem.

    And I may have to buy this new package myself!
  • Posted on 1/6/2008 at 7:28 PM Accepted
    Here's an image, and i can visualize it better as an animation rather than a sketch, but it popped into mind reading your request. With the thought of synergy being several things working together in sync to create a common goal, how about this:

    The sun, working together with the water, creating clouds, which create rain, which waters the seeds making the plants grow...I was thinking of something that sees you and your prospective clients working together to NURTURE the ideas and make them grow, using the previous analogy as a structure for what the animation or sketch might look like.

    Sorry so general, but hope it gets the juices flowing, good luck!
  • Posted by Chris Blackman on 1/8/2008 at 7:32 AM Accepted
    The thoughtOffice software is available as a 15-day trial download. Like Michael Goodman, I to used IdeaFisher about 20 years ago and had fantastic results with it.

    Here's what it came up with:

    ThoughtOffice definitions for "synergy"

    The noun "synergy" has 1 sense in Wordnet

    1. synergy, synergism -- (the working together of two things (muscles or drugs for example) to produce an effect greater than the sum of their individual effects)

    Associated terms in order of relation to: "synergy"
    click the Word Association button for next 100 matches

    1. combined
    2. synergies
    3. synergism
    4. synergistic
    5. asynergic
    6. synergetic
    7. mechatronics
    8. wholeness

    And that's where I hit the wall...

    Cheers

    ChrisB
  • Posted on 1/15/2008 at 6:40 AM Author
    Dear all,

    Thank you for all your creative ideas. They inspired me to try a simple outline, which reflects many of your suggestions.

    Kind regards, Michael
  • Posted on 4/19/2008 at 8:22 PM Member
    Hi Michael,

    I'm the founder of ThoughtOffice, and thought I might prompt you with some additional insights (as an aside: I worked with Marsh Fisher of IdeaFisher for nearly 5 years, including creating the last version of the software for him. A great, inspiring leader in the Associative Thinking movement).

    For visualization of ideas, I have a tendency to use both Thoughtoffice (which has a Storyboard View as well as a stock photo search feature), and...

    Sticky notes.

    One of my great inspirations is Dave Gray, founder of Xplane.com. You'll find his https://communicationnation.blogspot.com blog extremely valuable. And his company is the defacto standard in process visualization for the Global 5,000.

    Another associate of Dave's is Lee LeFever. Lee's company is www.CommonCraft.com. His approach is truly scaled down and easy to comprehend.

    Here's a sample of his work:

    https://www.youtube.com/user/leelefever

    After spending a few hours at Xplane headquarters in Portland, I've become a fan of good 'ol Sticky-Notes to frame ideas. Then I move in and out of ThoughtOffice to find Word Associations, Lyrics, Stock Photos, Definitions, Synonyms, and Associated Questions.

    If you'd like to brainstorm, I invite you to reach me via email and phone as well.

    me@thoughtoffice.com
    360-609-9272

    Best of success in your creative pursuits.
    Mark Alan Effinger
    ThoughtOffice Corporation
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