There is a right way and a wrong way to sell anything. Here's how not to do it.

A couple of months ago, I walked into a local electronics store looking to buy a new laptop. Within minutes of my arrival, a young salesman sidled up to me. He lost the sale within 30 seconds.

What did he do that was so wrong? Well...

In 1963, a young musician woke from a dream with a song in his head. Quickly writing down the chord progression he shared his work with friends and colleagues. Everyone agreed it was a unique and special piece of music.

After adding unforgettable lyrics, Paul McCartney’s Yesterday went on to become arguably the biggest hit for the Beatles. Covered by more artists than any other song, Yesterday continues to sell to this day. 

​The rest, as they say, is history.

Or is it?

Is this how creativity works? Do innovative ideas arrive in a lightbulb-like moment, fully formed and ready for the world? And does this happen only to creative geniuses such as McCartney or Mozart?

These were the myths I explored at the Mix Design Collective and BCFA sponsored event in Manchester on 6th December 2018.