Be “The Special”: Lessons from The LEGO® Movie

I recently saw The LEGO^® movie and really enjoyed it. It was a fun film, great for kids but also chock full of lessons for adults. Awash with nostalgia, laugh-out-loud moments, pointedly but well-done satire, and some great life lessons, I left the movie feeling very happy and satisfied.

But later, some of the lessons in the movie got me thinking about e-Commerce.

Spoilers alert in what follows, obviously.

1)      Be creative.

Legos are building blocks. They are the fundamental base for any piece of Lego creation. While there are suggested ways of putting these plastic bricks together, the possibilities are endless. Why should we have to stick to how it’s actually supposed to look? There are Master Builders in the movie that can build anything out of the materials around them. They don’t let convention hold them back. In the end, you realize that you don’t have to be a “Master Builder” to build anything because we all hold that power within us to create something original.

Most businesses benefit from a little bit of creativity. There is always talk of “thinking outside the box”, but how often does anyone actually create something inspiring? Yes, there are guidelines, why should that limit us? If it has the chance to inspire and delight our audience and customers, we should do it. Creativity does not have to be a grandiose feat, but could be as simple as using the things around us in a new way.

In e-Commerce, creativity makes us stand out from the rest. Think of creative ways that will grab attention in the noise of the digital world. This could be in the form of new promotions, campaigns, or new ways to interact with customers. Social media is one way to connect to an audience, and with the right mix of creativity, information, and strategy, we can make the most of it. Some extraordinarily creative marketing campaigns have the potential to go viral.

With an actual webshop, customizable platforms can be of great help – package up a great business and services in a fun and exciting way that grabs the customer’s attention. However, there is a fine line between creative and functional. Your webshop could be fun and exciting, but if it doesn’t serve it’s true purpose, it’s not doing any good. Think of the end goal, which brings us to lesson 2.

2)      Follow instructions

Somewhat contrary to the point above, we should follow instructions. That’s not to say instructions are the be all and end all and we must follow them blindly. Think of instructions as the build and foundation of a house. Every house has to provide shelter for habitation and there are certain requirements to be met. But creativity is the design of the house, and that is why not all houses look the same.

Emmet was just an ordinary construction Lego worker. Like everyone, he followed the instructions because it was thought to be the best way to live day-to-day. What he didn’t realize was that you can still be creative while abiding by the rules.

In e-Commerce, you need to combine both the instructions (architecture of the platform) and creativity (the design). Following instructions and using tools as they were intended can save time and effort. Obviously, use judgment to make sure it suits your needs and situation, but this is a good starting point. Here at DVP, when we say “No” to certain requests, it’s not to stifle your creativity; it’s when the request pertains to changing the architecture or when the project starts to deviate from the budget. It is entirely possible to work within parameters and still be creative and inventive. We can follow the rules and still be creative!

Another example is following a certain template for a webshop. They incorporate best practices and take into consideration how customers consume and process information. To choose a radically different layout would cause confusion. Following the “rules” will allow you to reap the benefits and do things simply, leaving room for creativity in between.

3)      Embrace teamwork

One of the lessons that Emmet learned was everybody has to work together as a team. Instead of everyone going about creatively on their own projects, focus on creating a cohesive project. Use strengths to work together instead of against each other. Emmet came to this conclusion when his friends created a horrible mish-mash of a submarine that ultimately sank. Creativity can be a way to work around the rules to come up with a super awesome plan. There is no one way to reach a solution, but remember, if everyone goes their own way, we may not end up in the same place at the end. Never lose sight of the goal and what the tasks are that need to be completed to get there.

We can apply this way of thinking to e-Commerce. Take an inventory of your team’s skills and what it is that they excel at or wish to be doing. Use document management tools and revise business processes and workflows so that we are all working towards a common goal. Talk to your team and make sure we’re all on the same path. This is something simple but overlooked – there could be a great team with all the skills in the world, but without a unified vision and goal or great management of that team, we cannot get there.

4)      Be “The Special”

The main message of the movie was that anybody can be “The Special”. The prophecy claimed that whoever found the “piece of resistance” was “The Special”, and they would be the smartest, most talented, and most interesting person in the universe. And huge spoiler alert here, we come to learn that there is no one “piece” or prophecy that can make you special. You are special simply because you believe it. Being “The Special” in the movie isn’t about being born with abilities nobody else has. It is a combination of effort, creativity, and team work.

This is certainly applicable to e-Commerce and your business.

Think about the value proposition of the company and use that for branding purposes. Be creative and clever, but above all, sincere, and convey that to the customers. It could be in the form of compelling content or a snappy look and feel, all made possible by customizable e-Commerce platforms.

Running a webshop can be difficult because there are so many components behind it. Choosing a company like Digital Vantage Point with our truly integrated e-Commerce solution can make it easier. We have a deep understanding of Microsoft Dynamics^™ NAV and a passion for creating the best possible product for our customers. We work together with our clients to produce unique customer experiences in line with their business objectives, mission, and vision. This reliability and confidence in the platform allows us to grow together.

We take creativity and team work for this collaborative effort in e-Commerce. We help convey your passion and what makes your company special through sound and advanced technological advances in e-Commerce.

So those are my key takeaways from The LEGO® Movie. What do you think? Will you take these lessons and be “The Special”? In any case, we hope “Everything is AWESOME!”

Talk to us about what inspires you in e-Commerce and what are some ways we can help you. Contact Us | Request a Demo | Book a Webinar