Welcome to today’s podcast, where Steve and Anouck, will dive into the concept of 'thinking outside the box' and why it’s crucial in both life and business. 

Let’s start with a little exercise to illustrate what thinking outside the box really means. Grab a pen and paper, place nine dots on the page in a 3x3 grid, and challenge yourself to connect all the dots using only four straight lines. Here's a tip: don't place the dots too far apart from each other. You'll find that solving this puzzle often requires you to go beyond the assumed boundaries—this is what thinking outside the box is all about. 

Now, here’s the thing: we often think we're thinking creatively in our everyday lives, but when it comes to business challenges and finding innovative solutions, we tend to fall into patterns and familiar ways of doing things. Thinking outside the box means consciously pushing beyond those patterns, questioning the status quo, and considering unconventional approaches. 

The reality is, we all have the ability to think this way—we just need to do it more intentionally, especially when it comes to problem-solving in business. Sticking to what’s familiar feels safe, but real growth and innovation happen when we explore new perspectives and break free from traditional limits. So, let’s push ourselves to think outside the box more often, not just assume we’re doing it. It’s time to rethink how we approach problems, embrace creativity, and find solutions that truly stand out.