July 1, 2009 31 Comments

The Value of Wonder

boy with panda Sometimes, just sometimes, we should step back from what we’re doing (marketing, writing, selling, customer service, whatever!) and think about wonder. And by wonder, let’s think about those moments when we see or experience something that makes us breathe in deeply, and then causes us to pause and just be there. In life, there are moments like this when we think about our child’s first steps, or that surprise party your wife threw you that truly and utterly surprised you. Maybe it comes when you travel.

Now, look at what you do in a given day. Not much of it is inherently built for wonder-instilling, is it? Is there something you can do there? Anything?

Could you even shoot for remarkable? An eyebrow raise might even suffice, if we get right down to it.

What comes to mind?

Photo credit Woodley Wonder Works

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  • dkreitzberg

    It is when I spend a moment with my kids, that is really living in “their” moment (as opposed to being with them while still in my own world) that I am truly able to experience the wonder you describe. And it those times I bottle up those moments with my kids and become “childlike” in other settings that I feel myself not only more creative, but more giving as well. Being childlike in this sense does not mean living in a fantasy world, but experiencing, embracing and sharing the true richness and possibility of the real.

    Thanks, Chris, for this “good morning” post.

  • http://www.frankgorton.com/ Frank

    I think my most recent moment would be this past fathers day. I got a gift from my wife and my kids, and then after that the kids brought out a shirt and hat that said #1 dad on both. I think all of us hope our kids see us as a good parents, and sometimes it can be hard because you have to be a bit strict, so they don't end up on Jerry Springer or a Dateline special later. I think the reason why this was so great for me this time is because the hat and shirt came right from the kids. My wife told me they saw it in the store and though this is perfect for Dad. I took it all in that day and was reminded again family matters more then everything.

    Thanks
    @frankgorton

  • http://www.camprunapup.com/ Katybeth

    Maybe you can shoot for remarkable but I'm not sure you can build wonder. Wonder is something you NOTICE—-its the universe's marketing secret. Looking at something that takes your breath away.,..like your children for instance and we know even Disney falls short in the “wonder” department. Hope you continue to have a Wonderfilled trip…

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  • http://blog.eyeviewdigital.com EyeView

    I agree that trying for wonder may be aiming too high.

    I would gladly accept a permanently raised eyebrow from life in response to everything I do and every choice I make.

    If I was someone else, I might even write an entire blog (or book) about the power of the raised eyebrow. The raised eyebrow shows someone is taking notice. It indicates concern and, perhaps, nervous interest. It suggests potential disapproval without a line being crossed. It demonstrates surprise but the simultaneous acknowledgement that surprise was always a possibility.

    I live for the raised eyebrow. The raised eyebrow is all kinds of awesome as far as I'm concerned.

  • http://biggsuccess.com/ George Krueger

    Yet another great post Chris. I also like what @dkreitzberg said about “becoming 'childlike' in other settings …” I agree … wonder is a component of creativity.

    I find big water helps me with this. There's just something about the ebb and flow, the inherent wildlife, the people all coming together. I also think of Louis Armstrong's great song “What a Wonderful World”. What a great reminder of all the wonderful things around us. Thanks for prompting me to stop and smell the roses today!

  • SocialMediaScience

    Shoot to enlighten, educate or entertain… If you can pack all 3 into your content then you are very close to remarkable… IF you have taken the time to listen to your audience first and are seeking to enlighten, educate and entertain on a subject that is of high importance or value.

  • http://www.jgoode.com/ jgoode

    Children are definitely the teachers in the realm of wonder. Wonder inspires further investigation, intrigue, experience… which ultimately leads to knowledge of something new in some aspect. I think wonder is one of the powerful elements in improvement… there is where we head toward or maybe even land on remarkable. As an artist/designer, I need to learn to intentionally find more wonder, but I think everyone could benefit from a little more in each day.

  • donnamarie57

    Thanks for sharing this Chris. I consider injections of wonder very important to my overall well-being.

    One of the first things I am aware of the moment I wake up is the chirp-chirp-chirping of birds nesting in the giant tree just outside my apartment in NYC. To listen to their melodious communicating enlivens my senses and gets me going. Also, no matter how busy my day is, I'll take a walk along the East River promenade noticing the cloud formations which often remind me of The Simpson's opening graphics or watching the orderly way the ducks navigate the water or feel the breezy sensations against my exposed skin. These are among some of the experiences that fill my life with wonder and appreciation.

    All it takes is being open and seeing your environment with the curious eyes of a child. Here's to wonder-filled moments!
    http://donnamarie57.wordpress.com

  • Sharon Hearty

    'Wonder' is achievable and is in the eye of the beholder :-)

  • http://www.thejimgaudet.com/blog/ thejimgaudet

    I wonder and I wonder…But, what about? I wonder why I never use to stop and enjoy NOW. Too much I am thinking about tomorrow or wondering why something happened…

    Now I have changed, I stop and take a picture of the misty mountain in the Costa Rica morning…I leave my house and the Internet for a while just to start enjoying what is happening now… the rain, the sun, the mountains and the beach…

  • http://twitter.com/stevebellnow Steve Bell

    Having a goal of wonder is truly a stretch, but definitely obtainable from time to time (at work for me at least). Getting the wow or maybe the raised eyebrow is a better goal.

    For outside work, the opportunities are much more. Do we take full advantage of those opportunities? Probably not. Thanks for the post and the friendly reminder to reach for wonder.

  • http://www.pimpyourmarketing.com ChrisDonaldson

    Having a life full of wonder (the awe of all around us) is really a great challenge, and a perfect summer endeavor. Many people have said this already in the comments, but it is about living in the moment and SEEING that which is right in front of us – instead of focusing on the horizon (which is often just a mirage anyway). Not to get too Zen, but it is striving to know the unknowable. Maybe that's the definition of faith.

    How to bring that into daily routine is the question. Pulling back from the micro is always difficult.

  • http://www.fabulousphotogifts.co.uk/ Fabulous Photo Gifts

    Hi Chris – Sorry in advance but this is going to come across as a bit of self flag waving – that's not the reason I'm imparting it here – more because your article made me think of the episode I'm about to describe….

    My partners business is called Fabulous Photo Gifts and a while ago now we had a gentleman on the phone one evening (we never stop!) and the conversation went along the lines of “So what can you do with my photos?” – 'well we can add it to anything in our range – jigsaws, chopping boards etc' – “and that's fabulous is it?” – 'well we think its pretty clever yes'….. and so followed a lengthy conversation highlighting each product we personalised with his reply “and that's fabulous is it?”.

    The customer is always right but we did begin to wonder if we'd been the victim of some radio DJ stunt – you know where they phone up and pretend to be someone else etc.

    So no I don't think I've done anything wonderful today – just fabulous.

  • http://www.marketleveragetv.com/ MLDina

    I find it really helpful to take a step back and let my imagination run sometimes. It really helps to step outside of work, personal life, and everything else and clear your head. I usually come up with better ideas when I take a break and stop thinking so hard about coming up with an idea.

  • http://twitter.com/audaciousgloop Simon Young

    I get wonder-ful every time I'm around nature. And in New Zealand, that's never far away! But recently I moved into the city from about the greenest suburb you could imagine. I didn't realise it, but I was suffering withdrawal symptoms! So a quick walk in the park is often a great tonic.

    If that's not possible, having a range of interesting wallpaper loaded on your computer helps, and setting it to change every 15 minutes. And having two monitors.

    Hey, we need this sense of wonder to stay really alive. We do what we can! :)

  • http://scottgould.me Scott Gould

    Good stuff Chris.

    Andre Agasis said “You never rob anybody of their experience”. With my agency creating experiences (or what you've called Wonder), I completely agree with you thoughts. Of course, over years of experience marketing I've got a whole bunch of phrases to say this more succinctly ;-D but I'm happy to waffle late at night every now and then!

  • http://twitter.com/LaurenHR LaurenHR

    I recently caught a bumble bee performing its appointed duties in a sugar pumpkin blossom. http://carolinavictorygarden.wordpress.com/2009… . If you look hard enough you can find wonder in even the most regular things, family, nature, even work. I am constantly awed by my clients and the things they have accomplished.

  • dawntrenee

    Thanks for this post, in this busy business called the internet you tend to forget and stop and value the wonder of the world.
    We need to take time out of each day and just enjoy the wonders around us, they don't have to be big, just meaningful to oneself.

  • http://www.huffingtonpost.com/karen-talavera Karen Talavera

    What comes to mind? Make time for the little, simple things and DO THEM. Go outside for five minutes. Smell a flower. Notice the clouds or sun. Inhale deeply after a rainstorm. Treat yourself to an ice cream cone. Marvel at the existence of Grande Hazlenut Lattes (are you old enough to remember before Starbuck's?) and how easy it is to get one. As others have said wonder is in the eye of the beholder.

    We don't need our eyes checked, we just need to behold more.

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  • http://www.travelinlocal.com/ LisaNewton

    I deal with wonder everyday. It's what I do. The surprising thing is that I find wonder in LA, where many people think wonder died. :)

  • http://twitter.com/bigrobby Big Robby

    Nice post man. It's nice to get that little wave of introspection when you're servicing a me-me-me world.

  • http://www.rockandrollmama.com/ Rockandrollmama

    I love this. As a Yoga teacher, I've often talked about simple presence, breath and being where you are. I find that can often instill wonder, as we all have moments in our day that, if truly noticed, would gobsmack us.

    But in managing my “Presence”, my real life presence takes a hit sometimes. Great reminder to note the people and places in front of me more often, and look up from the Iphone. Have a great holiday!

  • Terrie_G

    Sometimes we forget that children experience wonder about life all the time. The question is 'when and why do we lose the wonder of childhood?' I publish a parenting pub in the mid-Hudson Valley of New York and am always looking for ways to include the wonder of parenting the next generation.

  • huangqin
  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Mary-Zak/1354717657 Mary Zak

    Applause. You allude to two valuable shifts in perspective we can aim for: 1. allowing ourselves to see the wonder in what we're already doing and 2. becoming mindful about the “mindless” activities of each day with the purpose of choosing to insert wonder-causing behavior (for ourselves or others) into them. What comes to mind first is a momentary pause to wonder at the chain of life events that once seemed random and now can be viewed as perfectly connected to bring you & me to this place, this platform from which we are creating your futures. Second, what can I choose to do and give today to cause a little wonder in just one of my friends/assoicates experience?

  • http://info-architecure.blogspot.com driessen

    Great post, Chris. 'Fascination' is a related concept that keeps me going. Your post sparked a blogpost.

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  • http://www.hallsofwonder.com/ jerry wellman

    It seems to me that building wonder is never far away, but it takes discipline. The same sort of discipline it takes to regard everything with a sense of gratitude, even praise.
    Wonder is the foundation source of creativity and innovation, promote wonder!!!

  • http://www.hallsofwonder.com/ jerry wellman

    It seems to me that building wonder is never far away, but it takes discipline. The same sort of discipline it takes to regard everything with a sense of gratitude, even praise.
    Wonder is the foundation source of creativity and innovation, promote wonder!!!