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Don't hold back, just
be unique
What
joy a truly unique gift idea can give to those you love and yourself!
The idea of a finding a unique gift is seductive. If you think about it.
Why
have you even had the thought, “I'll do something unique”?
Because you know in you heart it will have impact and will express part of
what you feel for this person. You care and what it to be special.
Right?
If
not, what are the reasons for the giving of a gift in the first place?
Because I have to? Because it's expected? Because I did it last year? I'm
trying to impress them?.... and the absolute worse reason EVER invented in
peoples minds,[....dramatic pause....] because they gave me one.
They
aren't good enough are they?
In
order to be unique and select a unique gift takes focus, imagination, time,
stealth, and help.
These
are things within your sphere of influence. Yep, you are in charge with
these.
So
let's look at them in turn and see how they might help you choose more
unique gifts:
Focus
Stop and give yourself permission to be unique. It doesn't take long. By
pausing and giving time to one powerful set of thoughts gives you a running
start at making someone’s day with a unique gift.
Why?
Easy. It’s now on the agenda, the to-do-list, whatever you use to organize
your life. Once there it raises above all the other noise and no longer
fights to be heard. In short, you've given birth, it's now alive! nurture
it.
Imagination
The
spark announcing you are thinking of being unique with your gift selection
is a golden moment. When that thought pops into mind....acknowledge it, say
"Yeah! I’ll do that!"
Now, it could be quickly followed by the thoughts: “I’m too busy, I've got
work to do, and the cats need a bath yada yada yada.”. Be realistic. If that
small though can't get air time then maybe it's better to go back into
normal gift mode this time.
It's
not so much the imagination as it is the recognizing the desire to act
uniquely and following thorough with it.
Time
How
long will it take?. Again it's up to you. A simple idea registered and acted
upon can take seconds to carry out. Yes, seconds. You know your time frame,
choose something quickly, that feels right. Then gauge the response when you
give it.
My
most cherished gifts from my daughter are made of things we collect on our
travels: post cards, coasters, rocks, leaves, shells; simple stuff that she
"packages" and gives to her Dad. It's a great approach and totally unique -
every time. She’s a very busy pre-schooler and has no time at all to spare.
Yet her approach is to use what’s at hand and just do it! Adults can do this
too!
Stealth
Always necessary in the unique gift giving game. Being sneaky keeps the cat
in the bag and allows you to get an added thrill as you know and they don't.
Sharing it with others can also help build the pre-gift tension and have
everyone “in on it”. It also helps you check if you are on track or off.
Keep it close, keep it quiet and keep it cool.
Help
Say
this phrase: "I do not have to do this ALL by myself"
Feel
better? Thought so. Get others involved...it doesn't matter who. Really.
Shopping for a 40th? Ask the postman what the most unique present he got for
his 40th was. "Ah, an engraved multi-tool?", he says with a dreamy look.
Interesting. There's a starting point. For kid's birthdays ask parents
what's hot and what's not, based on their gift giving. Now, you may not go
for the multi-tool, but the idea of engraving something might spark-off an
idea. Also...the concept of giving something that is useful to them but you
have no idea about, is quite cool...
Asking unlocks the doors of other worlds
Examples of some amazingly unique gifts...
Often with
exasperation, sometimes with desperation,
I get asked:
"Tell me something really unique I can give as a gift"
I
stifle a smile and usually ask a few questions about how they are feeling
and if they thought that was a good state of mind to be buying gifts. You
see, I've found being stressed and uncertain do not help you select jaw
dropping gift ideas. And what's more, if the stress and the uncertainty hang
around the less likely you are to enjoy the gift choosing this time or next.
It poo-poos the whole process.
It
has to be a flowing experience. The idea will usually hit you like this one
did me...
Like
her name and gorgeous photo of your new niece in print...on the front page
of the newspaper, big headlines, framed for eternity?
unique-announce.com have "Personalized Newspapers" - imagine your
own dates, headlines and photos all reproduced on paper. Visually superb!
Quality reminders of moments as precious as the birth of a baby, special
occasions, birthdays etc.. It works and is FOREVER. Think about that.
Forever. That's unique!
Take
a look at my choice for Unique Gift of the month.
Or
perhaps for those that have it all or not very much....turn the common place
into something unique.
Yep!
Take
something that is routine and build around it the whole notion of
something unique. The
experience then becomes the unique gift.
Like
an example? Give them a hair cut.
What???
On
holiday last year I needed a hair cut. I'm very fussy. So I visited two
salons and selected what I thought was a better fit for me. The service I
got was outstanding: A drink of tea, some fruit, a magazine of my choice
(not dog eared), a complimentary wash, positive intelligent chat.... this
person made me feel important and the business she represented
gave her license to express herself with the customers. It was the best hair
cutting experience I have ever had, bar none!
It
was superb. And...I wanted to share that experience with my family and
friends.
Here's the thing: I would have paid the same at the other salon. But I found
-- more by luck than anything else -- something I could get enthusiastic
about and share.
So,
where’s the unique gift you ask?
I
booked my Mum in there and then for a hair styling on her birthday with that
same person knowing that she would be looked after. I told the store, the
hair dresser in question, ordered some flowers for my Mum when she arrived
and had the bill taken care of.
There's a unique gift!
Take
something common and flip it about a bit.
Finally...
So,
celebrate your uniqueness by diving right in! The water's fine...if you
consider some simple steps.
Will
every unique gift idea work?.No!! But now you're in the unique gift groove
you can re-cycle your ideas and use the same process to work out other
unique gifts.
Best UNIQUE GIFT
Suggestion
Hey, we are all unique; every birthday is unique, every
relationship is unique so step into your own uniqueness and share it
with those you care about.
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