Think outside the box

Origin: The phrase 'think outside the box' originated from a creativity exercise in the 1960s and 1970s, which involved connecting nine dots arranged in a square grid using four straight lines without lifting the pen. Most people couldn't solve it because they didn't extend the lines beyond the grid, hence the idea of thinking beyond conventional boundaries.

Examples

• To solve the declining sales issue, the marketing team had to think outside the box and launch a virtual reality campaign.
• When faced with an unexpected budget cut, the project manager thought outside the box and found alternative funding through crowdfunding.
• The architect thought outside the box and designed a building that generates its own energy using solar panels and wind turbines.
• To engage students more effectively, the teacher thought outside the box and incorporated game-based learning into the curriculum.
• Instead of traditional advertising, the startup thought outside the box and used viral social media challenges to promote their product.
• The engineer thought outside the box and created a water filtration system using materials that were considered waste.
• Faced with a tight deadline, the software developer thought outside the box and used an open-source framework to speed up the project.
• To increase public transport usage, the city planner thought outside the box and introduced a bike-sharing program integrated with bus routes.
• The chef thought outside the box and combined unexpected ingredients to create a new signature dish that became an instant hit.
• The author thought outside the box and wrote a novel that could be read in any order, offering a unique experience each time.