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Inspiration can come from the most unlikely sources. According to snopes.com, the shape for Coca-Cola's iconic bottle came from the cacao tree seed pod. The bottle's designer found the plant pictured in the Encyclopedia Britannica, while he was looking for information on the two plants for which Coca-Cola is named (the coca leaf and kola nut). Intrigued by the striations on the pod, he decided to base his design on that look. The rest is history. The Post-It note is another story of unusual inspiration. Arthur Fry, an employee at 3M, sang in his church's choir and had trouble keeping the pages marked in his hymnal. His makeshift bookmarks would fall out whenever he opened the book, causing him to lose his place. A 3M colleague, Spencer Silver, had created an adhesive that was strong enough to stick to surfaces but weak enough that it could be easily removed without causing damage. One Sunday, as he sat in church, Fry realized that Silver's adhesive might be just what he needed to keep his bookmarks in place. From those bookmarks the idea for the Post-It note was born. So where do you go to find inspiration? Books? Websites? Blogs? Colleagues? Friends? A walk in the park? As businesspeople, we live busy, hectic lives. Sometimes, our fevered pace can limit our focus and stunt our creative growth. But inspiration is an important key to improving products, building efficiencies, and growing our bottom line. So today I challenge you to seek inspiration somewhere outside your normal "comfort zone." It may not lead to a revolutionary product or packaging scheme, but it might just provide the breakthrough you need to push yourself to the next level.

Joe Gass @ Printing & Graphics  _  5900 Harris Technology Blvd, Suite G, Charlotte, NC 28269  *  704-551-0700  _  www.heritageprinting.com  _  22725 Washington St., Leonardtown, MD 20650  *  301-475-1700 _ Wide Format signs, banners & banner stands, displays, posters, wall and window graphics, vehicle and floor graphics, decals, backlit signs, point of purchase, end caps and toppers, on-site installation and fulfillment Offset and Digital newsletters, magazines, publications, catalogs, conference and meeting materials, brochures, rack cards, presentation folders and direct mail Veteran Owned and Operated

As I was flipping through a magazine the other day, I came across a photo that reminded me of one of my favorite childhood memories. I used to love sitting along the stream in the woods behind our house watching the water rush downstream and listening to the rustling of the trees. I was always amazed at how trees would bend under pressure from the wind, appear to be reaching their breaking point, and then gracefully return to their original position after the wind died down. As I've gotten older, I now realize that there are many types of "winds" that can make us feel like we are about to snap or reach our breaking point. Whether we experience bad luck, make poor decisions, or encounter unfair circumstances, it is resilience that helps us through tough times and bounce back. Here's the way I see it: Life is a mixture of good times and bad times. The next time the going gets tough and you are close to your breaking point, bend but don't break. Show resilience and try your best not to let the situation get the best of you. Next time you're under pressure for a big print or visual communication project, look to us for graceful help reaching your deadlines. Joe Gass @ Heritage Print & Visual 5900 Harris Technology Blvd, Ste G, Charlotte, NC 28269 * 704-551-0700 * www.hpvisual.com  22725 Washington Street, Leonardtown, MD 20650  * 301-475-1700 * www.heritageprinting.com Wide Format â?? signs, banners & banner stands, displays, posters, wall and window graphics, vehicle and floor graphics, decals, backlit signs, point of purchase, end caps and toppers, on-site installation and fulfillment Offset and Digital â?? newsletters, magazines, publications, catalogs, conference and meeting materials, brochures, rack cards, presentation folders and direct mail  Veteran Owned and Operated