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Archive for the ‘Inspiration’ Category

I don’t know what to make of this

June 28th, 2009 by Steve Swann | 1 Comment | Filed in Disruption, Inspiration, Thinking

This photograph is taken from a Vanity Fair article titled An American in Tehran by Carrie Carlisle dated 25 June 2009. The picture shows:us-chicks-in-iranian-market

Chicks for sale at a bird market in Esfahan. The brightly colored ones are from the United States; the undyed ones are Persian.

I’ve spend half an hour looking at this image and drafted several sentences in an attempt to capture my thoughts. Quite frankly – I don’t know what to say!!

There are times when we look at objects either natural or man-made and marvel at the beauty and intelligence of the form and function. This is when creativity and innovation are in sync and we are rightfully in awe.

This image disrupts all these sensibilities for me. I’m troubled that I’m offended by such simple “change”. What about you?

My thanks to Adam Smith’s Inquiring Mind for bringing this article to my attention. It’s well worth the read.

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Is the Boss always the problem?

June 18th, 2009 by Steve Swann | 1 Comment | Filed in Business, Doing, Inspiration, Problem Solving, Solutions, Thinking, Tools & Resources

I’ve commented recently on the need to retain an innovative mindset to make the best of the current economic situation. In fact I’m certain that those who are creative at this time are building innovative businesses for the future.

But whagordon-ramseyt about everyone else? I’m not really a TV watcher but One Reality TV genre has me facinated and is providing some insights. It’s the “business makeover” show. You know the type – Gordon Ramsey’s Kitchen Nightmares, Ruth Watson as The Hotel Inspector, and Tabatha Coffey’s Salon Makeovers. I’m sure there’s others.

I know that these are highly produced and edited for dramatic effect – BUT – they all have a common thread.

The Boss is always the problem.

 

So this made me think. If these programs highlight bad operators, what are the characteristics of a good operator? Here’s a list that I’ve put together (in no particular order). What would you add or take off this list? Leave me a comment and let me know.

  1. Understand why customers choose you and make that experience better.
  2. Value every customer and put a value on every customer.
  3. Provides value to the customers (note: this does not mean cheap!)
  4. Builds good people and trusts them to deliver.
  5. Invests in quality infrastructure, systems and processes.
  6. Looks for ways to maximize revenue.
  7. Watches the pennies.
  8. Builds trusted relationships with experts and advisors.
  9. Doesn’t do things just because everyone else does.
  10. Doesn’t over complicate things (keeps it simple).

All these characteristics create an environment where the objectives of the business are clear, risks are managed, and opportunities for creative thought are encouraged, welcomed, and actioned. So, if you’re the Boss get your head around this list. And you can’t don’t blame the troops, they’re doing the best they can in environment you’ve created for them. Go set the example and they will follow.

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Innovation fails to deliver in the US

June 9th, 2009 by Steve Swann | 1 Comment | Filed in Business, Innovation, Inspiration

I recently read a great article from Business Week‘s head economist Michael Mandel. In the article400px-la_defense_-_stairway_to_heaven he looks at the impact – or rather the non-impact – of innovation in the United States and world economy. He even suggests that the lack of commerialized innovation over the last decade could be considered as a contributing factor in the prevailing economic climate.

I’ve read and listened to many good debates on the causes of the current economic climate (including this one from CUNY). This is the first time that innovation, or the lack of it, has been suggested to have had such an impact.

There have been many commentators appealing to the business community to keep investing in innovation. But if we take Michael Mandel’s assertions to be correct it leaves us with one important question:

Does “business” actually have the capacity to deliver on the innovation promise?

One good thing from the current financial situation that might help is that businesses are being forced to be more effective through efficiency. There’s no fat on the plate anymore!

This is and will continue to force changes in thinking, changes in business models, and hopefully changes in how innovation is viewed, valued and invested in by business.

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