Isn't it Ironic?

Just finished the book Tribes, here is one of my underlined paragraphs on page 113.

"The organizations that need innovation the most are the ones that do the most to stop it from happening. It's a bit of a paradox, but once you see it, it's a tremendous opportunity"

These type of businesses and industries have the most upside and opportunity for one leader to make a lasting change.

Can you recognize a business or industry that has been resistant to innovation, and with some dedicated change agents make a turnaround?

Timing of Change

More insights from Seth Godin in his book Tribes.

Seth writes "The best time to change your business model is while you still have momentum."

I agree with the statement, and it takes courage and vision. When things are going well it is human nature to shift down into cruise control. In contrast, true leaders who initiate action, keep growing by venturing into new markets and looking for additional income streams.

What would your business be doing if the economy was better?

Why Discomfort is Critical

More insights from Seth Godin in his book Tribes.

He writes "If you're not uncomfortable in your work as a leader, it's almost certain you're not reaching your potential as a leader"

The great ones understand this. I just hope to gently remind myself that tension is needed and can be good. Leaders need to test themselves and the more they do, the better they become. Do you agree?

Seth's Marketing Math

I am currently reading Seth Godin's Tribes. I find the simplicity of his "marketing math" powerful.

"Ideas that spread win. Boring ideas don't spread. Boring organizations don't grow. Working in an environment that is static is not fun. Even worse, working for an organization that is busy fighting off change is horrible. So why haven't you and your team launched as many purple cows as you'd like?"

I don't know about you, but it makes me face the man in the mirror.

The Greatest Market Research Tool?

I am finding more insights in Tim Manners' Relevance: Making Stuff That Matters. Manners quotes Yahoo!'s Jeff Weiner when he writes " I'm amazed people don't get it yet...Never in the history of market research has there been a tool like [blogs]."

This triggered me to look at the evolution of communications between customers and brands. It has gone from letters, phone calls and emails to now blogs. The difference is with blogs, as well as other social media tools, the consumer does not just speak with the brand but to others who have a passion with the brand or the consumer. The ability to communicate with people that have similar interests gives the feedback extra authenticity. The transparency of the web allows the marketer to gain insight on how it's brand lives and breathes in the consumers world.

If done well and the brand has relevance to the audience, the blog allows for the brands fans to share experiences and the solutions that makes their life better. Why don't more B2B marketers use this technology?

Are We Pushing or Connecting?

I am currently reading Tim Manners' Relevance: Making Stuff That Matters. He writes that "...Patagonia's president of communications, once explained to me, the goal is not to advertise your stuff but to connect with your customers." Manners goes on to write about how Patagonia, the outdoor lifestyle brand, dedicates 50% of their catalog to non-selling space and fills it with customers' stories and the adventures they had.

This got me to reevaluate how often written communications (whether it be email, brochures or newsletters) are connecting with the audience's day-to-day needs vs. how much focus is placed on the products and services we provide.

Do you have a formula or strategy that strikes this balance?