90 Ideas in 90 Minutes

​This past week I attended a local business presentation titled, “90 Ideas in 90 Minutes.” The session brought together leaders from small, medium and large businesses and organizations. They discussed what made their teams successful.
 
As you might expect, there were a lot of shared statements. When success is defined, it crosses boundaries. Companies look at what make other companies grow, improve profits, retain people, and implement similar practices. This is not rocket science. Mimic what makes others successful. Do so, and you too become successful.
 
This premise is at the heart of self-improvement books and talks. It’s also why so many of those books and talks look and sound similar. You’re inundated with buzzwords and phrases you’ve heard before. For example:
 

• Have a “make it happen” attitude.
• Follow your passion (you’ve probably never heard that one before, have you?).
• Find your friends and sell more to them.
• Cherish your customers.
• Culture is key.
• People make companies.
• Core values.
• Set a vision, carve a path.
• Customer demand to customer delight.
• Never underestimate the power of a mentor.
• Servitude leadership.

 
The list goes on. None of these ideas are bad. But, they have been tossed into the public arena many times over the years. If you’re on LinkedIn or read leadership books or watch YouTube “Ted Talks” then you’ve read, seen or heard many of those bullet points above. They are rehashed in different ways.

While listening to the speakers, who ranged from boring and mundane to refreshing and enlightening, I jotted down 10 of my own (there were nine speakers, so each shared 10 ideas with the audience). My goal was to look at my wildly up and down career and figure out what I’d learned professionally and personally worth restating for others to refresh their mindset and think differently to challenge themselves, their coworkers and their businesses. Here goes:
 

• Go against the grain.
• When something doesn’t work, stop beating your head against the wall and try something new.
• Clearly explain an issue and the direction you plan to take, then ask questions to make sure others understand.
• Handle the stress – don’t pass it on.
• Share the joy – reward others, praise, thank them, give random $$$$ for special acts, along with public recognition.
• Don’t hide from tough issues. Address them openly and seek input from others.
• When mistakes are made, use them as learning experiences so they aren’t repeated.
• Seek help from experts.
• Bring diverse people/ideas/programs/departments together to share, challenge and learn.
• Read, study, teach, train, watch, assess as part of continuous learning.

 
There is no perfect success model for an individual or a business because both are unique. So the ability to adapt is the theme that underlies most of my bullets.

“Good to Great,” one of those guru leadership books you find littered throughout corporate offices, contains examples (at the time) of companies supposedly successful and poised to take their businesses to the next level. Some of them are now out of business. They didn’t adapt.
 
Keep watching the landscape. Given today’s technology and ability to bring products and services to market quickly, the ability to adjust is critical. Keep listening and learning. 

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