What does it mean to succeed in business today? There is an innovative genius inside every man.
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What does it mean to succeed in business today?
It’s not an easy question to answer, especially since we live and work in a period of such massive change and transition.
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Obviously, we all have different definitions of success, based on our personal values and aspirations. Wall Street and Main Street probably have their perspectives on the topic. Your wife or partner may feel quite differently than you do.
But from the point-of-view of the world at large, just what is success?
It’s not an easy question to answer, especially since we live and work in a period of such massive change and transition. Seth Godin often refers to this as a time of “revolution.” The old way of doing business is rapidly coming to an end (if it hasn’t ended already). A completely new paradigm, fueled by virtually unlimited and relatively inexpensive access to technology and connectivity, makes new ways of doing business not only possible but essential.
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In the “old days” (just a few decades ago), business success had a lot to do with efficiency. Produce more and spend less. People and organizations who could pull that off were typically “successful.” They were able to thrive in their markets and stay profitable.
Today, it’s a different story. Fledgling companies with zero revenues command record-breaking valuations. Overnight billionaires are created based on nothing more than a vague, but compelling, business concept.
Today, differentiation seems to be a key component of success. What do you deliver that no one else does (or, at least, hasn’t yet)? It’s all about innovation, ground-breaking ideas, and continuous evolution – and whether you can improve upon your own past efforts before a competitor does.
Today’s successful business leaders have one thing in common: they possess a crystal clear vision.
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Clearly a very different set of skills is required to be a business success today. But just as important is the mindset with which you do your job. Winning the game in today’s business world requires a different perspective and approach than it did in years past.
And if you haven’t embraced them, you may find success elusive. Here are four ways you may be approaching your business that could be holding you back.
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- You don’t have a vision. Today’s successful business leaders have one thing in common: they possess a crystal clear vision of what they are trying to create. Think of all the legendary modern-day innovators—Jobs, Bezos, Zuckerberg, Branson. Do you have any doubt as to what those guys dreamed of accomplishing, what they were destined to create? It doesn’t matter what business you’re in; without a clear and compelling vision leading you forward, there’s a good chance you’ll fall short of your goals. As someone once said, “It’s very difficult to get where you want to go if you don’t know where you’re going.”
- You’re risk-averse. The willingness to take risks is a critical part of success. Unfortunately, most of us are creatures of habit. Anything that takes us outside our comfort zone can cause anxiety, over a fear of the unknown. It’s just human nature to seek out safe, comfortable routines and stick with them. “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” So while we admire the bold risk-takers of the world, many of us don’t naturally have the stomach for it, ourselves. But in fact, all innovation takes place outside our comfort zones. Conducting business in today’s chaotic, ever-changing marketplace is not for the faint of heart. Do your due diligence, cover your bases. But make no mistake, you need to go for it, and quickly. If you “fail,” then make the necessary adjustments and try again. All great business leaders understand that you only fail when you stop trying.
- You practice me-too thinking. Today in business, you have three choices. 1) You either continuously reinvent yourself and your products, services, and processes (in other words, you innovate) and establish yourself as a leader in your market. 2) You wait for others to blaze the trail, and follow–ensuring you will always be playing catch-up. Or 3) you maintain the status quo, quickly slip into irrelevance and, ultimately extinction. The only business-as-usual today is that there is no more business-as-usual. Today’s amazing product will be obsolete in a year. Push the envelope and reap the rewards of an innovative mind.
- You’re too serious. Innovation requires ideas. Ideas are the product of imagination. And imaginations function best when they’re tinkering, experimenting…playing. The most visionary, groundbreaking business leaders of our time – the true innovative geniuses – all approach their work with a sense of childlike curiosity, trying new things, indulging their imaginations. Innovative thinking and creative problem solving are always best when approached as “play with purpose.” There’s a time to be serious and get down to work. But not in the exploration and discovery stage. If you don’t now, allow yourself to have fun in your business.
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There is an innovative genius inside every man. Sadly, most of them will probably never show up fully in the world. But with a little “tweaking” of our thought processes and how we approach our work, we can achieve remarkable levels of personal and business success, deliver far greater value to the world, and have some fun in the process.
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Photo: Flickr/ David Kracht