As 2010 is winding to a close it’s time to reflect on what was, what could have been and what will be in the year ahead.
We’ve dealt with a sluggish economy, clients who opted not to initiate projects, governmental regulation changes, team members who had family members laid off, perhaps you faced the need to downsize your staff as well. All in all, not one of the better years for business owners. Read More→
I am regularly amazed at how quickly the most ‘corporate’ of companies, never mind us free wheeling, unstructured entrepreneurial companies, can get sucked off track and into the black hole vortex of wasting time by a simple 5 word phrase uttered in a meeting “I’ve got a great idea!”
As entrepreneurs, we are genetically programmed to develop and test new ideas and to keep looking for the latest bright shiny object. It’s actually a disease and we can’t help it.
However, over the years, I’ve found that some of my best ‘hot’ new ideas were better, even great, if I left them alone for a while and let them marinate.
I’m not suggesting in any way that you stifle the creativity and idea generation of you or your team members, in fact that’s how most small businesses discover new markets or create spin off businesses. An idea put before a work group, idea team or mastermind group grows and innovations are born.
However, to keep your production meetings on track as well as your own productivity, I would suggest that you institute a four step funnel or channel for the submission of new ideas. Read More→
