We’re living in the Age of the AI Revolution. Business will change. But, you know what won’t? Good old-fashioned strategic thinking will persist! How so? Here’s what every small business owner gets wrong about competition: they think they need to outspend, outscale, or out-resource the giants in their industry.
I was recently invited to play basketball on a team on weekends. Basketball is my favorite sport, so I was excited when I got the invitation. Going into the first game, I knew I wouldn’t be productive because I hadn’t played on a team in over 15 years, so I wasn’t in game shape.
A client of mine invited me to a team discussion. He wanted me to listen and then give my insight. One question the team was arguing about was whether or not to do what customers want. Essentially: Do you disagree with your customers or clients?
Ever notice how the most memorable moments in your life often involve an element of surprise? That unexpected job offer that changed your career trajectory. The random coffee shop encounter that led to a lifelong friendship. The spur-of-the-moment road trip that you still talk about years later.
We all talk about wanting more innovation in our companies. Leaders invest in fancy innovation labs, run brainstorming workshops, and plaster inspirational quotes about “thinking different” on office walls. Yet, despite all this enthusiasm, truly innovative ideas still struggle to take root in many organizations.
If you’re reading this, you’re probably passionate about bringing new ideas to life. Whether you’re a startup founder, a product manager, or someone with a great idea, we’ve all been there, excited about a breakthrough concept, ready to change the world, only to hit unexpected roadblocks.
In the pursuit of innovation, we often focus on finding better answers. But what if the key isn’t better answers, but better questions?
