“If you don’t know where you are going, any road will take you there.” Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland When I’m working with clients on how to find the growth plan for their business, I first help them step outside of their organization to see the entire landscape that’s available to and pick the [...]
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Small, Medium, Large: What size innovation problem do you have?
When I began consulting, my clients were primarily innovators within mid-size organizations. Lately I’ve been drawn into discussions with small and large firms as well. These consultations have been fascinating lessons in the different approaches to innovation and which approach best fits with which size and stage of business. One goal, three different paths. Investable [...]
When #3 Is the Best Place to Be
I have written a great deal about technology breakout programs here, but today I want to talk about breakout marketing. Let’s take a look at how smart positioning is helping one automotive company gain on it’s competitors. Automotive brands occupy some of the highest-priced brand real estate in the market. Billions are poured into strategy [...]
Why Every Breakthrough Idea Needs a Raft
Imagine this: you’ve just left your boss’ office and you were given the ball on a major, new, cross-functional project. You are buzzing with ideas about who you need, what you need, and the time and effort it’s going to take. The question running through your mind in those moments is what should I do [...]
Innovation Aikido: How to Get Past Organizational Resistance
How many times have you seen a talented change leader and an equally bright team fail to move their innovative ideas from concept to market — despite being given a “mandate” from the C-Suite? Today I’m going to dissect how this process frequently breaks down and give you some tips on how to prevent your [...]
3 Signs You’re Playing Defense with Your R&D Spending
I have been actively speaking about and helping clients implement growth programs recently, and I’m noticing a pattern. When we talk about the portfolio of products under development, there is a tendency to assume that all of those investments have the same potential return. The key to developing a successful growth portfolio is realizing the [...]
The Big Miss: What It Is and How to Avoid It
The Big Miss is a phenomenon that occurs in larger companies. It’s what happens when a new organization forms around a new product or line of business that ultimately fails in the marketplace. When investment and expectations exceed the project’s ability to deliver, what you have is a Big Miss. In the best case, [...]
Are your business discussions high-octane?
This is part two of a three part discussion of what it elements it takes to take an idea for a new venture, acquisition or partnership from concept to profitability. In the last post I outlined the three essential elements using the analogy of an internal combustion engine: compression, spark and fuel. Today I will [...]
Three Keys to Profitable Partnerships
We’ve all been to networking discussions where the ideas flow and the potential for collaboration seems infinite, and yet nothing happens after the conversations end. Some of these are clearly not meant to be – for every great idea there are several hundred that aren’t worth a penny – but how can you discern the [...]
Why Your Focus this Fall Holds the Key to Your Company’s Future
It’s that time of year — the kids head back to school and my Badgers & Green Bay Packers are ready to go. In North America, we are coming into the fall season. Traditionally there are two big cycles of energy release in the workplace – in January with the event of the new year [...]