The popularity of ideas is based on the simple concept of traction. Which ideas will gain a hold on the company’s imagination? Which ideas will move an organization from point A to point B? Which ideas become a matter of traction? I am always amazed at which of our new idea-launches will gain this critical traction.

Our latest strategic platform is in the field of sales, and puts in motion a 20 month study on the behavioral traits of top producers in three separate fields: financial services, pharmaceuticals, and insurance. We focused on the behavioral traits that are “repeatable”; actions that will result in success regardless of the product being sold or the field of business. We then embedded these Repeatable Successful Acts in a three part sales platform and the next thing we know... we have an idea with traction.

In addition to that new platform, we have our program on the Transformation Process, the steps companies and organizations take to embrace change has strong momentum. We are actually applying this platform in three separate companies!

April was a great month with my travels taking me to the Master’s Golf Tournament and Disney World, both places of perfection.

Let me be very clear – the transformative process is a business imperative. PERIOD. There are companies out there that are faster and smarter than you. It’s a fact. To move from staying competitive to leading, you have to lead in the way you think. You have to take decisive, risk filled action. It’s the new name of the game.

• Nokia started as a rubber boot maker.
• Kimberly Clark was a paper provider that is now a leader in consumer packaged goods.
• Apple sextupled in 5 years after being a stagnate niche computer maker.

Facts!

Markets are colliding, competitors emerge, product cycles shrink and fads transform into trends. Are you ready? Do you have processes in place that move change forward, that take advantage of the opportunities that take place everywhere? What do you need?

• A challenge – This creates an intent to act, to move forward on a well thought initiative. This is an intentional step and needs dedicated resources of time and money.
  Change the way you think – Do you really believe you can create a new future with yesterday’s thinking? New thinking will provide new tools.
• Pay attention - New thinking sees new opportunities and creates new approaches.
• Be Bold - Nothing important happens in a world void of risk.

AMERICAN GREETINGS: This is the 101 year old greeting card maker that did $1.7 billion in 2007 revenues. Despite their past success they knew the average age of a card purchaser was 47 and that the paper card business was not the totality of their future. To transform with the times American Greetings developed a new direction utilizing the rich world of internet social networks to deliver personalized messages.

STARWOOD HOTELS: The Le Meridien hotel chain (part of Starwood’s hotel empire) has taken a bold step to connect with guests on a wide variety of visceral levels. Art, music, and food touch the senses in new bold models utilizing the world’s leading artists. Let’s start at the beginning; “the first 10 minutes of any hotel experience is simply transactional, let’s make it meaningful”. Even the room keys are now works of art and meant to be kept by the guest. Bookings via the internet are up 41%.

New ideas, coupled with resources, transform companies. DO SOMETHING!

• SKILL ENHANCEMENT: I had the pleasure of recently sharing a stage with Kip Tindell the CEO of the Container Store. The Texas based, 40 store chain, is famous for “selling empty boxes” (www.thecontainerstore.com) and its 15% annual growth rate knows that service is its primary mission. The average retailer spends approximately 8 hours of training per employee. Kip and the gang don’t train. They enhance the skills of the people that went through their rigorous hiring process. They spend over 200 hours doing this to ensure one of the best retail experiences in the business with the ancillary impact of incredibly low turnover. They are perennial one of Top 10 places to work. Focus on the beginning and spend resources on those who touch your customers for a successful formula.
• RICH MEDIA UPDATE: Just want to be sure you remain thinking about your commitment to rich media as a method of getting your message out. By 2014 the shift to mobile device advertising will increase 10 fold to $14 billion. CBS Wireless News had over 75 million page views in the 4th quarter of 2007. Do you think advertisers are interested? These are their “tomorrow customers”. Domino Pizza did a quick cell phone ad for $5 pizzas and quadrupled their sales in their targeted areas. This is an emerging platform that takes advantage of the most influential shift in communication history. Get on board!
• THE TEN: A couple of months ago I announced a project that centered on the 10 things you do that impacts your life and the world. The momentum of this project has shocked Chris and me. We have been experimenting with methods to capture everyone’s input and allow everyone to share people’s lists. Our latest experiment is a simple social network; www.thebig10.ning.com. If you are interested in this idea become an “early adopter” and check it out.