I think the downturn in the economy certainly has had us here thinking of new ways to provide value to our customers. Additionally it has us reducing the amount of time “reinventing the wheel” and more time repackaging successful solutions…making them bigger, better, cheaper. Additionally, we continue to try to do more with less. Finding ways to increase ROI and minimizing investment.

“The impending economic fear will be the catalyst for innovation, as it always is.”

It is now, during this economic challenge that we must re-invent ourselves as “Innovators”!

Let me ask you…think back over the last 18 months…where are your innovations? How have they changed your business? How were they met by the others in your organization and more importantly what did your customers (internal and external) think – where was the value?

First, I love Turducken. I first heard of this masterful poultry concoction courtesy of John Madden, Thanksgiving Day, circa 1995. Not exactly sure of the year, but I think the Lions actually won the game – that should narrow it down if anyone cares to research.
Secondly, I love the idea that not all customers are the same. It is important to know who your best customers are – and do your best to amaze them. They will then sell and market for you, ideally attracting other people just like them. One must be careful to approach this the right way. It is not always clear how to define “best” and oversimplifying, or viewing this from an isolated perspective can be costly if not deadly to a business. Thus Business Intelligence is critical to the long term survival of any firm.