The Business Brickyard

The personal Blog of Howard Mann. Author, Speaker & Entrepreneur. - January 7th, 2009

Making the simple complicated is commonplace; making the complicated simple, awesomely simple, that's creativity

08
Aug
08

What Is Dragging Down Your Entire Industry?

Feeling a little stuck trying to generate some business changing ideas? Here is just one small way to jump start some new ideas and put them into action. The results are a great way to increase your value proposition to the markets you serve. Start by asking yourself..

"What 20 ton weight is dragging down your entire industry?"

Maybe it's eroding prices. Maybe it's supply chain issues. Maybe clients are running to the Internet. Whatever they are, write them down.

Now list 5 solutions that would totally reverse each one (no matter how strange or impossible they may feel in your mind). Now take each one of those solutions and write out the specific steps/action plan that you would need to take to make that solution real.

Start 1 of these action plans each month and then check the cash account in 12 months.

Repeat as necessary.

(Just going through the process will break you out of your day to day routine, let you challenge the "It's just the way it is" thoughts in your mind and give you some open space to work ON your business).

Anyone have other ideas that have helped them generate some fresh ideas? Please share in the comments.

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Howard Mann is a speaker, author and entrepreneur. He is on a mission to get businesses to thrive in every way, in good times and bad, by relentlessly sticking to their basics. Learn more.

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