Great Robert

Let me know what you think and there are many additional resources for more information regarding Blue Ocean Strategies if you'd like. Pam

Do we all have in place mechanisms for our clients to talk with us and dialogue? Ongoing feedback as to their experiences, their perceptions of our product, services; experiences? Social media, client surveys, blogs, twitter? What is your tribe saying about you, what do they feel about your product, what else would they like you to do, offer, be? Value innovation is providing solutions that exceed clients expectations...and sometimes providing things they don't even know they need but solve the 'pain' in our clients lives.

What are your listening tools? How do you go about understanding your clients and how are you engaging them in helping you better serve them?

Innovate...Differentiate...Value...NOW

Pam

David

Thanks that's my real intent - if I can be of help - you can schedule a call with me- on me- to assist you at your current intersection...exciting things always happen at intersections...just make sure and pick a direction and keep moving... Pam 425 218 5864

So my question for all of you what is value innovation to you and how are you providing it to your clients; NOW? Tell me...I am interested...

Okay check out www.pamhoelzle.typepad.com if you want to see the photo I was referring to- in the article! A group of just hatched chick's one is yellow the rest are dark, brunette colored. The photo is important...we need a way to put photos on these articles- Biznik...

Joe- yes for a serial entreprenuer this book is a must read...it will reframe the way you see opportunities

Pam- yes you will look at Marketing differently and how systematic integral great marketing and communication is...

Mark- sustainable...will someone undercut your price and offer the competitive element and steal your opportunity? How broad is the market? You may be different but does the strategic price and margin offer you true financial sustainability?

Onward

Pam

Relectant in that your not bought into the vision, not aligned with the values, not buying into the journey- of the tribe or reluctant to want to lead? Two different issues. I love the word reluctant - talk to me - tell me more what is the heart of the issue for the reluctant leader.

Thanks for the dialogue

Craig- I know - just wanted to highlight how micro managing can lead to tribal disasters and I'm not afraid to admit a few Meg moments in my career- it's all about being real and yes I'm Tara now ...so watch out...Carpe Diem Craig

Evaluating all potential revenue streams using a filter of what the team is best at, what they want to own and are most passionate about is a lively evaluation. Many times we are making money with multiple streams and in varied manners. Are they congruent with our one big thing...are they congruent with our vision? Are they what we excel at and what raving fans and our tribe wants from us: what else could be created here...more purple cows, as Seth Godin describes them that intersect passion, purpose ...It's about who we are and what our raving fans can't get enough of that we love to provide...

Steve -

Your job gets easier- doesn't it if all us entrepreneurs get clear about what our one thing, our big thing is and if we consistently and intentionally make decisons and lead congruent with our hedgehog concept.

To decide is to cut off options. Business leadership demands decisive, clear, intentionality. Clarity is powerful isn't it?

Entrepreneurs are notorious, aren't we, for the multiple voices in our heads; each pointing us in a different direction, all simultaneously. We love the adrenaline high of the next best thing but beware this behavior has landed all of us in a den of foxes on more than one occassion.

The hedgehog concept helps us bring discipline and focus to our ventures and it's proven that increases our probablity of success.

Results- who wants to chase their tail only to end up out of breath, aren't we all looking for way's to succeed?

Take some time and dialogue with your advisors today about your hedgehog concept.

www.jimcollins.com chapter 5 Good To Great

Admonished? Who me. Encouraged. Empowered; maybe? Focus is a word that for entrepreneurs is almost like love; sometimes so overused it loses its meaning. More than focus, Craig; More! Focused on what lights you up, what offers you greatest return for your investment ( some of us define ROI differently than others; i.e.; triple net bottom line, return to associates, NI...) Keep pushing into that intersection of where your business provides the highest client value, the highest level of innovation and allows you to be in the space you are most skilled at, passionate about and enjoying the financial benefits; revenue streams of!

Onward!

BSO I love it....not just BS!

I don't know about you Molly but for years I don't think I thought it was possible to have what I really wanted ...my personal hedgehog and that is a false belief, a socialized agreement that I now see for what it is; untrue.

But just the opposite happens in our businesses right because we think we have to do more and that augmenting the product, enhancing the sku's and variety are the key's to success. An expanded product offering may increase ROI or it may negatively affect cash flow and put us out of business.

What drives profitability or solves the innovation value equation and creates loyal clients and intersects with what the business is passionate about and can be best at?

Keep asking the questions...

Pam Hoelzle

Denise,

It's the entrepreneural fox in all of us; heh? I like to ask myself heh are you a lazor beam or a light bulb MISSY?

Intent is powerful and it's never been more important than now in the economic and spiritual climate that surrounds us.

Pam

Braden,

Dubai sounds awesome; come on everyone lets go! Thank you for the correction. Above the Professors W.Kim Chan and Renee Maubourgne were identified and yes the book is published by Harvad Business School Press.

Now- it is always about execution isn't it? I consider myself a student of blue ocean and also a practioner having facilitated about 20 founders through the 4 step process in the past 5 months. I find that completing the process, immersing oneself into the methodologies as you call them of Blue Ocean are transformative regardless of how many black eyes and skinned knees you suffer during execution.

The process is 4 steps:

Draw the current strategy canvas of the industry ( understand the elements that the majority of players are competing on)

Reconstruct the Market Boundaries by asking the 6 questions:

Look across alternate industries (form and function) Look at strategic groups Across the chain of buyers Accross complimentary products and services Evaluate functionality and emotionality Look across time: future trends

Step 3: Complete a 4 Frameworks exercise now what will you eliminate( to increase value) what can you reduce what can you Raise What can you CREATE( to skyrocket innovation)

Step 4: Reconstruct a new strategy canvas ( which is a new model for the business)

Now it's time to look at the nos and the team and decide if your ready to set sail for this uncontested market space!

Keep us posted when you are offering Blue Ocean Training in Seattle Braden and if anyone wants to practice it one one one - give me a call

Blessings Pam Hoelzle

Thanks Ruth- yes Steve and I talked about this issue after his last seminar. The greatest marketing and branding in the world; which we all believe we've done or are in the midst of doing; is built upon sinking sand if the business model itself is faulty. First things first. A rock solid business model that delivers customer value, innovation, team enhancement and RO1! Once you've got that your branding and marketing will go to the next level because YOU are the next level! Pam

The Book is Blue Ocean Strategy by W.Chan Kim and Renee Mauborgne

The goal is to align the entire business model- system of what you do;

to deliver a highly differentiated (innovative) and low cost ( high value) solution ....that put's you into uncontested space, makes the competition irrelevant and creates and captures NEW Demand

Pam