Change the paradigm

Since the inception of businesses, executives always asked themselves: How can I make more profit? The answers to the same question always changed: Increase your farm land and sell more products. Become a pirate and steal all the diamonds you can find. Start an Internet company and push for a quick IPO.

Even though the answer changed all the time, the question remained the same: How can I make more profit?
Next time you ask yourself or being asked how to make more profit, change the paradigm: "How can I improve the life of each of my customers? How can I develop a product that will change everything?"

This will help you focus on the real important business issue. The profit will follow.

Creativity and design

We all heard the dreaded phrase of "thinking outside of the box". It reminds me of agencies of the 80's with crazy creatives, rollerblading AE's and endless all-nighters.
Instead, we need to make connections across boxes. We have to understand patterns across all accessible data and synthesize those insights into describing a viable strategic position.

At this point of the game, I'm intrigued how the design approach can help develop business plans for new ventures. What is the design approach? You look for insights, try to develop a prototype and continue with endless optimism. This is a perfect entrepreneurial approach.

And that's where creativity is desperately needed. Any MBA class will tell you that cash is king. No matter if you're a small or big organization. But cash doesn't make you a winner. Ask all these companies that were sitting on a pile of cash and disappeared. You would think that Google and Microsoft will win the online innovation game.

Fortunately, creativity is so much more important than any cash when it comes to making strategies work. If you want get things done, you need the right creative mindset, positive attitude and mentorship.