Every business is on the hunt for the next big thing – that game changer that will hit the market, soar to success and make the company great forever after.
But what is really game changing in today’s market? Is it:
- That innovative computing architecture that makes life better?
- That hot new technology that everyone is buzzing about?
- That latest whizbang gadget that a vendor is claiming will change the world?
Sometimes.
But more often than not, game changers aren’t steeped in that big new innovation. Game changers are often simply the result of shifting our perspectives – of seeing the world and the way we do business differently. By defying the Gravity of the way we’ve always done it, we create that game changer.
Want some examples of Zero Gravity game changers?
Netflix is an easy example. Netflix was game changing because of a simple (and obvious to many) shift in their delivery model. They made it more convenient to rent videos by using that age old institution – the post office. Blockbuster pooh poohed that idea for quite a while – even when Netflix moved to deliver movies via the much more modern internet. The rest is, well, obvious.
Amazon started selling on the web just as the internet took off. They started with a tight focus – books. But then they added pretty much every imaginable item that consumers asked for in their stores – from DVDs to electronics. As Amazon was moving to leverage the internet (and btw, as everyone was saying the internet was the future of all shopping, information etc.) brick and mortar competition – from Borders to Circuit City – stuck to their guns and kept building more stores. OOPS.
Southwest is the only consistent performer in the airline industry. Their game changer? Well, it was common sense. Instead of following the same (and admittedly broken) scheduling system used by every other airline – they dumped the hub and spoke and scheduled differently. Add in a commitment to both customer service and happy employees – and you have a recipe for continuous and well-deserved success.
So what IS Game Changing?
In years past, game changing usually meant something big bang and different. I don’t think that’s the case in today’s world. Sure, there are great game changers out there – but there are also a number of simple, common sense updates that are changing the game for our markets. From Orville Reddenbachers popcorn bag that turns into a bowl to Crayola’s washable crayons to Best Buy’s airport shopping kiosks. Game changing doesn’t have to be bleeding edge anymore.
In fact – if you really want to be game changing – shift your perspectives and think out of the box, about something you already do or deliver today. Forget spending millions looking for the next big thing. Instead – spend some time and thought on what you do or what you would like to do – and how you can do it even better.
1) When you run into a problem, an unwieldy situation, something that just plain makes you mad – stop and ask, “How could this be done better? Can I solve this problem? Is it important enough that people would pay to do it better??” That’s how Netflix was formed.
2) When you think about your product or future product – instead of focusing customers on what it does, and making excuses for what it doesn’t – ask yourself, “How can I shift to change the way this works? How can I do it in a better way?” There’s Southwest for you.
3) When you see an opportunity coming at you – like the internet was coming for years – instead of waiting for others to jump on board, ask yourself, “What can I do, right now, today, to take advantage of this emerging opportunity? How can I be a leader in this new world instead of a follower?” Welcome to Amazon.
We all have the opportunity to create game changers. We live those opportunities every day. When we pay attention and ask the questions, seek the better way instead of accepting the way it is….we find the break out opportunities we seek.
What game have you changed lately?
Photo courtesy of Balaji.B
