What's yours?
No one ever based a decision purely on data, we all need ‘a big idea’, a story. Do you have one? If you don’t, then what are you doing - and why? Stories explain to us exactly what we want to do, what we want to be, and what we want our companies to stand for.
It’s what marketing is all about; telling stories.
Loosing your vision
It’s surprisingly easy for businesses to lose sight of the big idea that drives their product or strategy. You can see this disconnect when you browse through the “Mission,” “Vision,” and “Values” sections on many company websites. These statements tell stories, but too often, they feel disconnected from what the company actually delivers or stands for.
Going short-sighted at first
You don’t ‘lose your story’ overnight—it fades gradually. It often starts when decisions are made to achieve short-term wins. Sure, those decisions will have stories behind them, but they’re short stories. And they might not align with the big idea that defines your company or product.
If your big idea doesn’t connect with your business, how will it connect with your customers?
Getting a pair of glasses
Business plans are often built around big ideas. As you put these plans into action, the feedback and real-world challenges you encounter will inevitably reshape and refine your approach. However, the core of the big idea will remain strong.
And if it doesn’t? Develop a new one.
With decisions,
explore the big underlying idea.
That’s all
RvdL
This article is part of the go-PARALLAX series on decision-making, problem-solving, and sparking innovation.