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Home > Michelle's Blog > Previous Postings > 03/16/07
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Previous Postings |
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March 16 , 2007:
Inside or OutsideWhile the Innovation Team at our company is brewing with ideas on how to make our software look more attractive, one might think "Well that sounds simple. Just dress it up a little, a touch of "make-up" here, a splash of color there and it will be fine." That simple thought makes my brain go in a million directions.
First, it takes me back to my years of being a tomboy. How could I not be with 7 brothers - it was basically a survival tool? My mom tried so hard to get me in dresses, buy me dolls and give me jewelry when I wanted a new bike. But I wanted nothing to do with it. I wanted to be like my brothers. I wanted to win at basketball and football - I played baseball when the other girls played softball. I played tackle football when my friends were the cheerleaders. I became a runner just to be stronger and able to keep up with the boys.
(Somehow she got me in a dress atleast once....with some very bruised legs!)But inside, I was still this tender little girl and my mom knew it. When she took me to the county fair, her and I went into the women's bathroom. I was dressed in jeans and a t-shirt with a baseball cap on. I think I was about 8 years old. Some woman said, "Hey, you can't take that boy in there!!" My mom stopped in her tracks and turned in a fury. She said, "That's my daughter!" She grabbed my hand and took me inside. As I look back, I realize that no matter what I looked like on the outside, my mom was constantly making me proud of what was inside.
When talking with Karen Voss at Ursa Farmers Coop about our new plan to re-face the AgVantage Accounting software that has been in existence for over 30 years, she said to me, "“The AgVantage system may look a little blah, but it has excellent functionality. It's like a house that looks old on the outside and beautiful on the inside. You'd never know it at first glance, but spend a little time there and you'll be impressed. Plus you guys are great to work with!” Thanks Karen!
I found a quote from Steve Jobs, the CEO of Apple, Inc., and he appropriately said, "Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works." I think that same quote can be applied to people. When you look for the people you want to have in your life, in your business, spend time with, do you simply go for ones that look good or do you search further for what's inside? Isn't it the conversations and the connections that you desire? If not, and you are only basing your relationships on the what's on the outside, you may find that you are having way too many conversations with your dog. (HA!)
People are not the same. Everyone has different talents - natural patterns of thought, feeling and behavior. Innovation is not the same either. By taking the individual talents of your people and putting those strengths to action, you create unique innovative plans with talented teams. And when you allow your teams, your people, to use their innate talents to be innovative, the outcome is amazing.
When people feel they are making a strong contribution in driving your business, they engage more, want more, give more. And the ultimate winner - your business.
Have a great week - Keep Smiling!
Michelle
