Say YES! to Success Peg Stookey – Founder of Legacy Connection

What We Are: INNOVATIVE!

First, let me ask the question that you might be wondering about.  Why the focus on innovation? We utilize the Legacy Entrepreneurial Cycle of a Healthy, Sustainable Business to help our owners build long-lasting businesses.  It's comprised of 4 phases of the developing business: Discovery, Beginning, Growth and Innovation.  Again, why the focus on innovation?

Simply: INNOVATION is the engine that powers the growth machine.

Without innovation, a business, any business, will die.  Innovation is the shot in the arm that most businesses need right now.  We feature it as one of the 4 phases because without Innovation a business is simply not sustainable.

I believe that by definition, entrepreneurs are innovative.  We are opportunity seekers.  We see the world as a place of discovery and possibility, not obstacle and roadblock.  For some, this comes easy.  They have the "entrepreneurial gene".  Others though are plagued by past education and training as good employees.  In fact, most of us have the "employee mindset illness" to some degree.  And why not?  Our school system is designed to "produce" good employees.  As our recent (and really wonderful) speaker, Jay Kayne suggested, "We are taught to follow the leader, to stay in a straight line, to color within the lines".  Students that challenge, say "no" or stray out of the line are not rewarded and may be punished.

How many have been raised in a truly entrepreneurial family?  Not many.  Most people starting businesses today have come from good, hardworking families and have, in fact, been good, hardworking employees for most of their lives.

How then, do you become innovative?  PRACTICE, PRACTICE,PRACTICE!  Hang out with innovators.  In a recent post on Youthanizing your business I suggested that surrounding yourself with young minds can spur innovation.  Try saying YES!  Ask these important questions-daily:

• What if?
• How can I?
• Is it possible?
• I wonder if?
• What would happen if?
• Could it happen?
• Why not?

We talk a lot about accountability partnerships.  How about joining with someone else to motivate each other and to brainstorm together?  Come to an iConnection session to help you Ignite Innovation!  Do you keep a journal?  Some of your best ideas will come when you can't act on them.  Dedicate a portion of your journal (or a file on your computer) to idea generation.  Honor your creativity and ideas by writing them down.  This practice will not only help you to archive your treat thoughts, it'll allow you to stay on track and maintain your focus.

What about that other common affliction, entrepreneurial ADD?  Once you get into the mindset and the habit of being creative it can be difficult to turn off.  It's like you've created this monster that needs to be tamed.  Ideas and opportunities will suddenly be popping up all over the place.  IT'S IMPORTANT TO MAINTAIN FOCUS.  That's another reason for the journal.  By documenting your thoughts you can put them aside without fear of losing them or of being taken off track.

I have to admit, this is an area in which I've had a LOT of practice!  I get ideas by the bucket load, love to begin things and then get bored, disinterested or it gets to be too hard so I shelve it.  I'm working really hard on prioritizing and "vetting" my ideas but it's not easy.  People ask me all the time, "Where do you get your ideas from?".  That's easy!  I've placed myself squarely in the center of a community with unlimited needs.  All I have to do is pay attention, ask my customers important questions like, "What do you need?" and then.....LISTEN!!  If I can fill the need by creating something new or revamping something already in existence, I do.  Sometimes I hand it off to someone better suited to fill the need.  Sometimes I help them to create new opportunity-man, that feels good when it happens!

As a Community, we foster and encourage innovation.  As individuals we strive to be more innovative.  My hope is that as a culture, we become more innovative as well!  Are you ready to step out of your comfort zone to seek new opportunity, create new relationships, try new ways of running your business?

Say YES!

To your success,

Peg

About Peg

Peg is a passionate entrepreneur, wife and mother (of 4 kids and 3 dogs). She loves to write and to share what she's learning by working with business owners, as a parent, reading, training or general life experience. Through her blog she hopes to create discussion and to continue to learn as she also has the privilege of teaching! More than anything, she wishes for you to grab the brass ring and say YES! to success!