How do you win arguments in a company? Use a metaphor to paint a picture that captures the imagination of senior management. That’s what Yahoo! SVP Brad Garlinghouse did and he even got his memo published in the Wall Street Journal:
In the document published Saturday in The Wall Street Journal, Garlinghouse writes, "We want to do everything and be everything -- to everyone."
This is marketing 101. Any first year business student could tell you that when you lose focus you lose your way. Still, when you’re working in a corporation with politics and power struggles, to get your ideas opened you need to wrap them in pictures.
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Advantage, Quick Learners
This weekend I had to do some research regarding software for language translation. Now, mind you, I know absolutely nothing about this topic, but within a couple hours, thanks to Google, I had learned enough to slay work's dragons. The lesson? If you can absorb concepts -- not information -- at the speed of light you have a career advantage.
I'm not the smartest guy, but I studied educational psychology during my undergrad. Since I understand learning principles, I'm able to learn at a faster rate. Conceptual learning is my favorite principle -- if you can form a concept or Gestalt, you leverage learning. Friends, Romans, Countrymen lend me your... You see the power of three. But why is it powerful? Let's look:
With two points, you get linear thinking. Yuck! With three, you get closure. Actually, I saw President Clinton on TV describe a three point process he used for solving complex problems -- he called it triangulation (the web gives a political definition).
Tip: If you are in a book store browsing a new book, and wonder if you should spend money on one more business book, ask yourself this question: In the brief time I have skipped from page to page, how many new ideas have I encountered? If the answer is three or more -- Buy the book because it's likely you'll develop a new concept that will stick with you for the rest of your life.
tags: Strategy