As Seth Godin says, “We don’t have a lack of profit, we have a lack of meaning”. We also have an abundance of…
Lack of empathy
Not the kind of empathy that makes us feel sorry for someone else but the type that tries to continuously understand the desires and challenges of those we intend to help so we can build the right products and services for them with generosity.
Unclear problems
What is it that we want to accomplish with what we’re creating? What are we creating it for? What problem is it helping to solve? How is it helping our customers to become what they seek to become? What are the indicators and how do we measure them?
Short-sighted strategies
Are the strategies set to achieve short to mid-term results? Or, to create long-term value and a strong community that will adopt our brand, products, and services with a sense of belonging and identity because no one else can help them the way we do.
Generic systems
Most systems out there are generic both from a design and product perspective. They’re not aligned with the product strategy, the brand’s personality, or the way the internal teams operate. Systems should be more than just efficient and consistent.
No measurements
We don’t make enough measurements both before and after building features, services, and products. Measurements don’t have to be precise, in fact, they’ll never be, but a good estimate can guide our efforts more effectively to improve the services for our customers.
Disconnected purposes
Within most organizations most people “agree” with the proposed purpose by the boss, the board, or management. Almost nobody will have the courage to say they don’t really care about that. However, finding meaning and leading those people to where they want to go with a real purpose is entirely possible.
The question is not how to start or maintain a business, it is what would matter here, how do I create value, help, or teach? There’s always someone out there who needs you.