Successful Blog

Half Empty, Half Full, or a New View on an Old Question?

by

cooltext443860173_ive-been-thinking

about new views on old questions …

All we we’ve been looking out the window watching the harbor. It’s not completely frozen.

half-frozen_harbor_by_liz_strauss

Though I’d like to think that it’s a sure sign that spring is coming soon. With the temperatures sitting at the freezing point it seems that another cold snap could take the harbor back in short order.

I can’t help but think of the question about the half glass of water … is it half empty or half full? View the question from a different direction, it could be that the glass is the wrong size … The answer could be “full: if the glass were smaller.

It’s got me wondering how I might look at a half-frozen harbor with a different view.

New views on old questions lead to new answers. Ever solved a problem by changing your view?

Liz's Signature

Can Corporate Jets Help Aircraft Carriers Adapt to the Social Web?

by

It’s a Metaphor and a Challenge

cooltext443809674_ideation

When I worked for a small publisher turning itself around, we were well aware of the disadvantage our size in terms of visibility, offer, and reach. Still we felt we were on the winning side, because we had advantages the corporate publishers had lost just because they had gotten big.

A friend of mine used to say, “It takes a long time to turn an aircraft carrier. Corporate publishers have the same problem. We’re like a Seafox, small but quick.”

It looks the same for small business and corporations on the social web.

  • Corporations have more structure. Think of the set relational culture and history of huge corporations. Think organizational structure and traditions.
  • Corporations have more to lose. Think stakeholders, stockholders, and financial histories. Think protecting reputation and market share that is huge.

Small business can focus, move, and respond quickly. A change of thinking and a few new people can change the culture in a few breaths. Communication is faster, so education is too. Could that be why smaller business is adapting more quickly to the social web?

But then, I keep thinking, “Aircraft carriers also transport jets.”

aircraft_carrier


Here’s the challenge: Put your imagination to the test …

What sort of “corporate jet” can help corporations adapt to the social web?

–ME “Liz” Strauss
Work with Liz on your business!!

Buy the ebook. Learn the art of online conversation.

I’m a proud affiliate of