Forward Thinking
"Leaders need to be optimists. Their vision is beyond the present."
--Rudy Giuliani
"The vision of a champion is bent over, drenched in sweat, at the point of exhaustion, when nobody else is looking." --Mia Hamm
"In the business world, the rearview mirror is always clearer than the windshield." --Warren Buffett
A politician, an athlete, a business man...great thinking from different walks of life. When reading about the 2008 Visionaries, you'll see that at least one, if not all, of these things could be said of each of them.
Giuliani's statement is particularly applicable in light of today's economy. Without hope and forward thinking, many companies would be living in the downturn of the moment, lamenting their losses. Visionaries take advantage of the opportunities the current state can bring; they up their branding and create noise among the quiet; they innovate to satisfy a wary consumer's need; and they plan for change that could come any minute. Hamm's comment is very visual and we can all relate it to our personal moments of weary triumph. In relation to our industry, just imagine the IT department after a hard-earned successful go live. It can feel like a physical fight to victory. Buffet's simple, but insightful analogy also portrays the mindsets that visionaries must overcome. "We have always done it like that." Cultivating change may be the most difficult challenge a forward thinker faces.
Our June issue is filled with stories of experiences and ideas that serve as examples of people and attitudes advancing us into the future. From the "game-changing" mind of A.G. Lafley (Page 12) and words of wisdom from our selected Visionaries (Page 20), to industry trends revealed in the annual Sales & Marketing report, you will find valuable information to consider and help with your own approach to tomorrow.
--Rudy Giuliani
"The vision of a champion is bent over, drenched in sweat, at the point of exhaustion, when nobody else is looking." --Mia Hamm
"In the business world, the rearview mirror is always clearer than the windshield." --Warren Buffett
A politician, an athlete, a business man...great thinking from different walks of life. When reading about the 2008 Visionaries, you'll see that at least one, if not all, of these things could be said of each of them. Giuliani's statement is particularly applicable in light of today's economy. Without hope and forward thinking, many companies would be living in the downturn of the moment, lamenting their losses. Visionaries take advantage of the opportunities the current state can bring; they up their branding and create noise among the quiet; they innovate to satisfy a wary consumer's need; and they plan for change that could come any minute. Hamm's comment is very visual and we can all relate it to our personal moments of weary triumph. In relation to our industry, just imagine the IT department after a hard-earned successful go live. It can feel like a physical fight to victory. Buffet's simple, but insightful analogy also portrays the mindsets that visionaries must overcome. "We have always done it like that." Cultivating change may be the most difficult challenge a forward thinker faces.
Our June issue is filled with stories of experiences and ideas that serve as examples of people and attitudes advancing us into the future. From the "game-changing" mind of A.G. Lafley (Page 12) and words of wisdom from our selected Visionaries (Page 20), to industry trends revealed in the annual Sales & Marketing report, you will find valuable information to consider and help with your own approach to tomorrow.