As our economy crawls along, the faster the opportunities come and go for you “big game” hunters with your big innovation guns.

1) Are you a magnet for “big game?”

2) Are you ready?

3) Are you capitalizing and enjoying the results?

The answers depend on your organization’s perspective/definition of the word “YOU.”

“YOU” might be the collective (your whole unit/team) or “YOU” might be the individual (an army of one). If it’s the latter, you are a one-man band—opt out now, stop reading, you don’t need anybody’s help conquering the world. Insights, ideas, communication and execution are all you. I’ve never met you, but I suspect you’re a mad genius and/or a train wreck.

If it’s the former (collective “you”), and you’re on a quest to achieve great things with wildly talented people—you already appreciate that innovation is a team sport.

So, lets check out the team you have (and the team you deserve.)  Take a look around your organization. In my experience, when you do look around (with eyes wide open), the best-case scenario is:

 •   1/3 of your team is a strong reflection of you and your company’s quest
 •   1/3 of your team could be a reflection of you, but don’t know about your quest
 •   1/3 of your team doesn’t care, because they don’t know how much you care about the quest or why they should

Now the question isn’t about you after all, it’s about the ecosystem you’re creating. As the leader/architect/almighty designer of the organization and the culture that feeds it, you know the optimal design for readiness is a wholehearted culture, NOT one of thirds. Own it. Fix it. Optimize your culture of innovation and stack the odds in your favor. Successful companies driven by innovation are built to create their own innovation “luck” where preparation meets opportunity, where concepts meet needs and where speed, focus and timing are everything. And that’s not luck, that’s a premeditated commitment to the things that matter. 

Are you committed to being perpetually ready for today’s opportunity and tomorrow’s battle?

Today’s innovations settle for nothing less, why would you?

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