Silos for Harvest Time!
10/06/03
Jeff Taylor, Founder and Chairman of Monster.com, has a different view on the importance of silos worth looking at: "We all need to go into the corn-storage business. By that, I mean developing 'silo expertise' in emerging business areas-such as healthcare, government, biotechnology, and pharmaceuticals-that haven't gotten much attention in the past five years. Those are the places where money is still being spent. We're using that approach at Monster. For example, 71% of federal government workers will be eligible to retire over the next eight years. My conclusion: I have to figure out how to do business with the U.S. government. So I put employees in a number of different departments who wear a government-solutions name badge. They represent a silo of expertise that's going to help me win that business. Call them 'silos' or 'niches,' 'business units,' 'communities,' or 'channels.' I like 'silo' because it represents a harvest. The marketplace in 2003 is more specialized, competitive, and focused. If you want to harvest the revenue, then you'll have to get into the silo business."
In recent years, we've heard the calling to end the silos that have made organizations and their workers less flexible and less responsive to change. Could it be that the real trick is not eliminating those silos but in making sure the silos you cultivate match the future opportunities that are out there. Instead of trying to become generalists who do not have the expertise to fully serve anyone, we need people who embrace lifelong learning. But pick your silos wisely; you could be good at something no one needs! Be bold in niching your expertise. Cultivate the depth and the expertise to help your target markets invent the future they desire. Trumpet your value. But I can't help but add a word of caution. Since crystal balls into the future are cloudy from all the fingerprints of economists and executives who are trying to find their vision, it might be wise to put up more than one silo. Smart farmers know the importance of cultivating a couple of crops in case one of their markets proves soft. This week, get everyone's eyes on the future harvests you might be able to cultivate. Get started planting the seeds and learning what it takes to bring in the harvest!
A PAULSON QUOTE OF THE WEEK
"Since crystal balls into the future are cloudy from all the fingerprints of economists and executives who are trying to find their vision, it might be wise to put up more than one silo of expertise." --Terry Paulson, Ph.D., CSP, CPAE
MONDAY'S MIRTHFUL MOMENT
Today's mirthful moment comes from Paul O., via Dr. Ann Weeks' "Weeks of Fun #378." Enjoy these timely comments about our wacky and wonderful age::
1. I signed up for an exercise class and was told to wear loose-fitting clothing. If I HAD any loose-fitting clothing, I wouldn't have signed up in the first place!
2. When I was young we used to go "skinny dipping", now I just "chunky dunk."
3. Wouldn't it be nice if whenever we messed up the start of our day we could simply press 'Ctrl Alt Delete' and start it all over?
4. Why is it that our children can't read a Bible in school, but they can in prison?
5. If raising children was going to be easy, it never would have started with something called labor!
6. Brain cells come and brain cells go, but fat cells live forever
When you keep your eyes open for mirth, you just may find it! Hope this kicks off your morning and helps get your mood adjusted for the week. Now, get busy MAKING CHANGE WORK and have some fun along the way!...