Think Big

“Think big!”

This is what I took away from a 1-hour animated children’s Christmas television show that we all watched earlier this evening. I can’t really recall what it was called. Something about a happy elf who helped bring the small town of Bluesville joy and happiness. So much so that they renamed the town Joyville.

I must admit that I spent most of the hour contemplating the elf’s mantra to “think big.” I believe it went something like, “think big and you can accomplish great things!”

Are we thinking BIG enough with Parmasters Waterloo Region? Are we letting perceived limitations hold us back? Are we keeping the plan smaller than it should really be?

As you might imagine, this is not the first time such thoughts have crossed my mind. They’re simply part of ongoing strategic planning.

I’ve never believed in reckless abandon. I’m not risk averse, but believe that all risks must be thoroughly calculated, and the reward must justify the risk.

By extrapolation, I do not believe that businesses should take any significant (read “material”) risks in areas where they have absolutely no experience or knowledge. I believe businesses should grow by pushing and stretching the envelope that represents their current experience and knowledge. Take some of what you know, and some of what you don’t know, and launch into a new market or product line or both. The key is to take some of what you KNOW.

In that sense, all businesses should, to an extent, think small. And necessarily so! Their plans should target growth that relies, at least partly, on knowledge and experience already found within the company.

However, truly effective companies also think BIG, because they leverage their existing knowledge and experience in BIG and innovative ways.

This is related to the science – I believe it’s a science – of asking appropriate questions. If you ask a team of brilliant analysts to figure out how to make a given process 10% more efficient, they will come back with a solid plan for a 10% gain. However, if you ask the same team to find a 75% improvement, they will likely return with a solid plan for a 75% improvement. The only difference is the question.

So, I guess the key is to think small, meaning leverage what you already KNOW, but think BIG, by asking BIG questions, and truly LEVERAGING existing experience and knowledge.

I believe, with Parmasters Waterloo Region, we’re building on existing knowledge and experience, while also asking the BIG questions, and LEVERAGING appropriately.

Yes, it seems we’re thinking BIG, and we will most definitely "accomplish great things!"