All Blog Posts - Library Page 14

Agility starts with innovation

In a constantly changing world, companies can’t rely on what they’ve done in the past. The key to continual growth and success comes from embracing innovation and not being afraid to change and adapt.That’s the case with AvePoint, which went from a small B2B software startup to a leader in the Microsoft cloud space. Along with hard work and resilience, the driving force behind the company’s incredible growth and transformation was its vision and agility.When AvePoint was founded in 2001, it focused on B2B software delivery via CD-ROM — the norm at the time. As technology changed and Microsoft migrated to new systems, many other startups hesitated to move and evolve because of the complexities. However, AvePoint embraced the challenge and became known for tackling tough challenges. Not every product was an immediate winner, but AvePoint did find great solutions, which it shared with other Microsoft partners to establish itself as a leader.As Microsoft grew into the cloud, AvePoint was ahead of the curve of others who didn’t understand the technology’s potential. In the age of AI, AvePoint is an established leader in the space because it embraced innovation from the beginning.When many software companies have failed, AvePoint’s resilience has led to longevity and success. “Things are moving so fast that we have to remain very agile,” said CEO Tianyi Jiang. Today, more than ever, leadership means hands-on leadership. You can't just think pure strategy, armchair general; you have to know your customer.”How does innovation lead to longevity? Let’s dive into three critical connections:Innovation requires agilityAs we’ve established, innovation can’t happen when companies sit still. By embracing and encouraging new ideas, leaders and companies are developing agility. Markets, technology, and geopolitical frameworks are changing so rapidly that all companies must be agile to respond. Think back to the early days of the pandemic—the companies with an established pattern of innovation could pivot more quickly to unexpected challenges because they weren’t so stuck in their ways. Being open to change and willing to adjust is the foundation of innovation.Innovation means staying connected to customersCustomer demands and expectations are changing. Companies must understand their customers, stay connected and listen to their suggestions and feedback to stay ahead of those changes. Customer-focused companies regularly innovate to continue creating the best products and experiences for customers, even through minor updates. And in a world where customer experience is a chief differentiator, companies that innovate with customers in mind will stay relevant.Innovation leads to intelligent risk-takingBy its nature, innovation requires risk-taking. Leaders can’t follow a simple, risk-free path and expect to find lasting success. Innovation sets a path for thoughtful, calculated risks, mainly when those innovations are founded on data and customer feedback. Instead of chasing trends, strategic innovation helps companies make solid decisions to set the stage for long-term success and growth, not just fleeting success.For long-term success, leaders and companies must embrace innovation and be agile with changing trends and technology. That means looking to the future and being willing to test new ideas, knowing that something will stick and set you up for lasting success.

Change begins with awareness

We’re told change is inevitable, and that is indeed true. We also pursue change to enhance our lives. If we were to delve deeper and use the teachings of Anthony De Mello's book as a guide, ultimately, we would be striving for awareness. This begins with being conscious of your current state before endeavoring to transform into someone new in the future.You can go through a transformation and be completely unaware of your true self, your goals, and even your destination. Change begins with awareness. Interestingly, once you become aware, you have already changed.

Focus on what matters, abandon everything else

In 1896, the Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto discovered that 80 percent of Italy's land was owned by just 20 percent of the population. This discovery led him to investigate whether this unequal distribution existed in other areas, and he soon learned it was a widespread phenomenon.Dr. Joseph M. Juran, a prominent figure in the field of quality management in the mid-20th century, further developed and popularized the concept. He recognized that the principle applied beyond economics and land ownership and was a universal principle that could be used to understand various phenomena in business and management. Juran coined the term "the vital few and the trivial many," indicating that a small percentage of causes often lead to a large percentage of effects. He used this principle to focus on quality control, suggesting that addressing the "vital few" quality problems would have a significant impact on improving overall quality.The Pareto Principle, also known as the 80/20 rule, should be applied to your business and life. You’re likely doing too much and should focus on the few things that have the biggest impact.Bill Canady recently wrote a book worth reading on this subject titled "The 80/20 CEO." Despite the abundance of information available on the Pareto Principle over the years, I was pleasantly surprised by the insights I gained from Canady’s book. It's definitely worth a read.

Will and free choice are not two powers, but one

Like most kids, I didn’t enjoy doing household chores. Even as a full-grown adult, assuming this space is safe, I’m still not that big of a fan. Whenever I would tell my parents that a particular task was too difficult or what they were asking me to do wasn’t fair, they would inevitably respond with the proverb, “Where there is a will, there’s a way.”I never knew what that phrase meant other than I couldn’t play with my friends until my room was clean. Not long after I heard it, I’d somehow summon the will to shove everything under my bed. Finally, I could go outside and play baseball in peace.It would be years before I discovered Thomas Aquinas. “The will and free choice are not two powers, but one,” he famously wrote. This is something I struggle with to this day. I know what I should do, but I can also talk myself out of it. I’m very persuasive when debating my will. To make things easier, no adults are around to dole out punishment if I don’t do what I should.

There are four cardinal virtues

During World War II, C.S. Lewis delivered a series of radio talks on the BBC. We don’t have much audio record of these talks, but fortunately, Lewis compiled them all into the book Mere Christianity. This isn’t a note about religion.Most are familiar with the term “cardinal sins” and the serious consequences of committing such acts. In the book, starting on page 76, Lewis discusses four cardinal virtues.I’d like to focus on temperance. Of course, it is a virtue to abstain from indulging (or overindulging) in one or more of life’s many undeniable pleasures. There was a period of my life—not too long ago, in fact—when I would down two to three giant bowls of ice cream every night. Was I depressed? Maybe. Did I care about the consequences of my actions? Yes. However, the answer to either question doesn’t reveal why I did it. I did it because ice cream is man’s greatest invention. It tastes like manna from heaven.I no longer engage in this behavior. Proud of myself, for a brief moment, I considered banning all ice cream from entering my house. It’s obviously not good for you, and I had become wise enough to figure that out. Every resident or visitor to my home needed to learn the same lesson. Where ice cream was once plentiful, the freezer would now be found barren. “One of the marks of a certain type of bad man is that he cannot give up a thing himself without wanting everyone else to give it up,” writes Lewis. As a child, I was often advised to focus on myself rather than the shortcomings of others. This advice feels particularly relevant today.

Try changing yourself before changing the world

I often find myself reaching for one of two books. The first is Meditations by Marcus Aurelius, which has only grown in popularity in recent years. It’s in the running for the greatest book ever written. Something I’m sure Aurelius would find odd since he never intended for it to be published.The other book I reach for is Awareness by Anthony DeMello. It isn’t as well known as Meditations, but it has had just as big of an impact on my life.I’ve been thinking about change. How to change yourself and how to change the world. As if by divine intervention, this morning, I randomly opened Awareness to page 83 and read the following passage.