Sales intelligence:how to sell more with less product return.

Recently I was at one of the outlets of Future shop to buy a laptop. While I was there, i went through the products on display. There was a product expert called Nicole Dewar . She was an exceptional salesperson in that she was not concerned about just selling a product “anyhow” rather she was much more concerned about selling products and value. The value is the intangible aspect of a transaction process. A customer may buy or not based on that alone. And selling a product in today’s market require sales intelligence that can carefully combine both together during the course of a transaction. Nicole listened attentively to what customer had to say. She focused 100 percent on a customer per time. She gives a sense of respect and utmost importance to what the customer has got to say? She try to understand why s/he wants to buy and why s/he want want to buy? By giving utmost attention to customers, she was charming them, bonding them and giving them more reason to consider buying right away . That was the way  i felt. I felt like buying all the product she was having in her section in that mall.

What most salespersons don’t learn to figure out fast, while mastering their product knowledge is people’s skill. Ability to bond with people first before scheming to get money out of them. What they fail to master as well was their concern for what will make the customer come back again and again to buy from their company. This is actually beyond cramming the vision and mission statement. It is the ability to enter into customers world, to peek through their mind, to understand the psychology surounding the customers intention of buying. This require spending qualitative time with the customer/clients to see what exactly the customers’ needs are? Converse to these, most of the sales people we see around daily are more concerned about getting rid of their products, dumping it on you. They are “pushy” and more eager to sell you “stuffs”. Little wonder that many products are later returned days after their purchase. To minimize such occurence the sales process must not be shortcircuited. Every transaction should be executed  with value.once these are no longer missing in the course of a transaction, sales will rise greatly.

The Silly escape from Recession!

This writing is all about providing simple solutions to recession. Most of the concepts discussed here has been published in my book: The Jawbone of an Ass: secrets to gaining financial freedom and getting out of life’s messy situations. [Feb 2008; iuniverse], I have warned my readers ahead of time about the present recession. I said it there that the tide could change, that the table could turn. I said it earlier that life is full of uncertainties and several unpredictable changes do occur. Slaves do become princes and princes do become slaves. And it can happen at any time. When home owners begin to lose their homes, when landlords, farm owners begin to lose their properties, assets; when mortgage owners begin to sleep in the streets without a shelter any more; then it is already happening.  It takes strategies, wisdom and a miracle to turn around a situation of scarcity.

Miracle in time of old is experiencing new thing, new happening, and newness. It’s when something that has never happened before happened .innovation means the same thing. There is a similarity between miracle and innovation. The stimulus package that Barack Obama’s administration is introducing is like a miracle. It is a miracle for those who have no way out of their financial mess. Somehow, a ray of hope has finally come at last; but there is more to it than that. It will only work if the right principles are adopted with it. If the same principle that Joseph used in Egypt was followed doggedly; if productivity culture, saving culture and investment culture is reintroduced with proper inspection; keen monitoring and much more constant feed backs are adopted. If consumerism is truly reduced in the people’s lifestyle, the end has come to recession.

It should be noted that God is not happy about scarcity. Through men, God will be bringing miracles into workplaces, communities, neighbors, et.al that will put an end to recession. God had made provision for this time ever before it happened. If nations facing recessions can go back to their foundations on God, and in God; there will be great turn around for them. For instance, I observed that a part of the Canadian’s Anthem said: “O Canada… we stand on God for thee”. And the American dollars have an inscription that said: “In God we trust. A part of Nigeria’s anthem has this: O God of creation, direct our noble path…”  We all seem to have forgotten where we were coming from. The founders of our land believe in someone, in some certain principles. They are divine principles. They were dependent on supernatural power. They believed in God.

Today, we have a distorted concept of God. It is so sad that an average North American does not have a religion. If s/he does; s/he does not believe in sovereignty of the God of heaven. God can be anything to some people. He is not a buddy but a bad boss. Some do not even believe in anything. Little wonder; where we are finding ourselves. The provider of life and the creator of everything have been removed from the picture. Our lives and economy is falling like pack of cards. One of the truest ways to recession proof ourselves is to start thinking of going back to God. It is time to start asking the right questions, redefining what are the bases of life? What do we believe in? Who did the forefathers trusted in? Who was their help in times of old? God is His name. He is the help of the helpless. He is our help in the ages past; He is our hope for the years to come.

Another secret to getting out of recession is to ask ourselves these questions: what are we inventing now? What are we contributing to the world? What are we giving back to the society? What new concept, what new brand are we introducing? Barack Obama’s concept of Bio-generating plant for energy production is an invention, which will make a whole lot of difference in the America’s economy. If it is whole heartedly embraced, without some people somewhere planning on how to frustrate this noble project. It will be one great way to surviving the present economic scarcity in USA. The secret is to become inventors. It is to become more creative. It is to look within for what is available as a leverage with which one can navigate the season of scarcity. It is by becoming more enterprising that recession is ameliorated.

An average individual needs to become more enterprising. Develop entrepreneurial spirit. Start your on business. Do not depend on one source of income. The fact that you are an employee does not stop you from having a trade on the side. You can use a part of your home for business. Then your home business can relieve you of the amount of tax that is being paid to the government. At your leisure, you can even make some crafts, arts, weave and paint to make some more money, rather than just wasting time playing away opportunities in guise of a time wasting game. Time is a valuable asset. A mind is a terrible thing to waste. Once you become resourceful. You would have recession proof yourself. You will be difficult to sack during downsizing.

In bid to be retained during downsizing, some staffs in some companies, try to hide information from colleagues so as to be the indispensable staff that will be retained at workplace. The point is this that is a crap way of becoming indispensable. You are insecure because you know you don’t have what it takes to be retained. If you develop yourself, acquire multiplicity skills, you will be more resourceful to the company you are working for. And you will be confident about who you are where you are. We must try to be valuable anywhere we find ourselves. We must be the solution to the system. And this can only happen if we work on our selves. If we don’t sit on our laurels; if we continue to strive to become better citizens of the state we live in.

Recession is not new. It has happened before. It has happened in the time of Joseph while in Egypt. The bible recorded how they dealt with it back then. They went into production of more goods. They also saved more than they consumed. I talked about the importance of becoming a “positive human octopus” in my book, as a way of getting out of financial mess. A means to overcoming unpalatable financial scarcity is to acquire multiplicity of skills to the end of becoming so indispensable and resourceful such that you are ever needed irrespective of whatever happens. This self development principle needs to be adopted by every individual. The next age is going to be filed with uncommon things, new concepts, innovations and more. More of these will come through people who are prepared and whose minds have been developed. What we will be experiencing will be astounding. Brands will be seriously redefined. Corporations will be diversifying at the speed of light. Individuals will be loaded. Industries all over will improve, expand, increase to what we can not but pause and ponder over. There will be true miracles in guise of innovation in all sectors, all walks of life. There will be results that systems, nations will come and study as a program is being studied in the institutions. All these and more will work as the antidote to the present scarcity and the future recession once we start doing them. Once we start contributing our individual parts right now.

THE GREAT GAMEPLAN OF GREATNESS

In asking who is the next icon of change? The answer can be found in the words of a great woman: “One can never consent to creep, when one feels an impulse to soar!” - Helen Keller

Everyone must aspire to be the next icon of change. Live beyond the trend. Maximize change. Amidst pressure of various kinds of daily lives; it could become challenging. Amidst numerous challenges, we want the edge…topping the career ladder, getting mortgage, changing homes as we change diapers, settling down, raising kids among several. Generally, our priorities differ. Considering what we face daily, amidst normalcy of daily routines, in the race for survival, there is that dilemma to be successful achievers. We want to be better, to be more. With every desire comes the will to win, to get financial secure, to become richer. And lurking secretly is the ambition to be known and famous. We want to matter in our generation. Beyond the routine of feeding our hungry stomachs; and more; becoming significant and getting better is another goal for so many. Therefore when faced with the daily decadence that looms at us; we ask how we will be able to reconcile them all. Nevertheless, we choose our path in it all. Our life moves in the direction of our heart. We chose to die or thrive in it all.

It’s a new move in the New Year and the slogan says: The change we want. If you are asking how far can you go in life? You are asking for a change. It is no longer how far you can go. It is why not go there? If you have been thinking of becoming significant; what will you allow to stop you from reaching those places this year? Haul all the fight against mediocrity! Aspire and desire the peak! Be the best you can! And if you are ready for the top; then the top is calling for you. Self-ask: how can I get there? Yes! The top is good but what is my strategy? What is my plan? How much can I give for it? What will it cost or take me? What am I giving up? Where do I love to be? And when will I like to be there? What am I giving up for it? What new move am I making daily? That is pushing me upwards? What deliberate steps? What drastic measures are my making? Somehow you must understand that you need people to get there. And that means not just ordinary people. You need to meet or make extraordinary people to reach the height you see. How do I mean? Read on.

There is a strategy to bonding with greatness. You deliberately meet people of timber and caliber, you are loved, and you are invited into their fraternity. Oh! It’s not that simple. I know. On the other hand, you can make ordinary everyday people into the ladder you climb through your influence. You can make something out of them if you are ready to give them all the resources for development, confidence they need. There is a law called the law of influence. It is an art of winning. This taught how to persuade people. There is a place for staying in, staying put and staying there throughout the process of their learning. Involvement cannot be separated from requirement for part of what qualifies you to lead. There must be a role play, a contribution, a support or more; for you to be respected and permitted to lead. There must be some inputs, some values, something you’ve given or you are giving, or you have given in time past for us to believe you are qualified to really lead. And we believe that you have to give such support, concern; tangible or intangible things all the way through leadership era and beyond. Sacrifice and leadership goes and in hand. Authority actually means responsibility according to God’s word.

Somehow, there are people who know how to relate well with other people in such a way that, through their relational skills, leadership skills; some people just like them, opportunities arise for them and through that they are able to leverage to the actual top. We must learn from such people. When you intentionally cultivate a habit of networking with people; following up with newly met guests, you are becoming a “human octopus”…someone who is able to strategically draw a team, a following, an association or a community of people. You are like a positive and healthy ganglion, spreading your self upwards. You have wings to fly to the top. Your influence is extending and it can get you somewhere. It is by being able to influence people, businesses and more. By being able to develop community of people that can surround a noble cause. That is when a society is said to have been taken. It is the responsibilities of leaders to take over communities, societies and nations for a positive reason and motive. It is not for mere men. Today, as policies, laws are changing and bills are being passed daily at each nation’s senates. We are either losing territories or gaining them.

Due to the fact that it is costly to raise a people through influence route and the processes described above; the tendency to cling to power is more rampant in today’s leaders who want authority without responsibility. In capturing a society, you cannot use force, brute methods. You will become an oppressor, a tyrant and that way, you are not really fulfilling purpose. You can never change a society by showing that society the dysfunctional it possesses. You can only change the society through models. Showing the model of what the society ought to be. The principle is still the same. In order to conquer a people; you must capture the commerce, reshape the people’s philosophies, affect their education , change their orientation, change their laws, their way of thinking, indoctrinate them in a new paradigm, lead them out into a desired culture and do everything to change their lifestyle. That is why there is a measure of assertiveness to this thing. For a people to change, it will require influence. And if the change agent is not celebrated and accepted, it will be oppressive. Sometimes, tactical compulsions or imposition may be required in the process of changing leadership. That was the way changing of kings and governors of old was done. It might be barbarous but it was result oriented. Since, it seems to me that there is no point where there will be no more war in the world. As in those days, so it is in our days. How do we then capture societies in our day without learning from history? In taking over a society; we need right strategies. Model Leaders must be detailed, thorough and result oriented. To achieve that, they need to be tutored in decision making, policy implementation and plan evaluation. They must master the art and science of team management and more. We need to measure our progress per time, per value added to the system. We must measure civilization by what we have been able to add to people’s lives beyond the city terrains. We must adopt policies that will advance our nations at grass root level upwards. The essence of our leaders’ attempting second term in office must be to benefit the society. Their coalition into new political parties must never be for recycling dysfunctional leaders. True leaders will respond more to issues in a timely manner so that things will change.

Descent culture, right values don’t just jump on people. These things don’t start overnight. It evolves in process. It takes a period of time for culture to be. It takes a true leadership and a willing followership. Our traditional clothes, music, and dressings are not all what it means to appreciate our culture. Neither is clinging to heritage and freedom which some people fought for, and for which they even laid down their lives. There must be a kind of spirit. A kind of attitude; and it has to spring from a core, not just a superficial “thing”. When people see that, they know it, they can identify who we are by mere seeing these things. In the way we live, in how we view issues and respond. And it says a whole lot about us.

Achieving successful innovation management

Innovation management is managing innovation from raw state into finished forms. Innovation could be in guise of strategies, know-how of product and services, business development, plans, predictions, prophecies, forecasts, information technology, ideas, et.al. To live on the cutting edge is to be able to evolve some of these. Innovation management is therefore a hub of business branding. It will continue to bring the market edge in 21^st century businesses and beyond. That is what is prevalent in business development; as managers strategize through creative intelligence towards realization of idea implementation. Businesses that will win in the present world economy must be innovation conscious and employ innovation managers deliberately. For a business to be relevant they must pay the price for innovative intelligence. The ability to provide the irrefutable, practicable answers that has not been but which has the potential and capacity to be proven is certain through these people.

Some successful organization may have at their core, some project managers among their executive who operates with valuable ideologies and team up to bring increase which justifies their annual budget and expenditure throughout the year. The implementation of their innovative business principles may have yielded great turnover at year end such that they may not mind the cost of retaining, retraining such staffs. It may never happen that way forever, if what they work with his basic project ideologies rather than futuristic projections. Reason is that project has already been done but innovation is yet to be executed. It is a question of that thin line between what is yet to come and what we are already seeing. On the other hand another business may reach their year end, evaluate and discover skyrocketed costs. They may decide on employing creative intelligent staffs by replacement method. They may choose to downsize, turn back on their vision and mission statements unconsciously. They may subtly violate policies and corporate promises. Rather than going through the season and coming out wet, but better on the other side. They may bow out, lose business integrity and more.  Corporate teams must be re-trained to enable them embrace innovation in thoughts and actions. The training may be intangible in value. It will prevent refusal of creative ideas and insights.  It will avoid unyielding attitude to authority with innovation edge. If it threatens their comforts; they may not be braced up for it. They may see it as obstacle and prefer to avoid it out rightly by continuing reinventing the wheels. They must see possibilities and advantage for them not to quit on innovation. It’s like; the next “mad rush” will not be like “gold rush” but it will be towards actualization of stable business economic environment through intelligent outsourcing. And just as in days of gold rush, most business will be madly securing their market share by determining their “business gold” which is the capacity of their corporate teams. Through outstanding idea managers, employers will deliberately expand and the cycle will begin again for a search for indispensable employees who possess outstanding profiles; capacity, result-oriented and track experience attributes and more.

Connecting innovation, change, and business

In the religious organizations, it is called prophecy. In the science world, it is predictions, in research, it is called forecasting techniques, in commerce world, its called innovation. In this writing I call it innovation edge and it requires creative intelligence to see it. The world has been looking for managers, bankers, stock brokers and employees who can master the art of innovation management. The bookshops are filled with variety in titles but rarely will you see any shelve committed to innovations. We have been searching for value in personal lives as well as in business sectors for several years. Corporate bodies, business experts in the market called it different names but it is the same thing we are likely looking for. It is for significant economic worth for our invested efforts and time. To some it is one or more of the following profit, turn over, customers’ retention, volume, possibilities. And to some others it is the combination of all and much more. The word is value. The answer lie in innovation intelligence and the end is innovation edge.

Since the beginning of time, change has been, the race has been a matter of adapting to change. The world has seen enormous, thrilling and mind blowing revolutions. Although some of this transformed our minds, some numbed us. Most transformation has brought advancement. To stay abreast, alert, attuned, competitive with edge amidst psycho -cataclysmic changes occurring at light speed is by continuing to innovate and not attempting to master uncertainties and instabilities that could run one crazy. It is no longer a question of being current or being informed rather it is of leadership edge that is able to bring out an innovation edge through a system of management that can predict and adjust, forecast and fine tune as it goes.  It has to be able to analyze impending happenings, events before they occur; and then go ahead to position the business rightly in the future for it. Their innovation does not have to be famous or even celebrated to sell inside the organization. It has to follow healthy business ethics, corporate integrity with her team to succeed. It could come in form of promise to stakeholders of their job security through consistent implementation of trade policies and corporate decisions made. It should protect their rights and interests. It may bring dividends, bonus or a raise much later, but it will not navigate to recession. In essence, corporate bodies may not necessarily have to promise a bonus, give a raise, or even declare dividend in the immediate but they are able to salvage their business from decline. They are committed not to stoop to downsizing for the sake of their stakeholders.

Moreover, older businesses and organizations understand that by being able to hold the decision making power through timely information, they can bond with stakeholders; determine the market determinant forces. For new companies, it’s in being able to assure the stakeholders. It is being able to appreciate employees. It is bonding through acquisition, mergers with shakers and movers of the market. It’s the ability to take the market by surprise through innovation. It is by introducing indispensable product brands that relates to the needs of their customers at the moment and in the future. It could be the corporate capacity to grow and develop unto one that is able to secure future value, market share through intelligent marketing and monopolistic edge.

Ending Idea rut.

“Don’t ask yourself what the world needs; ask yourself what makes you come alive. And then go and do that. Because what the world needs are people who have come alive.”                                                                                                        -Harold Whitman

It is not how big you are, it is how bigger you want to be? It is not about how great you are presently. It is how greater you can become? Could it be that; it is not just that it is too expensive to pursue and reach our dreams but that it is a matter of whether or not we are ready to die and go bankrupt for it. We are afraid because we are parochial and paranoid. We are under-achieving because we jointly suffer from a disease called idea paralysis… Which causes idea rut or innovation decay. On an island of doubt where dreams are buried, we pass through and also offer ours for penny.  We didn’t take time out to ask soul-searching questions like: Where we could possibly reach through our single contribution of innovation? What growth we may possibly attain through personal creativity? Who our idea could possibly influence and rescued? Where our businesses could grow to? What we can become because of all these? Some other question is how will we know when we’ve had the best innovation or idea that the world is expecting, which the world has never known? When will it occur that we have reached there? What will the idea look like?  When we are scared of being jeered at, when we are afraid of failure; how do we possibly try? How do we get to test our ideas?

The question is do you want to be an innovator or not? The other option is to be some grumpy feet dragging frustrated folks, who hanker after life guessing and cursing, waiting for what is coming next. If you want to be an innovator, who will change the course of history; it is not why but when?  You want to reach those laudable and beautiful goals and aspirations and feel you have labored for something that mattered which will transcend you. So, I dare to what have you ever dreamt of? What are you scared of dreaming of? Where does your thinking stop and why have you stopped dreaming? Whatever happened to your creative mind? Do you feel that since your creativity does not yield monetary value you should stop? Where do you tend to conceive creative idea the most? What have you ever wished in your mind which has never been? Why will you want to stop even when it appears as if it is stupid wish dreams, and no one is appreciating it? Why are you discouraged of dreaming when no one is supporting you? What is the mental barrier against your cognitive and imaginative abilities?

It is not that some of us are not dreaming or that we are lazy dreamers; rather we all at one time or the other probably got overwhelmed. We count the cost and avoid the hard work involved with our dreams wherein what is required of us is more than the best we could to offer. There is fear inside and out. It is tough to maintain consistent patterns of creative thought which is required for the discovery of innovation. It’s like some imaginary lines are shut down. Lines of beautiful thought patterns that evolve into downloadable, scientific compact system of thoughts. These lines may be inkling associated with solution processes that brings positive, creative thoughts. Innovative intelligence therefore cannot come through haphazard thinking. It does not arise from worry or a thinking pattern, that merely take long walks, deep pauses, sits quietly somewhere beside lake, on sofa indoor; Imagining some fairy tales. Could it be that, it is in asking certain soul-searching questions that imagery of innovative thoughts are provoked towards the end of positive results. It always ends in desired destination without removing people from the big picture. Therefore it is not about where you really are? Because, every innovation often shows the mind and the perspective of the innovator and innovation location is in the mind and faculties of the innovator, a mind is a terrible thing to waste. The end of every innovation edge will therefore partly reflect the mind, its beliefs and core values. It will reaffirm the whole creation from coast to coast as connected and beneficiaries. The actual test of innovation intelligence may not be in eloquence of innovator or in certifications, not in all the years wasted in laboratories discovering nothing, not in many long pauses or breathe taken, rather in it may be in this: the mind-color, the motive, the vision, the strength of idea, the beneficiaries, the nature and features of innovation and more. This is how it connects us. This is all what it meant.

Innovative marketing

Shopping could be time consuming, I was at the mall once, where an attendant at a fabric store, smiled at me as I entered. I frowned in return. She sobered out of disappointment. She had expected me to smile back. She was being “herself”, a sales person. I was being myself, a typical cranky customer. May be she has invited some customers and retained them by smiling. It was good enough charm that won some; but not enough on me.  Stressed, angry due to the fact that I didn’t want to be at the mall, save for necessity. I was frustrated about the long search through various shelves, corner, color, and departments of the mall. Some items could come with specificities that demand walking stores, checking shelves, asking attendants. When I glanced back to steal a look on that sales lady who I frowned at, her glow was gone! It may be terrible of me. But the fact that she lost her glow was actually a proof of her hollowness and insufficiency. To force employees to smile by the reason of job description is not an innovative marketing. It only creates more gaps for them to overcome in marketing process. If it was not in her personality to smile, what happened unveiled it. It proved customer service skills as something that may be almost impossible to feign. Whether or not, she was appreciated, the smile was expected to be on. If it was not in core value, any charm put on to win people over will fail.  Some customers know this that it can work if it is genuine. It will only last if it is intrinsic. As leopards never changes skin as in chameleon. Appearing in environmental color is untrue which reveal instability, falsity and self doubts in actual sense.

Therefore, it’s not that some of us don’t know what it entails to market or sell. What frustrate us mostly is paying that very price for innovative marketing- the expensive price of authenticity. The challenge may not be in our weak networks or failure of multilevel marketing; rather it may be in the futuristic advantages of our product or call it our product edge and our being genuine. Once we can figure that out; we already have what it entails to sell successfully. We can hang on; hang in there till we meet customers who prefer seeing the future value of product, value for money and quality in whatever they purchase. For most of us, innovative marketing is like innovation hunt. It’s a feat, some fight we don’t understand, unable to identify. It’s like a marketer aiming at target. He searches for the elusive. He chases the unstable and invisible customers. But they are just hard to pin down. It seems they don’t really need what the marketer has to offer or they don’t want to have any encounter with him. If he must market successfully, then he must be able to visualize the resourcefulness, of both now and the future of his product. That product worth may persuade customers successfully. Many times, it is uncertain that the customer will be willing to buy. Knowing ahead may bring some anxiety but it also brings the chance for rehearsing some persuading techniques. Consequently there may be a convincing result.

In order to hit on trade target at any point; whoever salespeople are selling to; they should made to see the relationship as something that transcend sales process. oftentimes these customers want to be seen as humans, as brother and a sister who should not be defrauded. So to sell to a blood tie people, is to be considerate. Since, they have fears, reservations; there are specific requirements, impending wants, and relevant needs on the line in different categories that must customer must address in their individual lives; which does not give room for time wastage or trial and error in their transactions. They don’t want to part with their money and later regret. They wanted good advice on the state of products. That is why sales must be done intelligently out of thorough preparation. From an understanding of customers’ model and profiles. In order to beat through fogs of resistance then, a marketer must bond with customers firstly by understanding, them and explaining the features of the product how they have future value and could meet relevant needs. Understanding customers, product’s outstanding qualities, marketer’s persuasive strength, authenticity and negotiation skills are quality factors required for innovative marketing.

It’s not a case of showing product price tags; flashing those discounts as “on sales”. It’s not about flexibility in how customers are allowed to pay for product through several credit cards, debit cards, or cash. The problem is, with what to pay as the medium of transaction? The exchange is unaffordable? Most customers want more than rebates; they want some extra value from every business transactions. Inadequate money restricts customers’ purchasing power. And a mere smile is not the answer. A sales person’s pleasant attitude may count but there is more to business transactions than all that. Little wonder most people give up on marketing; because they found out early that the stake is not just too high to attain innovative marketing and achieve marketing edge but it tends to soar higher.

OVERCOMING INNOVATOR’S DOUBTS.

“Take what you want,” said God, “and pay for it.” – Spanish proverb

Have you ever doubted something authenticity? Have you ever been in a doubt of someone’s genuineness? What does it mean to doubt? Who faces the greatest life doubts? I would call them change agents or innovators.What does it mean to be a change agent at the precipice of change? To save your precious time. To be on the cutting edge of innovation is to be at the precipice of change; influencing change. It is to be a student of change and “implementer” of change. The journey actually starts with individual self discovery. And you must be ready to pay the price of greatness. It begins with personal discovery and strong determination towards personal development.

It means that in order for you to innovate intelligently, you must deliberately cultivate the attitude that can attract success. To become a part of the world change agents. It is to be the change and start the change; first from within you, then through your areas, and spheres of influence. As a trend setter, you must never allow any self-doubt to set in or eat up at you. Work on your core values, areas of interests and visions.It becomes possible if you can dare every obstacle with audacity. If you can put everything on the line for the dream you see.  If you can have singleness of purpose that will press on doggedly come rain or sunshine. If you can be latent with confidence, powerful information, relevant ideas and a burning desire that comes with some measure of convictions. You can reach there.

For instance, Barack Obama went through difficult obstacles to emerge the first black man who became the president of United states of America. Nelson Mandela  became the first president of South Africa after apartheid ended and all in all; i saw a trend in these icons of excellence and leadership.The boldness to face their self doubts. After several years of incarceration, Nelson Mandela won in his struggle. fter series of campaign and blackmail Obama won the election. Like every great men ever written of in history. There should be this doggedness in us that must be ready to surf through oppositions through the enduring power of our vision, ideas, creative intelligence, faith, audacity of hope and perseverance of faith.

It goes without saying then that innovators have doubts like everybody else. And their ideas may be doubted by them most of the time. Yet the difference between us and them is that even they have doubts, they still head on.When your idea is not celebrated, when your ideologies seems unpopular, or not marketable. When you appear as a foolish pioneer,that is when you may have to stay with that thing; why? because it is known as innovation. Just  stay with it, provided it has value, substance and you are convinced by it. Invest your time in it. You will surely get there.

Come to think of it, even Jesus Christ had doubts when he got to the garden of Gethsemane where he was faced up with decision to either go to the cross or retreat. Had he retreated, he may have lived some one hundred years more but it may be forgotten years in obscurity. He may never be known by all and sundry as it is today. The price he paid was the crucifixion he wanted to retreat from. You must know yourself first. Test your passion and vision. And learn to choose your battles wisely. Know what your capacity is. Then pursue your cause and never allow yourself be deterred until you reach your goals. Always know that there is no man who can stop you and there is a special place for you up there at the topmost floor, if only you believe, persevere and push your way up.

There is only one place you must never look towards; there is just one direction you must never face if you really want to get there; and that is backwards. Do not focus on your mistakes, pasts, and backstabbers.  If you will really become so restless for success, and embrace hard work you will win. By possessing the doggedness to go from door to door receiving no! Going from door slams to cheek slaps and yet refusing to quit.  All that will be based on your capacity for rejection and putting doubts in perspective.

Individual process for innovation actualization

There is an individual course work and progression towards innovation realization. We all have a responsibility in this journey. We need to ask if all around us; we are supporting innovation and innovators. If we embrace noble dreams, visions, and ideas of others irrespective of their brand names.We will be objectively do that.

Needless to add; if we must operate intelligently towards innovation actualization; we must not allow any idea to die in our hand, or in the file somewhere in our desks. Don’t forget that there is power in one man’s decision. And any innovative opportunity buried away in your drawer either consciously or unconsciously is a fight against innovation actualization. The odd may be insignificant today but it poses a very great evil at the next innovation world we are approaching very shortly.

There is an unconscious realization  that innovation decay and idea rut are unrealistic. The quickest way to end  the next age  impending development and advancement is to oppose innovation today. The fact remains that certain innovation in the next age will come with their pedestal firmly braced upon the previous generation and works. They will look like a “new” brand from the old.

Therefore, do not permit any brilliant idea expiration in your hands. Don’t sanction evil reports and then allow good suggestions get ignored in a meeting. Don’t oppose any noble idea or any opportunity for growth just because of ego. Do not attack the reputations of others in order to become popular; do not stop people’s dreams by your own influence. This is the gradual road there- our daily routines, our smallest decisions, our policies and the personal decisions we make.

As much as you can; try to bond with people; bond with change agents, create a community, start a positive epidemics of change, encourage change agents out there. Above all, if you cannot beat them, do not join them. Don’t give up, let up or shut up! Never allow mediocrity reign, do not celebrate corruption, or worship people because of money.

Reframing Yes we can, to Yes we should!

I was in Winnipeg, Manitoba on the night the result of the USA election 2008 was released on air. Although, there was serenity around most parts of Canada; a handful of blacks may be rejoicing in their homes almost quietly. Majority of united state’s citizens were full of excitements and cerebration. The white, blacks and colored and I, watched Senator Mc Cain addressed the crowd about his loss and Barack Obama about his victory. We saw how the president elected; Barack Obama delivered his first speech as the united state president elect in Chicago. We saw the crowd weeping for joy, singing the slogan: “yes we can!”. It was obvious that what we all saw that night was enough to explain what cutting edge innovation is. When we saw an order defied, a barrier broken, a new thing happened. We can not flinch as if it was normal. Who some people are trying to cut in size now is Barack Obama but what could not be resized, disregarded and downplayed was innovation, change and newness that have occurred. It was more than personality issue, racism issue. It was innovation issue.We knew that innovation has been birthed when the same America turned from bias perspective to embrace what came from where they had formerly rejected .If Martin Luther king was to be alive today; he would surely sing a joyous song. That indeed dreams do come through and true.

Doubtless, a new beginning has come for the citizens of the united state and the entire world. And this is the reality of this novelty change that has happened. The fact is that most American have not seen this new beginning as it is. Although, an unexpected record has been made. A world record about racism and prejudice has been broken. History has been made. Yes! The first black president has been elected on 4^th November 2008 in united state of America. And a landmark has been made but what is so significant about this? What was the edge of this innovation? This is significant because it was the first of its kind. A first in his order just as Christ was the only begotten of the Father in Heaven. It became an edge because it has to do with something that has not been but which has connection with the struggles of previous decades. It will forever be spoken of; just as the dream of the Martin Luther King’s, the Mathman Ghandis’s revolution, the Nelson Mandela’s struggle because it was first thought as impossible, unrealistic, unbelievable but it later became a reality.

Although this book is not about racism or Barack Obama; however, it is noteworthy that that event should be seen as innovation that may bring the edge that America seek especially if encouraged at this crucial moment that the economy is facing certain crisis. The fact that Barack Obama made it to the white house is the beginning of creativity test because he will be putting the integrity of his order, genre, to scrutiny. Innovation intelligence is therefore required for a successful tenure in office of the president. It must never be assumed now that he has won that since, he faced rejection before coming into office. He should relax, rest on his laurel and feel that all will be well all through. I am expecting him to brace up for a turbulent tenure at least for the first two years if not for his entire tenure as the president. Why? Because many of the people who never believed in what he saw, may still need to be convinced to change their minds when they see results and proofs. However, it will not stop certain people from trying to stop, frustrate this noble innovation from bringing such results it possess. It is not enough to choose the best of teams together; although it is good. It is important to project through innovative intelligence for innovation to bring positive result that will justify all efforts expended.Every great men of past generation encountered their sheer of rejection first, and then acceptance. Barack Obama may not assume that he is already accepted until he has left office. Your exit is more important than your entry. Who knows if he will be stoned with not a pair of shoes like his predecessor; that he may be stoned with rocks if he should disappoint the people?

Although, most innovation faces rejection, prejudice and more, the innovators who have taken time out to reach out from obscurity, ordinariness and “normal” in this world may be misconstrued and rejected. Every new idea is subjected to test. In their struggle to bring change, they may lose their life just as Jesus Christ was crucified in his mission of reconciling men to God. The subtle truth about innovators that gives them an edge over others was their committed-ness, their bold heart, passion, power of conviction. This is the secret of their success. But much more what made them become extraordinary and great was their focus on their assignment, visions, ideas, service. Sacrifice was in the core of their hearts. Their songs and heart cry was for people, change, creative intelligence and innovation edge.

So, what has an election of a nation got to do with innovation edge? How can a controversial personality be a model for a cutting edge innovator profile? You will ask? The spirit, attitude and resolve with which Barack Obama carried out his cause as the aspirant who won the election was what one could describe as a cutting edge innovation is about. Signs, statistics, history, experience and every indices proved that he would lose but he went on unflinching. That is what it means to live on the precipice of change. To hang on, to stay on the cutting edge of something, an event, a business, is to believe in innovation. That spirit and fervor makes you grab whatever the whole world say you cannot lay hold of. It is to prove the critics wrong. It is to prove a point to yourself first and then show it to others that YES! You can! Obama has proved that that never again will any black man be able to use the color of his skin or the limitations from his environment, as an excuse for mediocrity and complacency. That never again will a man whether white or colored, minority or majority will find an excuse for not moving towards his/her dreams or have an explanation for innovation-decay or idea-rut that happens to people who abandon their dreams. A man has proven that the time has come for all men whether white or black skin to see beyond the melanin pigmentation, to align their mentality with ability to progress and potentials for possibilities. To stand up and be counted for change, and be able to say: Yes we can to all dreams, ideas and visions!

The future campaign should no longer be how we can make our cities cleaner, our environment safer, or how we can care for the destitute on our streets; even though these are laudable causes. Yes! We can create such opportunities and more but we should move to the next level of innovative intelligence where we can change the manner of livelihood, system of governance in every countries of the world. And yes we can! If we would make the move to think creatively out of the box… We can have good schools, infrastructure and more. Yes! Those policies that could bring positive change and global peace should be built implemented. We can have effective police service in all regions of Africa where bribery and corruption has become normal. The slogan should be reframed from “Yes we can!” to “Yes we should!” We should enlighten, orientate, and pay the right, good salaries. Yes we should do all that. We can run great businesses that will inspire change and transform our societies. We should encourage that. We can optimize our potential. And now is the time we should do that.

And here is the edge! And this is the assignment: it is to live to break the barriers! To break those limits, the unbreakables ,the impossibles, to live where most call desert but lie within coast of potentials and opportunities. To walk away from wrong and pursue after right; to walk where the angels fear to thread! Yes, we can! Yes we should! We should achieve these. We should work hard at those ideas, dreams and vision. And Yes! We can live in the afterlife in peace and glory; If we can allow the will of God be done in our cities as it is in the days of heaven.