Why Simple Solutions Are What Your Customers Want

"Remind me of your name again?" The barista asked me as he was holding my credit card. I stared blankly at him and eyed my credit card, he still didn’t follow my cue. 

I couldn’t make it up if I tried. 

I work with many companies on digital transformation, and while we implement the latest technology in parallel I always remind them to not forget the simple acts that have the biggest impact. 

No customer will ask for the most complex technical solution, but remember their name and they are more likely to keep coming back. 

Don’t focus on new features and service if your fundamental features don’t work. I’ve not been able to deposit checks remotely for the last year because of a clever new system that was rolled out. That isn't progressing, don’t focus on the shiny new parts if the basics are failing. 

When did you last mystery shop your own company? Are you skipping the simple solutions that your customers are craving?

I share more examples in my second book: Rapid Growth, Done Right: Lead, Influence and Innovate for Success, Kogan Page, which launches in May 2020.

You can pre-order here Amazon US and amazon.co.uk.

Dedicated to growing your business,

Val

P.S. I hope you enjoyed this week's VAL-uable Insights, sign up here to get them in your inbox each Monday morning: http://valwrightconsulting.com/newsletter-sign-up/

Three Brilliant Innovations From CES That You Actually Need

I’ll admit it, this wasn’t easy to write. Whether it is a Fitbit for your dog, a robot that delivers your toilet paper when you need it most, or a voice-activated faucet for your kitchen, CES knows how to attract the absurd. What I wanted to feature was brilliant innovations that could be useful outside of the bubble of Silicon Valley craziness.

I was hoping to find more, but only three made the list of most useful and brilliant for an everyday household.

A bike helmet with an SOS signal

Livall has made a smart helmet for your bike, skateboard, or e-scooter that has front, rear lights and indicator lights, an SOS distress button, and automatically calls for help with your GPS location if you get into an accident. Simply brilliant and useful.

Early warning device for leaks in your home

Given I woke up to six inches of water in our basement over the holidays, this device would have saved us a lot of time and expense. The Phyn Smart Water Assistant attaches to any pipe in your home and automatically detects if there are leaks and notifies you of a change of pressure or excessive water usage in your home. Simply brilliant and saves you money too.

A prosthetic arm you control with your mind

I won’t pretend to understand this, and it is a little Black Mirror-esque for me, but if their claims are as real as their pitch, this is pretty incredible. Watch this video: BrainCo’s Dexus is a prosthetic arm that you can think your way to controlling. It is now moving into production and expects FDA approval later this year. Simply brilliant and life-changing.

When I am designing innovation labs and creative experiences for companies I always like to ask the important “so what?” question. If you can’t articulate the impact to profit, revenue, customers lives, or market share you are wasting your time. I explore more how to accelerate innovation in my new book Rapid Growth, Done Right: Lead, Influence and Innovate for Success, Kogan Page, which launches in May 2020. You can pre-order here Amazon US and amazon.co.uk.

What brilliant innovations does your team have their eye on developing this year?

Dedicated to growing your business,

Val

P.S. I hope you enjoyed this week's VAL-uable Insights, sign up here to get them in your inbox each Monday morning: http://valwrightconsulting.com/newsletter-sign-up/

How To Make Your First Day Of The Decade Matter

Here’s what you need to stop and start on your first day back at work.

Stop - Don't spend your first day back in the office digging out of email.

Start - By writing on your whiteboard the profit, revenue, customer, and personal goals you have for this year. Have them clearly on your office wall and filter all of your activities with those goals in mind.

Stop - Don’t blindly attend the meetings on your calendar.]

Start - Asking 5 crucial questions before every meeting 1. Are we ready to meet on this topic? 2. Do we have the information we need? 3. Do we have clear outcomes? 4. Do we have the right people gathered? 5. Do we need to cancel, delay, or adjust?

Stop - Writing resolutions and beating yourself up for not achieving what you set out to do last year.

Start - By understanding what contributed to last year’s success and ask how you can repeat it, then ask yourself why you didn’t set out to achieve what you had hoped last year so you can make the right changes this year.

Stop - With the same routines, same habits, and the same ways of talking to your team.

Start - Experimenting with new ideas. I dedicate a whole chapter about increasing the quality and quantity of new ideas in my upcoming book Rapid Growth, Done Right: Lead, Influence and Innovate for Success, Kogan Page, which launches in May 2020. You can pre-order here Amazon US and amazon.co.uk.

If you can’t wait until May, I am holding a private teleconference with everyone who has pre-ordered my book on Wednesday, January 8, 9 am PT, How to Achieve Rapid Growth in 2020 where you will learn tips on how to start the new year for maximum results and hear the first worldwide preview of my upcoming book. Email me your order confirmation and I will send you the private invitation where you can join live or hear the recording.

Contact me if you are interested in pre-ordering bulk copies. I am offering limited special offers that include free keynotes, coaching, and executive team development.

Until then, wishing you a rapid growth start to your new decade.

Dedicated to growing your business,

Val

P.S. I hope you enjoyed this week's VAL-uable Insights, sign up here to get them in your inbox each Monday morning: http://valwrightconsulting.com/newsletter-sign-up/