Sometimes we just try to get through the day, answer all of our emails, respond to all requests from clients, and complete what must be done. There never seems to be much time left for creating innovative new ideas and strategies. Yet, if we don’t create new ideas, we are stuck doing the same old thing every day watching profits go down, competitors take over, and joy leave the building. What if you HAD to think of a few new ideas each quarter (or each month)? What if at least one of them had to be implemented? What would happen to your business? More wins…?

Great football teams try innovative plays; they push the envelope on offensive and defensive schemes. They try to outmaneuver their competition. But in business, should we think like a competitive football team? Of course we should! I can’t think of too many compelling reasons why you wouldn’t.

So what is innovation?

Innovation is NOT improving on your 4 step service process – it is creating a whole new process.

Innovation could be a completely different delivery of the same general message. Innovation may be discontinuing the quarterly letter mailed or emailed to your clients and replacing it with a 2.5 minute video that you email to clients.

Innovation may be ending your lightly attended Market Update meetings and changing instead to a video conference or live online broadcast. Think it’s expensive? It’s not. Check out www.TalkFusion.com.

Innovation is hosting your own TV show.

Innovation is recording your team singing Happy Birthday and then emailing the video on the birthday of each of your clients.

Innovation is getting rid of your old website and replacing it with a truly different and progressive site with new messaging, video and social media connectivity.

Innovations go viral and we need viral action today. Tried and true ideas can be effective, but they generally are not memorable or worthy of telling others about. People need to know just how great you are. But in order for that to happen, someone needs to start talking.

Innovation will bring wins, sales, talk and excitement. What is an innovation you can add in 2012 to bring winning back?