What’s the Big Idea?

Whether you are self-employed, run a small business or a larger corporation, you know that idea generation is what keeps your business fresh, competitive and moving forward. Every business magazine, paper or online resource dedicates room for big ideas. In fact, business ideas are big business!

And, idea generation is just the beginning – most businesses will tell you that coming up with ideas is not the problem – managing and developing them is. Furthermore, testing and implementing those ideas is crucial. Finding the right environment to move your ideas along can make the difference between dreaming and making your ideas reality. That environment starts with the right people that can help share, develop, evaluate and then implement big ideas.

TED, Ideas Worth Sharing, is just one example of idea sharing that is going viral.

Here is what some top Canadian CEO’s and founders of organizations have to say about their ideas:

Meredith Powell, Co-founder, The Next Big Thing

• Trusting your first instinct is the key to success. Meredith is the first to admit that she didn’t have the schooling, or the hookups that others had, but what she had more than most was the ability to trust her instincts. With confidence, she reached out to big business – and it paid off!

Brian Wong, Founder Kiip

• Younger generations need to value loyalty and experience.  The younger generation could also be called the ‘instant’ generation. Everything happens now, fast and, for the most part, electronically. Having people believe in your idea means that they believe in you – that is something that only comes with time and loyalty.

David Labistour, CEO, MEC

• Being vulnerable allows for change, and vulnerability only comes from doing something new. If you want to grow, you have to be willing to learn something new. You have to surround yourself with people who know more than you, and be open to learning from them.

Debra Hewson, CEO, Odlum Brown Ltd.

• In the investment business, personal client relationships trump all else. We have become very dependent on technology for everything – email is great for updating information, but nothing can replace face-to-face communication.

Olga Ilich, Principal, Progressive Construction

• Government and business have to think more like each other. Good developers listen and get input in order to make things happen. Governments have to listen to their communities for input, and business must understand that process.

What big ideas have you been able to develop and implement in your work? Do you have ideas you are willing to share? Those ideas may just be the key to the next big business!

Source: BC Business Magazine

The Insurance industry is desperate for some innovation! At McDougall Insurance we are pushing for more access to on-line quoting and policy changes when you want to do it; telematics, which is technology in your car rewarding you for your good driving habits and innovative new discount like mortgage free and good student discounts for your kids. If you have new ideas on how we could innovate insurance, please call us at 1-800-361-0941.