Most small businesses want to gain advantage over their competitors.

Most small businesses want more sales.

Most small businesses want to keep track of their operating activity.

And - the operations of most small businesses become far more complicated than outsiders [and most insiders] would have guessed or expected…and much of that complication is unnecessary. Considering this from another perspective, most small businesses do not perform basic planning activities such as SWOT analyses and 80/20 Rule analyses.

Consequently, most small businesses struggle with business development actions and business development results.

CRM to the rescue...

Well, maybe not!

Here's why [not].

There's lots of small-business talk about finding simple and user-friendly CRM tools and using those CRM tools to improve management of actions, improve monitoring of results, and grow a base of satisfied customers. Yet, relatively few of these small businesses are ready to use a CRM system. In addition to the lack of planning introduced above, there are two main reasons why they are not ready for CRM tools:

1. they cannot [clearly and concisely] describe their existing operating actions
2. they lack knowledge about CRM tools, in some cases they cannot even define what the abbreviation 'CRM' means

So - let's start by defining CRM.

Here's the definition-picture provided by Wikipedia -

Now, that picture introduces CRM...as long as you agree "CRM" is an abbreviation of "Customer Relationship Management". And, for now, let's work from that base, CRM = Customer Relationship Management. If we accept "CRM" means "Customer Relationship Management" then we should also be able to agree CRM tools/systems do not include business tools/systems for on-line sales/ordering or inventory-control. While CRM does not include these tools/systems, CRM may or may not link with these and other tools/systems.

More about CRM in future Thought Posts...

Recently, Simon Sinek again wrote: “Intelligence looks for what is known to solve problems. Creativity looks for what is unknown to discover possibilities.”

While this may be viewed as catchy and inspiring by some, I just find it catchy [in a troubling way].

PS: for full disclosure - I am a big fan of Simon's 'discover your why' thinking.

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Creativity is a component of intelligence.

If we are going to personify these concepts then we should think about Creativity existing in Intelligence’s fine-art gallery. We don’t always see Creativity. However, when we do see it – it is always hosted by Intelligence. Under Intelligence, Creativity contributes the finer arts and fruits known to Mankind.

Creativity is not a distinct thing. If Creativity is exploring the unknown then it is doing it under Intelligence’s watch.

When we consider Creativity under Intelligence lighting we immediately see the benefit of applying intelligence to the creative process. Curiosity is the key. And, let’s never be confused. Without tremendous amounts of intelligence [including what may seem to be hidden or arcane intelligence] no creativity exists…at least it doesn’t exist for human beings.

***

Even in the extreme – I mean, even in the most-metaphysical thinking of ‘Law of Attraction’ extremists – intelligence is always the starting point.

Creativity is a process of intelligent minds.

Note: Even the metaphysicians design and practice pre-planned rituals.

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A related Thought Post

Few will argue against the concept leaders must think.  Let me restate that: few will verbally argue against the concept leaders must think. On the other hand, many people, in fact the majority of people, behave in ways that confirm they do not take the concept known as thinking very seriously. 

For example, many people say things like "I'm too busy" and "I don't have time".   In fact, many business leaders repeatedly say things like, "I'm too busy to think" and "I don't have time to think".

What a losing mindset.

When the age of New Thought peaked about 100 years ago, the experts praised the value to thought, not just thought for processes such as decision-making but also thought for self-understanding and self-improvement.

“…spend 30 minutes daily thinking about the person I intend to become thereby creating in my mind a clear mental picture.” That’s borrowed from Napoleon Hill’s self-confidence formula, a self-help affirmation presented in his classic book, ‘Think and Grow Rich’, (1937). That sort of self-talk/affirmation or autosuggestion [as Napoleon Hill called it] was indicative of the advice intelligent people read as self-help books gained popularity a few generations ago. As the title of his 1937 classic indicates, thinking is the essence of the philosophy Napoleon Hill gathered, honed and presented.

Of course, other very popular proponents of ‘thinking for self-help’ existed prior to Hill. New Thought gained a position in literature during the mid-1800’s, hit full stride in the early 1900’s and morphed into pop culture entertainment by the early 2000’s. Specifically, I am thinking about the works of Samuel Smiles [mid-1800’s], the works of Orison Swett Marden [early 1900’s] and ‘The Secret’ [Rhonda Byrne, 2006].

As New Thought evolved it lost its essence.

The essence of New Thought was thinking…really thinking…not just presenting prescriptive ways of thinking [Haddock and Collier]…and, specifically, not just rehashing the thoughts of earlier authors [far too many to mention]…and, definitely not taking excessive metaphysical leaps [Hay] or fogging the brain by making radical jump-shifts back and forth between philosophy and physics [Chopra].

A return to thinking is overdue: self-help proponents need to cut the fantasy/entertainment and get back to good-old-fashioned New Thought values and essence – i.e., get back to being champions of thinking.

Leaders need to be more selective when they seek and embrace self-help.

Leaders need to learn more about thinking.

Leaders need to practice thinking so they gain more skill at it.