Developing Better Ideas For Your Business

We have all heard that old definition of insanity - "Doing things the same way over and over again and expecting different results." Despite knowing that, many business owners continue to do things the same way, or perhaps with some small adjustments. When that happens and you are not achieving the results you desire, it is time to go to what I call Zero Based Development.

You are most likely familiar with zero based budgeting. Zero based budgeting says that you do not start with last year's budget and add or subtract an amount or percentage. With zero based budgeting, you throw out last year's budget and every line starts at zero. You develop your budget from that point.

The same should be true with your procedures, practices and policies. When most business owners do not achieve their desired results with their current procedures, practices or policies, they try to make their current ones bigger, faster, or use them more often. When an advertising program is not working, they assume they need to make the ad bigger or run it more often. When a motivational program is not working, they assume they have to make the reward bigger.

In most cases when you are not getting the results you want, it is time to STOP the current practices and start all over again. Start from ZERO. Develop an all new program. As another old saying goes, "Stop beating a dead horse."

Don't let your pride and ego get in the way. Yes, you thought it was a great idea. Yes, everyone said it would work. However, it didn't work. Sometimes it is best not to even worry about why it didn't work. You may never know. In addition, at this point it is better to spend your time developing a new program that has a better chance of success.

Always set a time objective when you develop any program. Select a reasonable time in which you expect a program to achieve the desired result. It you are not sure, ask an expert. It is better to pay someone a small amount of money than to waste a large amount of time and money waiting for something to materialize that never will.

Remember, to keep away from that definition of insanity, consider Zero Based Development. It may be the answer for you.