odn of wny poke the box

2011. Barbara J. Babij, InSync4.

April 8, 2011

2011. Barbara J. Babij, InSync4.

Agenda

• Welcome• Overview of Poke the Box• Poking the Box• Conclusions?

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2011. Barbara J. Babij, InSync4.

Main Premise

Start something,

then…

”Ship”3

2011. Barbara J. Babij, InSync4.

Overview: Not Allowed

• Curiosity is the first step to shipping• Be curious; go beyond “not allowed”• Starting demands finishing

• Intellectual integrity requires that you put your ideas into the world

• It might not work - so what?

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2011. Barbara J. Babij, InSync4.

Overview: The 7th Imperative

Guts Heart

Passion

Ship

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2011. Barbara J. Babij, InSync4.

Overview: Economic Inputs

• An idea• People to work on it• A place to build or organize it• Raw materials• Distribution• Money • Marketing

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2011. Barbara J. Babij, InSync4.

Overview: Why We Don’t Start

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Overview: Fear of What?

• Success and Failure• Fear prevents starting

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2011. Barbara J. Babij, InSync4.

Overview: Start Now

• Become the starter, the center of the circle• Starting is an artful choice; when should

you use the buzzer?• Do something audacious• Pick yourself; you don’t need to be

validated

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• Art is hard• Selling is hard• Go to work on a regular basis• Nap later

The job is to invent the status quo, not chase it.

Overview: Pick Yourself

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2011. Barbara J. Babij, InSync4.

• Failure = Not shipping• If you can’t fail, it doesn’t count

• Be prolific in your failure• Embrace failure

Overview: Failure

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2011. Barbara J. Babij, InSync4.

You can’t snooze your way

to greatness.12

2011. Barbara J. Babij, InSync4.

Overview: The Map that Isn’t

• Organize for joy

• Give people the freedom (& expectation to create, connect, surprise)

• Embrace someone who makes a difference

• Embrace the discipline of poking

• What you end up with may be different from what you set out to accomplish

• Starters need support

• Formulating a plan is a rare and valuable thing13

2011. Barbara J. Babij, InSync4.

• Does Seth advocate anarchy within organizations, disregarding the current structure and the preparation needed for change?

• Does he press for continuous change within an organization without regard for peoples’ readiness to change, managers’ readiness to manage the change, and the stress of continually changing?

• Does Seth argue for change for its own sake?

What Do You Think

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2011. Barbara J. Babij, InSync4.

BREAK

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2011. Barbara J. Babij, InSync4.

Poking the Box: Novelty

Make a list of what you should have, could have, would have done, if only…

If you were invited to give a TED talk, what would it be about?

If you were given the opportunity to start something that would change the world, what would it be?

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2011. Barbara J. Babij, InSync4.

Poking the Box: NoveltyHere’s a few more questions. Please write down the answers; then we’ll share:

• How do you react when someone comes to you with a new idea?

• How do you treat risk-taking?• Do you blame?

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2011. Barbara J. Babij, InSync4.

New Design Activity

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2011. Barbara J. Babij, InSync4.

Poking the Box: Novelty

• What do you need to support new ideas?• What kind of support do you need to

encourage risk-taking?• What will help you; what will derail you?

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2011. Barbara J. Babij, InSync4.

Poking the Box: Climate

Let’s spend a few minutes writing down the answers to the following questions; then we’ll share:

• What support do you need as you begin to poke?• Who will help you; who will derail you?• What type of training is necessary to start things

more often? At what levels?

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2011. Barbara J. Babij, InSync4.

Funny How That Works

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2011. Barbara J. Babij, InSync4.

Poking the Box: Climate

• How will you continue poking when the environment doesn’t support poking?

• What do you need to be your creative best?• What most prevents you from being your

creative best?

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2011. Barbara J. Babij, InSync4.

AutonomyFun

Idea Exchange

Gossip, Rumor

Trust

Other Elements to Consider:

Stretch Goals

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What Are You Waiting For?

Go where there is no path ….

And leave a trail.24

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2011. Barbara J. Babij, InSync4.

A former COO, Barb now helps clients design strategic roadmaps; define and align vision, values, and organizational infrastructure with business objectives; translate organizational strategy into operational reality and build internal workforce capacity to achieve sustainable growth.

She’s guided change initiatives for distribution, manufacturing, financial services, and non-profit organizations.

Barb’s credentials include an MSc in Creativity and Innovation, and certification to use a number of assessments and facilitate CPS. She is an SPHR, holds an MBA in Accountancy, and is a CPA.

She also serves on several not-for-profit boards, in two countries.

Barb can be reached at: 905-894-1586 or barb@InSync4.ca. Please contact her with any questions or comments.

Your Presenter - Barb Babij

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2011. Barbara J. Babij, InSync4.

Prepared by Barb Babij for the Organizational Development Network of Western New York, and presented on April 8, 2011. The content is based on and adapted from the book, “Poke the Box” written by Seth Godin, and its workbook, “Start Now”, written by Ishita Gupta, Amy Richards, and Alex Miles Younger. The workbook was designed by Alex Miles Younger.

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.

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