The Power of Small

Fri, April 06, 2012 - 9:52:47

Big Thinking Executives Can Limit a Business

Innovative leaders like Steve Jobs are often prized for their expansive vision, big thinking, and boundless ideas. But, did you know that Jobs, himself, was also one to sweat the small stuff? As business author Bob Sutton writes in an article for Fast Company, Jobs was known to frequent his local Palo Alto Mac Store to inspect seemingly unimportant details such as the quality of the shopping bags and where employees stood around the store. Jobs understood that these tiny details weren’t so trivial and instead recognized their true potential. In reality, these details were integral in creating a brand image that today is so powerful that its insatiable customers are routinely described as members of “The Cult of the Mac.”

In our book, THE POWER OF SMALL: Why Little Things Make All the Difference, we describe how our own SMALL-thinking propelled our tiny start-up into one of the nation’s fastest growing advertising agencies in less than a decade. But, “thinking SMALL” doesn’t mean we didn’t come up with “Big Bang!” ideas, nor does it mean that we completely ignored the big picture. Rather, thinking SMALL, focusing on the little things, making sure every detail is just right, and taking every project one small step at a time has helped us expand year after year.

As Sutton explains, managers who sweat the small stuff remain more in-touch with their consumers and their employees. This, in turn, gives them an advantage in tackling the bigger, broader issues. With a much more detailed understanding, leaders can make truly informed, strategic decisions that address the big picture, strengthened by the power of SMALL.

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The Power of Nice

Wed, March 28, 2012 - 1:07:57

Is “Thank You” Falling Out of Favor?

Recently, NPR reported that we’re living in an increasingly thankless society. Although most of us are taught etiquette basics like saying “please,” “thank you,” and “you’re welcome,” many now simply forgo saying the expressions in their harried day-to-day lives.

According to the segment, some etiquette experts believe that the downturn in thank-you’s can be directly related to an uptick in national rudeness. Others, like the Emily Post Institute, claim that we may just be witnessing a linguistic shift. It’s not that people are less polite than they once were; it’s that they’re choosing their words differently. For example, you’ve probably heard “no problem” or “any time” used interchangeably with “you’re welcome,” or “appreciate it,” substituted for “thank you.”

Our NICE take? While there’s nothing better than a simple thank you, the real benefit is in the sentiment. Whether you say “thanks,” “appreciate it,” or even “you rock!” the most important thing is that others understand that they are genuinely appreciated. It only takes a moment to acknowledge someone else’s efforts, but too often, we’re all so caught up in our own lives that we miss out on the small opportunity to make someone else’s day just a little brighter. So, no matter what you say, take a moment to plant a positive seed and express your gratitude. Because, as Plato once said when he advocated kindness, “everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.” And that little thank you could be the only one they’ve heard all day.

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The Power of Small

Tue, March 27, 2012 - 1:05:37

Dare to Daydream

Just as we suspected, having your head in the clouds might not be such a bad thing after all. As two professionals at the top of an industry that prizes ideas and innovation above all else, we’ve always known that allowing your mind to wander can be good for creativity. And now, researchers are backing up our claims—and finding even more benefits. It turns out, a wandering mind isn’t just more creative; it’s more agile and absorbent.

The Huffington Post reports that researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Science discovered that people who daydream more often exhibit higher levels of “working memory,” which enables us to think about more than one thing at a time. The more working memory one has, the greater the capacity to problem solve, analyze complex issues, and work efficiently.

Researchers at NYU agree, citing their own research and making the claim that failing to take at least a few minutes to rest your brain and let your mind wander could actually be detrimental. In fact, by over-focusing, the researchers explain, “It’s possible you are hindering your brain’s ability to consolidate memories and experiences.”

It’s just one more reason why you should give yourself a minute. During the hustle and bustle of your busy day, amidst constant phone calls to make, emails to answer, and meetings to attend, you might assume you just don’t have time for down time. But as little as five minutes of day dreaming can make all the difference—and help you get all those other things done a little bit faster.

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The Power of Small

Tue, March 20, 2012 - 1:50:19

Educating the World, One Upload at a Time

Let’s face it: there are a lot of big problems in the world today. So big, in fact, that you might doubt your power to make a difference. If so, consider the story of Sal Khan, a former hedge fund analyst who was recently profiled on 60 Minutes and is credited with helping to change the future of education.

And he did it by accident.

With three degrees from MIT and an MBA from Harvard, Khan boasts a world-class education. But, it wasn’t his extensive schooling that led him to found the trailblazing Khan Academy. It was a series of YouTube videos he made in an effort to help his niece with her math homework. Soon, Khan learned that thousands of parents and kids were using the videos, solely intended for his niece, as an educational tool.  Inspired, Khan decided to leave his job and founded Khan Academy in 2009.

Then, the unthinkable happened: he discovered that Bill Gates was using Khan Academy’s video lessons to educate his own children. Even better, Gates was willing to donate 15 million to Khan’s nonprofit academy in order to recruit additional teachers and help bring better education to kids around the world.

It’s just further proof that one person truly has the capacity to make a positive impact on a large scale. Even our smallest actions—something as simple as uploading a YouTube video—have transformative power. So, don’t discount them. After all, today could be the day when you change the world

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The Power of Small

Fri, March 16, 2012 - 9:45:17

A Step Toward Health

According to a recent study conducted by researchers at the University of Missouri, a sedentary lifestyle is even worse for your health than previously thought. The study, which looked at physically active people, found that just a few days of inactivity impaired their glycemic control and began to put them at risk for conditions such as diabetes. Fortunately, the study also found that the effects of inactivity are easily reversed—in fact, as one expert noted, it can be as simple as taking more steps every day.

The New York Times, which covered the study, reported that a healthy lifestyle includes taking an average of 10,000 steps every day, as recommended by the American Heart Association. Yet, the average American gets less than half of that.

The simple solution? Invest in an inexpensive pocket pedometer like this one. Then, throughout the day, make an effort to get up and move. Take a stroll around the office, pop by a colleague’s desk instead of calling them on the phone, walk around the block to grab a salad instead of ordering in. If you’re really feeling ambitious, take the stairs instead of the elevator—even getting out a few floors early and taking the stairs for two or three flights can made an impact.

When you get home from work, take out your pedometer and make a note of your number. Then, aim to take a few more the next day, and keep on moving.

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