The sponsors of these ads, StrongerMarriage.org, clearly intended them as thought starters to build a stronger marriage. But, think of the applications to the business world.
In this new environment of a knowledge economy…. or some even say we’ve moved beyond that to a conceptual economy (one that is driven by the ability to solve problems creatively)…business success is no longer based on how many parts we can move off the assembly line. In fact, the economics are completely different because it is an economy of abundance, not scarcity.
In an industrial economy, there are a limited amount of resources. After you use up all of the steel, you can’t make any more cars. Compare that to our current economy, one that’s driven by ideas. When one person’s idea gets shared with another person, more ideas pop up and more knowledge is created. That’s an economic model of abundance. The more you share, the more you get.
This thinking is especially important within organizations, which is why internal communications and strong corporate culture are more important now than ever. Creating physical and online spaces that encourage idea sharing and collaboration are a great way to boost innovation inside your organization. It’s also critical to build a corporate culture of trust and sharing. If people are keeping their ideas to themselves because they don’t trust their colleagues, everyone loses.
The “we” and “ours” attitude is also what drives social media and what has become an expected practice for external marketing/communications. Social media doesn’t work if you’re pumping out stuff about “me, me, me,” because social media is about community; it’s not a billboard. If you’re not contributing, you’re not in the game.
Likewise, the strongest marketing and communications efforts are based around sharing your expertise. Give before you get. Provide value before you sell. By giving away free content, you invest in consumer trust and loyalty that turns into long-term business success.
Remember, business is about people and relationships. Contribute! Share! Be generous with your ideas and you’ll be awarded with abundance.
