The vital few

Many elements in our culture are making it difficult for us to internalize the meaning and power of the vital few?

Beyond the 10 Commandments we have to memorize the Commandments of the Church and the Sacraments; and we have to learn the Catechism. Next we have to keep abreast of the encyclicals; and read the Bible and join study groups, and use the Concordance. And then in the community we share our reflections from our readings. Bible-reading Americans are no different . . . but they could go beyond being believers, and become ideologues – some unfortunately become extremists and take the law into their own hands. What about the Jews? The writer had lived in a Jewish neighborhood and learned that while there are those who could go to extremes, many of them were non-ideologues, like his Jewish friends.

Given we are well-informed people, in our secular life we indulge in ‘kuro-kuro’ believing that we have the perfect ideas on our favorite topics – from religion to politics to world affairs. The net of it is: we can’t get closure or resolution on things that matter? For example, two very enviable groups, the Couples for Christ and GK, had to part ways. We have many examples of groups falling out. How can we agree on how to move the country forward – or on the strategic industries to pursue – when each of us believe that we have the perfect idea, putting Moses to shame? And why as a nation we’ve been stuck in neutral – while our neighbors have zoomed ahead?

It must have been such a chaotic society that Christ saw that he had to come down with the Great Commandments? And yet the world seems as chaotic as ever – because history simply repeats itself?

They thought they had the perfect idea . . . and so the writer’s Eastern European friends were excited to present how they would proceed to develop the new business that was in the process of acquisition. They showed him actual competitive products: locally, regionally and globally; and photos of even more products. And then very proudly, explained the meaning of the logo of the new brand that was being created. When he gave a smile and an encouraging nod, they proceeded to talk about another brand that would be part of the portfolio; and then their price points. That’s when the writer said, ‘Stop, let’s not get ahead of ourselves’!

‘Don’t you want to explain what we’re building . . . what business are we in? If this will be our biggest business unit, you will be creating a major structure – how are you going to lead the organization and ensure the success of the business? What is that ‘animal’ in the first place?’ (In the Philippines, our enterprises would be confident to compete globally if they’d first articulate their business models before assessing their viability? Coke is in a very simple business yet is a global leader – it is not about perfection, it is about keeping it simple!) The next time they started differently: “We are in this business . . . These are the two legs . . . This is how each leg breaks down . . . This is how the competing products are arrayed across pricing and benefits . . . These are the two segments where we will compete and why . . . This is the target market and size at year-one, year-two and year-three . . . These will be our market shares, turnover and margins.”

‘What else? How will you raise the probability that your two entries will win in the market place and take those shares? You are not selling a product; you are selling an idea – what is the idea or the concept? How will you communicate these ideas? How competitive and compelling are these concepts? How does each product reflect them? Figure them out like we’ve done in the classroom; then you will be the confident winner and market leader!’ Then they all smiled . . . they remembered the vital few.

To successfully drive the business they better clarify and simplify – in crystal-clear fashion – its object within the organization . . . and in the market place? Because clarity enhances leadership and communication; and simplicity facilitates execution? (And it’s no different from transparency – but is it anathema to the Filipino hierarchical culture, e.g., a boss may want everything in his head; the organization is left to discern and guess?)