Figuring out the next step
Gary Bloomer | SHAKING THE TREE #177
Scott Anthony of the Harvard Business Review offers valuable advice on prioritizing a long list of ideas.
He emphasizes the importance of action over planning and suggests focusing on what people do rather than what they say they will do.
For instance, when deciding which product to create, don't solely rely on surveys.
People often express intentions they don't always follow through on.
Consider their actual behavior as a more reliable indicator of their preferences.
Think about it: if you ask someone what they want to eat tomorrow, they might say a salad. But in reality, they're more likely to opt for pizza or pasta.
This isn't about dishonesty; it's about the gap between intention and action.
People tend to idealize their future behavior while their present actions often tell a different story. To see this in action, ask anyone setting out into the new year how their weight loss goals are moving along around April. The results might surprise you.
So, when surveying your customers, remember that their expressed desires often don’t fully align with their actual choices and behaviors.
Prioritize action:
Instead of getting bogged down in endless planning and analysis, take action.
Start with something, even if it's not perfect.
You can always adjust based on feedback and real-world results.
As always, thanks for reading.
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P.S. Next time on Shaking the Tree … Capturing more attention.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Originally from the U.K., Gary Bloomer is a writer, branding advocate, marketing specialist, and an award-winning graphic designer.
His design work has been included in Creative Review (one of the UK’s largest design magazines). Since 2009, he has answered over 5,000 marketing and business questions in the Know-How Exchange of MarketingProfs.com, placing him among the top 3% of contributors. He lives in Wilmington, Delaware, USA.