I have been in this industry for a long time — a really long time!
Over the past five decades, I have seen the industry transform at least five times. And one thing remains true: Across each of these transformations, the industry continues to get stronger; the external need has gotten even greater for what we all do.
What’s more, great (sometimes new) ideas not only win but also provide the on-ramp for most of these transformations.
This industry continues to both persevere and thrive, with great ideas — from automation to artificial intelligence — being the golden thread that continues to get pulled into our collective next chapter.
Cumulative Best Practices and Wisdom
Tied to this, for the last 20 years, I have been writing a sales and marketing column for industry leaders and participants alike. Many of my columns have focused on the cumulative best practices and wisdom that I have accumulated over the years. It’s wisdom that I have wanted to share with each of you.
In many of my other “Big Idea” columns, I have leaned into industry leaders — people like you — and sought to extract their business life lessons and ideas. As an author who has written a few books and several hundred columns, I have finally come to a definitive conclusion of what brings me the greatest joy: It’s sharing your ideas (not just mine) with everyone else!
Your ideas are of the moment. They’re filled with your best practices…your career hacks…your “if I could do it over” reflections. They come from every size company, across every geography, and at every level of experience. Your ideas, collectively, are the greatest ideas.
All this brings me to the “Big Idea” behind this column. The big idea is all about your ideas that you want to share with other Security Sales & Integration readers…your ideas that have shaped who you are and determined your business’ purpose in the world.
It can be an idea that has helped you grow in trying times, or perhaps scale even faster in good times. It can be a nugget that someone shared with you along the way. Or it could be something you picked up at Apple’s flagship annual developer event at the beginning of June.
There are no wrong ideas; there are only ideas that have inspired you to be a better leader, run a better company and have a greater impact on the world.
So, what do you need to do? Just ask yourself this question: “If I were to share one really great idea with my industry peers — one that has had a profound impact on my life and my business — what would it be?”
SSI Will Review YOUR Big Ideas
As mentioned in last month’s “Big Idea” column, Security Sales & Integration editors will review all ideas. Those that have the broadest appeal and greatest potential impact will be published in a separate article that you can share with all.
Those who submit the top ideas will also get an added bonus: a copy of both my books, autographed by me, with a personalized note about what I loved about that idea.
Think about your idea and send it to me at [email protected]. Please acknowledge that you are giving permission for your idea to be published, and please provide a personal address where I can send the books if you are a winner.
I have a feeling a lot of books are going to be sent out! After all, there are so many ideas just waiting to be shared. Collectively, those ideas will help us all take this industry — our industry — to the next level.
Have fun coming up with your best Big Idea!
