While we didn’t put in for the RFP (to many other irons in the fire), it did bring to mind a blog entry by Tim Ferriss that I read last spring.  He had some great examples of changing the rules of the game.  The bottom line?  Sometimes going against the conventional business wisdom yields results that no one would have thought possible. 

     So how do you change the game for your business, your meeting, your life?  Start by imaging the desired outcome.  What is it that you want to accomplish?  Do you want to hit record sales?  Do you want everyone to be talking at the end of the meeting like they’ve known each other for 20 years?  What does  the final product look like? 

     Now, take a few moments and consider how you would accomplish the outcome if you could take ANY path you desire.   This is where most of us get hung up.  We stop right here because our “idea” has “never been done” OR “flies in the face of conventional wisdom”.  We don’t want to rock the boat or be viewed as unintelligent if the idea fails.  My experience – successes outnumber failures (and failures are just learning opportunities, right?). 

     Case in point – our business model.   The meeting planning business can be a highly volatile industry with periods of frantic activity followed by periods of near zero activity (we have yet to plan a major event in January).   The conventional business model tells you to bring in temps for your busy periods to help supplement your core staff.  But this brings its own set of problems – How long will it take to train them?  Are they loyal to the company?  Will they be available during your next “busy” time or will you have to start over with a new individual?  Brainstorming yielded a new business model – stay at home moms.  I knew several highly educated women who had taken a few years off to have children.  While they didn’t want to work full time, they appreciated the challenge and opportunity that a job provided.  Solution – we hired them.  They come to work with the understanding that they may have to put in a few weeks of long hours here and there, but it will also be followed by periods of time where they can set their own schedules and work around their own needs.  They get flexibility and we get an awesome workforce – we’ve employed graphic artists, communications specialists, accountants, etc. using this model.   It has been a win-win for everyone.