Having found that the top growth performing CEOs were continually improving their business models to become more profitable, the next challenge was to see what else could be learned about business model innovation. When I began to look at the earlier history of business model innovation, I saw that improved business models usually came from start-ups and new entrants. So entrepreneurs were obviously focused on this opportunity.

I then became curious about the frequency with which companies enjoyed ongoing success in improving their business models. Where should I find the answer?

I read the profiles of all public companies described in the Value Line Investment Survey over 12 years. I noted the companies that seemed to have completed at least two major successful business model innovations during those years, without regard to their stock-market performance. As a result of either lower stock-price growth or changes in CEOs, many of them did not make my CEO 100 lists during those years.

I contacted these companies by e-mail to request interviews with their CEO and some of the other senior executives. From these contacts, I was able to arrange CEO interviews at over 40 companies.

I performed literature searches on another few dozen companies that confirmed that they had been frequent business model innovators, but these companies declined to be interviewed. Obviously, you can still learn lessons by characterizing the direction that those companies take even if you cannot learn more fine-tuned details.

From these investigations, I became convinced that at least 70 public companies had performed at least two major successful business model innovations in the same business over the 12 years.

I began a year-long analysis. I took what was learned and summarized it in simple form so that more companies could understand how to choose and successfully follow this path. You could obviously do the same thing for the examples that interest you.

To test my thinking, I discussed the work in progress with many of the CEOs and their staffs as well as top strategic thinkers in other companies. Many valuable corrections and improvements were made as a result.

Next, I sought out individual, small company, and nonprofit examples of the themes that the larger, public companies exhibited. Many of these examples are drawn from my personal experiences with the subjects or my long-term interest in their work.

Finally, I kept in touch with all of the individuals and companies so that the information could be as up-to-date as possible.



By: Donald Mitchell

About the Author:

Innovation is a talent that everybody has. Some find it easier to express their innovative side than others but that doesn’t mean you don’t possess the skill. Just like riding a bike, learning how to drive and shaving it takes a bit of time and practice to achieve your potential. It just takes time, practice and determination. In this article discover a few tips on how you can unlock your potential with these 5 self improvement solutions and bring out your innovative side.

1. Don’t listen to what others say.

If you have an idea, don’t let other people’s input ruin your idea. If they don’t like your idea then they can deal with it. You need to learn to do things for yourself. Do you think that Einstein and other great geniuses went on to listen to their friends about their ideas? I don’t think so.

2. Exercise

Exercising relaxes your body by sending endorphins through your body. During exercise many people get a rush of creativity since they are so relaxed. Try it, run for a mile or two and see what happens.

3. Find your own style

Everyone is unique and style is also unique in people too. A poet can be told from another one just because of the words he uses or a painter because of the brush he used. If you can find yourself a unique style that works for you people will learn what a valuable asset you are because no one would have the same talent as you.

4. Don’t hide yourself behind fancy equipment

Just because you have the most expensive high tech equipment doesn’t make you the best. Yes it does give you an advantage but it is only a small one. Take this for example, do you think a photographer with the newest camera on the market that really doesn’t understand photography at all is really going to make it bigger than a photographer who knows how to take pictures using a disposable camera. No! The same goes with writing, if you have an expensive laptop what use is it to you if you can’t write. Make sure that you are good with your skill, just because you have fancy equipment doesn’t mean you’re the best!

5. Add some passion

Passion is that extra bit of effort that will take you to the next level. People with talent can do a good job but someone with passion will work hard. Do you think that that job position will fall into your lap just because you are the most talented? Maybe, but others will be determined to get that position and that could make them virtually impossible.

These are just 5 of the many things that can unlock your innovation and hopefully you will take these into consideration to bring out your innovation and let everything snowball from there.



By: James Pswarai

About the Author:

I don’t have a lot of information to go off of to review the Global Wellness Innovation SRL Network Marketing Company, but I’ll do my best based on the information I’ve been able to gather. As of now it seems they are only showing up in classified ad sites, as I haven’t been able to find their own website yet. It also seems like they are a trading company out of Bihor in Romania. The company claims to be one of the most diverse industries of this century. They cover the health and wellness industry and are involved in Multi-Level Marketing.

Global Wellness Innovation SRL claims it took them years to research and find the most outstanding products reps could sell to earn a passive residual income with. They claim now, after years of market research, that they have finally found the most trusted manufacturing companies that are now their partners for long-term business. The goal of this company was to create high ticket products in a myriad of diverse markets that combine the best organic products along with cutting-edge manufacturing techniques.

This company claims that by employing this strategy for sourcing products that their company will continue to grow for the long term. This companies mission and emphasis is on Innovation, hence their name. They claim that their name and their methods for introducing products for public consumption will give Network Marketers a chance to earn extra income. The products this company offers are Instant Coffee, Tea, Organic Beauty Products, Food Items, Herbal Remedies and Hot Drinks.

Global Wellness Innovation SRL claims that it is scheduled to launch in 2009. They are offering free registration during the pre-launch process. The company in the past claims to have created Twenty Five Country Wide, and Five Hundred International Premium Bonus Pool Sharing opportunities for the last 3 years in a row. So my hunch is that this company has done some pretty big things in the past already at least that’s what they are saying.

If you do decide to pay to join Global Wellness Innovation SRL you will be part of the Elite Club. All the Elite Club members will split 6% from the companies Country Wide monthly bonus value. You also have a chance to join the International Elite Club. These members will be splitting 2% of the Worldwide Bonus Value. These benefits don’t include the normal MLM Compensation Plan attached to this company. I don’t have any details on exactly how the comp plan works yet, so these details are apparently forthcoming. I’ll keep an eye out and post an update when I hear something new. This opportunity appears to be worldwide since they’re offering Global Bonus Incentives.



By: Brian & Jeff

About the Author:

Technology advancement has brought about plenty of surprising uses to mankind. An example of this can be seen through the iPod innovation. This little beauty’s initial function was to play music and videos were later on added to its features. However, standing here today, its applications have crossed boundaries. Read on to discover some interesting uses which its boasts.

Recent research shows that fresh doctors can be trained to be more attuned to heart beat patterns which indicate severe heart problems. This is achieved by letting the interns listen repeatedly to recordings of normal and abnormal heart beat characteristics through iPods or MP3 players. By this, these interns will be able to detect irregular heartbeats effectively.

Also, the iPod innovation has pushed exercising regimes to a whole new level. Joggers are able to spice up their dull regular procedures as mini music players and iPods can offer the necessary entertainment. A special application, namely TrailRunner enables runners to plan out their training routes. Maps, distances as well as time frames can be displayed as well which this invention.

Going on, having a personal tour around renowned cities have never been easier with this technology. With the correct application downloaded, subway maps from cities such as Paris, Tokyo, Hong Kong, New York and many more can be displayed on this innovation. A convenient fit which will help you from getting lost.

Also, MP3 players or iPods are popular choices as learning tools in universities. They are widely used for taking notes and recording lectures. These gadgets are even useful when it comes to learning foreign languages. It is also common amongst students majoring in the music field to study music with the help of these devices.

As a whole, iPod innovation is truly a blessing to the younger generation as so many things are becoming more convenient as time flows.



By: Alina Michael

About the Author:

Like a big leap from the past, media innovation has done some astonishing things in the lives of people especially in the way we connect to one another, endow relationship, and add more and more members into our circle of friends. The ordinary ways have been considered obsolete in order to brick the way for the modern and highly sophisticated means that most of the time require an on line connection.

Take for example social networking. Social networking is no longer compassed within certain locations and no longer subjected to so many limitations. It is because today through the Internet, you can create social connections to many people as you like, divide a lot of things with them, and enjoy some on line activities together such as games, trivia quizzes, and others.

As a modern approach to media innovation, the number of social networking sites have increased perceptively on the Internet and they differ so largely when it comes to style, interface, add-ons, and other features. But aside from the differences you also can notice that they share common similarities like allowing subscribers to create on line photo albums and upload music and music-videos that members of your network can download.

Some of the most accessed social networks on the Internet include Facebook, Friendster, and Multiply. These places on the world wide web are the havens of millions of people from all walks of life, with varying age brackets, and coming from diverse cultures. These sites also house people and individuals with no walls or barriers caused by racial or religious discriminations and prejudices. The economic status of the subscribers is also out of the question because here rich and poor people meet together and they both enjoy a free life-time membership.

Another area of relationship that has been greatly affected by the so-called media innovation is dating. From the plain and simple connections at social networks to a more serious and exciting stage of relationship, on line dating sites have given dating a whole new look. Unlike the social network sites on the Internet that offer services to subscribers for free, there are on line dating sites that require members to pay annual fees if they want to unlock some of the features or services that they would like to avail.

At on line dating sites, members can have more chances of meeting their soul mates and create a more serious relationship because these sites provide ways by which one can connect to people who share the same interests, spiritual convictions, and other issues of concern as his. These sites like those of the social networks also open up ways for members to exchange email-like messages that can be long and detailed, and instant messages that are short, conversational, and interactive. Aside from exchanging messages, members especially those who are dating on line can also express affections with gifts. Of course, they are just virtual gifts but they could mean a lot to the recipients.

Either through social networking or on line dating, one cannot deny the fact the latest media innovation has touched our lives.



By: Che Cruz

About the Author:

Business concepts are all well and fine, but what do these business model innovation concepts potentially do for you? I want to share some questions designed to help you apply what you have been reading to your existing business.

What is your current business model?

If you offer many products and services, you may have more than one. Understanding how you operate now will make it easier to think about how you can improve upon the present.

In thinking about this question, you will find it helpful to focus first on what benefits customers get from what you provide. Also, consider what benefits the customers’ customers get through to the end user of the product or service. In thinking about benefits, remember that customers always want more and at a lower price. How does your business model accomplish that for them?

As an example, let’s consider the Folger’s coffee business at Procter & Gamble. That business is an industry leader in providing coffee-based products to allow consumers to have a tasty, comforting beverage at home that may or may not stimulate them with caffeine. The products are sold primarily through supermarkets, discounters, and warehouse clubs.

Compare that with the Starbucks coffee business. Starbucks primarily provides high-quality coffee and tea products through a service in complex prepared forms in coffee bars to also provide an enjoyable experience. The company further offers roasted coffee beans as a product for tasty experiences at other coffee bars and eat-away-from home locales as well as for consumers to brew at home, so that customers can always have the good-tasting products they prefer.

The companies have two different business models that provide different products, differing amounts of experience, in different ways, and mostly in different locations. Notice that Folger’s could have innovated with the Starbucks business model before Starbucks even existed as a company. The model already existed in Europe, which is what helped stimulate the Starbucks model.

Had Folger’s taken this path, there would probably be only one business model now in the industry. Interestingly, the two businesses have started to compete directly with each other’s business models by offering prepackaged coffee-based beverages that are manufactured and distributed by others into normal beverage outlets.

What were the last five business models before the current one?

Understanding how you got to where you are today often provides valuable insights into what new business models would be most attractive in the future. The forces that made those innovations work may still be around today, or may have only been slightly changed.

Has your company had a process aimed at developing improved business models?

New business processes almost always emerge from a deliberate process of innovation. If your company has yet to establish such a process, chances are higher that you have a substantial backlog of opportunities for desirable new business models.

If you have such a process, does it look at business model innovation separately from product and technological innovation?

Many companies see new products and technologies as the only potential ways to provide increased benefits to customers and end users. As the coffee discussion suggested, it can be easier to add more value by turning a product into a service than it is to focus only on improving the product itself.

For example, General Food’s Maxwell House division had introduced flavored coffees conceptually like what you get in a coffee bar in the early 1970s. Few would argue that the taste and experience of these canned items are a match for what is offered at a Starbucks or a coffee bar using Starbucks products. Without a separate focus on designing and implementing new and better business models (that may include new products and technologies), you are probably missing most of your opportunities.

When was the last time your company changed its business model?

If the answer is more than two years ago, the odds favor there being a current opportunity to implement an improved business model.

How many times has the business model changed in your industry in the last ten years?

If the answer is less than three times, there is probably untapped potential for a new business model now.

How expensive is it for you to develop and test a new business model?

The answer differs a lot from industry to industry. If the costs are low, then you have very high potential to develop an improved business model. You will face few internal hurdles to doing the necessary early experimentation. Conversely, if the costs are high, you will probably need to create an improved way to develop business models that is less expensive.

How risky is it for you to develop a test a new business model?

For some companies, reputation is so important, for example, that it is difficult to even test new things until they are almost perfect. In other industries, working with crude prototypes is the expectation.

What do you lose if your business model experiment fails in all of the predictable ways that it could? If not very much, what are you waiting for?

If much is at stake, consider ways to reduce the amount at risk or the visibility of your flops. Early experiments should be expected to create “learning” rather than solutions, so you need to have a way to get your learning on the cheap.

Copyright 2008 Donald W. Mitchell, All Rights Reserved



By: Donald Mitchell

About the Author: