Written by: Vickie Sullivan | December 03, 2019
It Might Be Time to Redefine Your Value
What I love about attending my board meetings at Harvard: hearing from passionate people who do great things. Many are pioneers in their field, building from the ground up. An intriguing conversation I had while at a recent meeting revolved around what happens when the ecosystem you built flourishes. How does the pioneer stay relevant?
Unfortunately, these types of trailblazers often get lost in the shuffle. A lot of voices create competition for attention, and the novelty of new perspectives can lead to the “Oh, they were great once but now a little staid” narrative. You can avoid that trap though by letting go of two things:
• Your content. Too many pioneers focus on awareness-building messages, which are critical in the building stage. However, once awareness has momentum, you can sound like a “one-hit wonder” if you keep banging the drum. Instead, effective pioneers create new messaging based on the evolution. Ask yourself: What should I focus on now? And go from there.
Listen: How to Redefine Your Next Focus
• Your role. The biggest mistake pioneers make is to describe their role as “we were here first.” There comes a point when no one cares. Newcomers are already sold; they care about what’s next and what your role is now. To quote one presenter: “We have to redefine our place on the horizon.”
Being a pioneer is not for the faint of heart. That said being said, it’s easier to stand out when you’re the only one shouting. To stay in the game, be ready to embrace the new ecosystem you created – and change accordingly.
Now Read This: