Written by: Vickie Sullivan | March 03, 2022
Want to Get Noticed? Buck the Status Quo
The best innovations come when you can move around big obstacles that appear to be the only game in town. To do that, sometimes you have to buck the status quo.
Fariel Salahuddin is great example of how to do that and develop innovative ways to accomplish what you need.
Salahuddin is an energy resource specialist and CEO of Goats for Water (UpTrade), which helps farmers in Pakistan purchase water pumps without subsidies from outside sources. Organizations typically fund that kind of effort by asking non-profit groups for money. Instead, she created an electronic marketplace for farmers, called E-Mandi, to turn what they have—in this case goats—into cash for water. No grants needed.
Salahuddin played matchmaker in the spirit of self-reliance. Now she’s focusing on how to use the platform to fund cell phones, tractors, and school fees.
Listen: How to Position a Cool Alternative
A lot of us have a complicated relationship with the status quo. If you push too hard against it, people see you as a radical outsider and too risky to work with. But if you only innovate around the edges within the system, you can get lost in the myriad of other voices. Your approach can stand out, however, if you move around the status quo and become the cool alternative.
Now Read This:
- Fear Factor: How to Go Outside Your Comfort Zone
- Outsmart Your Competition. Attract More Opportunities