2010: innovate or suffocate

For people who are naturally motivated and tend to be proactive, the New Year brings a chance to improve your life and to craft the “new you.”

In business terms, it’s called innovation—creating a new and improved model. Change is constant. It’s inevitable. But will you sit idly by as negative changes make you less effective and efficient? Or will you decide what changes to make and be intentional about improving? It’s up to you.

Personally, I choose to make positive changes—what many people call New Year’s resolutions. In business, you really don’t have a choice. Innovation is essential and exciting.

The same could be said for your personal life. The world is changing and we must adapt. That’s how you thrive and survive in this fast-paced society. I don’t mean compromising your core values or who you are. But the way we operate and adjust to new realities is important, from how we communicate and cooperate with others to the goals and objectives we set for ourselves.

For example, have you faced the challenge of managing Millennials? Also known as the Y Generation or echo boomers, Millennials are mid-teens to 30-somethings born between the mid-1970s and mid-1990s. Wow, are they different from the generation before them. They are fun and talented, but motivated differently. Maybe you are one and that’s cool. Employers must establish constructive, clear relationships with subsequent generations to fully tap what they have to offer while keeping them engaged and happy with their work. In some cases, this requires brand new approaches to age-old management functions.

I heard a quote recently, “If the pace of change is slower inside your company than outside your company, you’re doomed.” So true!

What did you know about iPhones this time in 2007? Practically nothing because Apple didn’t announce it to the world until Jan. 9 of that year.

Two years later it is the fastest selling phone in the world with more than 45 million sold so far. Software developers have created an astonishing 50,000 iPhone apps, nifty little software downloads that make your mobile phone a GPS tracker or a whiz that can identify the catchy song you’re hearing on the radio. (Read more about some innovative apps for various handheld devices here.)

The iPhone followed the iPod, which followed iTunes, which followed the iMac. All of these were innovations of Steve Jobs and his innovative Apple team. It’s a company critics once said was on its way out and would never compete with PC giant IBM.

While skeptics talked, Jobs and his team were busy developing these innovative products, delivery systems that would soon change the landscape of the market, not to mention the future of computers, music and phones.

What is the next innovation that will change our lives?

Who knows? The real question is, what is the next innovation in your personal life? Your professional life?

I challenge you to commit to being an innovator in 2010. Do your routine things better. Do them more efficiently. And tell me about the changes you make and what they do for you. E-mail me at [email protected].

Our innovations

At 225 , innovation is one of our core values. We embrace change and we love it!

We, too, are working now on some innovative new products, services and events to debut in Baton Rouge this spring.

225 in conjunction with inRegister will launch a brand new weekly e-newsletter all about shopping. Do you love to shop? Do you like to know where you can find the newest looks and the hottest sales? Then our new, free e-mail is for you. And now’s your chance to sign up. Visit 225batonrouge.com and click on “E-sign up” in the left column. Then look for the premiere issue to arrive in your e-mail inbox this spring.

We’re also excited about another partnership between 225 and inRegister . We’ll present a special new event for Mother’s Day. On Saturday, May 8 at the Crowne Plaza, we’ll present “HEAD to TOE: The ultimate day out for women,” an extraordinary day of pampering, shopping, wine and chocolate tasting, fascinating seminars and a special luncheon. It’s a day filled with inspiration and laughter. Ladies, mark your calendars now. (If your company would like to participate as an exhibitor, contact Jill Stokeld at [email protected], or call 214-5225.)

As you see, we’ve closed the book on 2009 and are focused on not only improving what we do, but also developing new and innovative ways to serve our readers and improve our community.

Recession? What recession! We’re innovators who look forward to an exciting 2010 and we want you to join us. Let’s get it started.

LSU Lakes in peril

Scientists tell us the LSU Lakes are gradually choking to death from all the fertilizer-rich runoff from the city’s neighborhoods, sewage leaks and other urban pollution. If something isn’t done the lakes will devolve into a muddy swamp. Contributor Amy Alexander tells the story of the lakes, why they’re at risk and what needs to be done here.