Sometimes You Have to Completely Change the Game

I always preach testing.

Test your subject lines, test your color usage, test your titles, test EVERYTHING.  But sometimes it’s necessary to just start with a clean slate and try some radically different and new ideas.  Just blow away your old website and your little font size changes tests, and design a brand new one!  Blow away your old templates and create a new one!

Is this risky?  Well, of course.  But who got anywhere by not taking risks?

Well, I believe that this type of radical change can be applied to management, also.  Everyone’s always looking for ways to dramatically improve efficiency in miscellaneous processes to deliver the expected quality products in less time for less cost.

Hint: you can’t drastically improve efficiency by finally installing those Windows Updates.

In fact, I left Windows altogether.  Yes, after many years of using the Windows operating system, I finally switched to Mac.  I watched in envy as others around me easily evaded the challenges that I faced every day of my life:  starting the computer (don’t even mention restarting the thing), opening new applications, finding files buried deep inside folders, the list goes on.

It was a big risk: how could I know that I would like the operating system?  I was worried that it wouldn’t work the way I wanted it to.  It was not an inexpensive device, either (especially including all of the extra peripherals the Mac requires).  I’ve spent a lot of time learning how to use everything, but already I’m seeing huge advances in productivity.

No more waiting and waiting for applications to open.

No more searching and searching for that one little file I just had open a minute ago.

No more taking a lunch break while I wait for the computer to reboot.

I finally took the risk, and I’m glad I did.