Three Ideas For 2011

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><root available-locales="en_US," default-locale="en_US"><static-content language-id="en_US"><![CDATA[<p>January is always a good month. The old year has ended and challenges faced over the last months are fast becoming a memory. Most of us are fortunate to have benefited from a well deserved break with family and friends.&nbsp; And best of all, we are looking forward to a year ahead with new opportunities and exciting possibilities.<br><br>How can you make the most of the year ahead? Here are three ideas for you to consider.<br><br>Less Is More: Strategic success is not just about making the right choices of what more to do next. It is also about deciding what not to do. We are often victims of our own success. We are high achievers and successful in what we do. We say "yes" too easily. The result is often quite evident. We are stretched, overworked and stressed. Our work-life balance suffers and in cases so does our health. Learning when and how to say "no" is as important (if not more important) than saying "yes".&nbsp; Decide what you will stop amongst your activities of last year before you take on new projects. Remember that less can be more.<br><br>Be Bold: We are in the midst of tectonic shifts - be they be caused by the rise of emerging markets or the rapid transformation of technology. Now is not the time to be timid. You have to think big. You have to think of the future. You have to think global. You have to be innovative. You have to be bold to seize the opportunity. There are risks, but there are also global opportunities, regardless of which sector you operate in. Remember that what is seems like a risk for you is an opportunity for someone else. Will you hunt or be hunted?<br><br>Do Good: Business cannot succeed in a society that fails. It is no longer enough to have a narrow focus on your business performance alone. The boundaries of business have shifted. You have to think of business and beyond. You have to think about how you can do good for the broader societal context in which your business operates. This is not just about having a corporate social responsibility program. This is about changing the mindset of your business. This is about making sure that doing good for society is hard coded into the DNA of your team.<br><br>The year has just started. It is now up to you to make the most of the year ahead.<br><br>The author is the Roland Berger Chaired Professor of Business and Technology at INSEAD, France.&nbsp; He has authored&nbsp; several books on technology, policy and innovation.<br><br>Comments on this note can be sent to: mail(at)soumitradutta(dot)com</p>