Baanies Unite: A Conversation with Jan Baan

Some people have Taylor Swift; I have Jan Baan .?

Jan is a hero of mine for several reasons.?

As a pioneer in #enterprisetechnology, he has consistently been at the forefront of innovation, pushing boundaries and challenging our industry to strive for the?next?groundbreaking product or service. His ability to foresee industry trends and adapt accordingly is nothing short of superhuman.?

Beyond his professional achievements, Jan's humility, kindness, and genuine desire to empower others set him apart. He shares his knowledge freely, mentors emerging leaders, and fosters a sense of community within the industry. His unwavering commitment to growth and improvement, personally and professionally, is a powerful example for me and many others. Jan's story is a testament to the impact one can have through dedication, innovation, and a relentless pursuit of excellence.

Jan Baan has crafted an industry rich with #innovation and growth. His story is both inspiring and transformative. I was lucky enough to connect with him, and I want to share some of the?amazing?insights I gathered from our conversation.

I'll be 100%?real?- I could barely sleep the night before, wondering what to ask a titan like Jan Baan.?

How did you do it??

What's it like to be so far ahead of your time??

How can I be like you??

My only goal during our conversation was to listen and learn.

My hands shook as I signed on. It was a huge honor that he agreed to meet with me. Of course, I?was blown away?by his accomplishments, but what struck me most was his humility, kindness, and relentless drive to empower our industry to grow.?

There was no ego as he gently shared his golden insights like we were old friends.?

Here are my key takeaways from this once-in-a-lifetime conversation -?from?a true?Baanie.

Disruptive Innovation: Shake It Up

"But I keep cruising, can't stop, won't stop moving."?Shake it Off

Jan emphasized the?critical?importance of "shaking up" your industry to stimulate innovation.?Staying ahead means?being willing to challenge?the status quo and?embrace?change, even if it means disrupting established norms.

There's a difference between plain old #disruption and disruptive innovation.?Just slapping?a "disruptive" label on your product or service doesn't mean much. You've got to create for the greater good. When you build with good intentions, your innovations focus on customer satisfaction, not greed.

Anyone can innovate disruptively. You don't need a fancy title, capital, or decades of experience. After all, we're the generation that built Amazon in a garage. Find a problem and create a solution for it. Share your ideas. Embrace feedback, both good and bad.

The #ERPindustry?needs this concept now?more than ever as we undergo our?own?#transformation.?We must level up to survive the next phase of a technological revolution.

Show Micro ROI: The Small Wins That Matter

"I like shiny things, but I'd marry you with paper rings." Paper Rings

Innovation doesn't require rolling in capital. Jan highlighted the importance of showcasing potential earnings, even if they're not very significant initially. Demonstrating potential is?key, as it shows the viability of new ideas and fosters trust and interest.

This concept is crucial in my line of work supporting ERP and tech-focused startups or high-growth firms. It's not about having the fanciest tech or service offerings; it's about incremental and scalable growth.?

Do your products and services bring value, and can you prove this value??Growth as a whole,?healthy company?is?more important than setting unachievable goals.

Growth is only possible with a solid operational foundation— #ProjectManagement 101.

Simplify: Cut Through the Noise

"Don't need another metaphor, it's?simple enough" Hits?Different

We tend to overcomplicate ideas, over-customize, and over-sell.?Jan's advice was clear: cut the fluff and keep it simple. Our customers will appreciate straightforward, practical solutions over convoluted ones.

It's like the?concept of?"Executive Alignment." Obviously, without #executive alignment, nothing worth doing is possible, yet it rarely—I'm going to go with close to never—happens. The same goes for simplicity. In a complex industry, we tend to always overcomplicate. We?need to?be intentional about keeping our strategies simple and focusing on our customers.

Invoke the "Conscious Pause" that my colleague Judith O. coined for us. We need to go back to our "why," dust off our objectives, and remember that this is a #service project for our customers and?our?employees. Before drowning in the details,?take that conscious?pause to refocus on what truly matters.

United Front: The Power of Community in ERP

"No matter what happens in life, be good to people. Being good to people is a wonderful legacy to leave behind." Taylor Swift

This point resonated deeply with me. Jan stressed the necessity of industry leaders working together to evolve. According to him, ERP has been dead since 1998. If only my third-grade teacher had let me know, I wouldn't have dedicated my career to it ??. Jan knew it back then, and now we're all figuring out what's next together.

One of our most significant assets is our community.?Obviously,?I'm biased, but I wholeheartedly believe that the #ERPcommunity has some of the?smartest, most innovative problem solvers in any industry. We are also resilient and scrappy. But you know what? We are strong together.

When we unite, share insights, and collaborate, we can tackle any challenge and shape the future of our industry. Let's embrace this strength and continue to grow as a #collective force.

Knowledge Transfer: Learning from the Best in ERP

"Long live all the mountains we moved. I had the time of my life fighting dragons with you" Long Live

I am incredibly fortunate to have a cohort of the most incredible mentors?of all time. Just to name a few: Judith O. , Paul Byrne Dragon ERP , Wayne Holtham , Dan Aldridge, ERP Software Expert , Erin Robison , Paul Coetser , and so many more!

And who knew Paul Byrne Dragon ERP named Dragon ERP after a T. Swift song?! (I can hear his groan?all the way?from Ireland).

At 35, I still have a long career ahead of me. I want to learn from the people on the front lines of #ERPimplementation, systems experts, organizational change, and more. The most beautiful part of this community is that they want to teach you. Listening is such a powerful learning tool.

I have the pleasure of hosting two podcasts (ByteSized and Enterprise Tech Talks w/ Judith O. ), on which I interview many of these folks. Their time is gold to me, as there is no certification like their experience.

Even as our industry evolves, we must be sponges, absorbing lessons from these greats and learning from their war stories. Their wisdom is invaluable, guiding us through the challenges and innovations ahead.

Conclusion

Connecting with Jan Baan was an experience I'll never forget. He is the leader I want to be—kind yet?strong, with #integrity above all else.??

His insights, humility, and dedication to our industry's growth have left a lasting impression on me. As I continue my journey, I'll carry these lessons forward, striving to innovate, simplify, collaborate, and learn.

#Baanie for life.

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