Business Incremental Inches and Incredible Impact

This morning I attended the P&J Business Briefing in association with Kelvin TOP-SET. The theme was "Business Incremental Inches and Incredible Impact". Here's my take-aways from the amazing speakers:

David Ramsay - David started with a sporting analogy, but, like you David, I am not really into sports either and I forgot to ask - who is Gavin?? (sorry for those who weren't there, you probably won't get it - he mentioned when he first met his wife she would watch sport while he did the gardening, and he didn't even know who Gavin is (think it was relating to Rugby...?, I am still none-the-wiser) - but maybe David or someone who was there will enlighten all of us?). More importantly though, talking us through how you had to watch every penny with a young business but look at what it's become now. Amazing!

Bob Keiller - Disappointed no Bob Marley references (I'm referencing a post on LinkedIn about what songs get you going...), but happy with the little Buffalo Soldier/Banana Boat mash-up when we were chatting after :). Seriously though, Bob told us about Tam, who had a brilliant idea, both money saving and socially and morally uplifting idea to help people on low or no income pay for funerals, or rather not have to pay for them, and the only thing that stopped him presenting this idea was not knowing how to ask. When given the chance he did ask and a plan is being put in place to progress it. Such a small change could (and will) lead to big things.

Jeanette Forbes - 'Soup-er Wednesdays' - introducing a mid-week lunch for all staff to get together helped PCL Group lift team morale at a time when the industry was in decline. Great idea, Jeanette, are you free for a meeting on Wednesday? I'll come at 2pm, happy with leftovers! 

Professor Gary McEwan - Loved the analogy about Lunn Poly. They thought they had made enough changes to keep them in the number 1 spot - but took their eye off the ball and missed what was happening with Expedia... A lesson for everyone in there but in my case it just sent me back to my AT Mays days. Thanks for the memory trip Gary!

Duncan Fraser - Of course we couldn't get away without a true sporting analogy. In this case it was about how changing the team's diet the difference it could make to all. At the time it may have been seen as a small change, albeit now it's just common sense!

On a whole the idea is that by making just small changes you can have a big impact. This was the first event like this I have been to in a long time where there were NO technical references, NO powerpoint presentations, NO selling of the business. Just genuine nuggets of wisdom.

The event was really well organised and very well attended. Well done all, I look forward to the next one!

It's now got me thinking - what small changes, both professionally and personally, can I make to have an impact in the future? I'm going to give it some thought and come back to you on it, but in the meantime:

• Do you have any stories of small changes which have made an impact?
• What changes are you going to make, to hopefully have an impact in the future?