Choose Your Path: Pioneer or Marketer

The timing is crucial in determining the success of a big idea. In today's fast-paced world, assessing an idea's market maturity from a cultural and technological perspective is essential. That's why I recently took a step back to evaluate my career strategy and re-fresh my approach.

I discovered a new approach to analyzing market maturity by combining two well-established methods: cultural sensitivity (by Milton Bennett) and a modified version of the technology adoption curve. By doing so, I was able to position my ideas in front of the right market segment and determine if my MVP (minimum viable product) was in line with the cultural readiness of the market.

So I decided to use my tool to assess my career's vision. Last week, a good friend and mentor asked me a thought-provoking question: "Think about where you want to be in 10 years, then think about the path to get there. Will you enjoy the majority of the journey? If not, think again; it's time to consider a different path or a new vision." This question resonated with me, as I have a passion for "visioning."

As I reflected on this question, I looked through my tool at how different types of leaders play in the digital world.

My analysis found that these leaders were cultural and tech translators. They spoke the language of their audience and were trusted by both cultural and technology groups, but try to move them to a different column, and they didn't speak that language, and they were not the most trusted source, so it is not what you say but who is in front. This understanding allowed me to see the path I want to take and, more importantly, WHO should be my target audience. Had I been doing what I love in a different context or for audiences with different expectations? Or in the future, do you want to be in a company focused on pioneering cultural changes or translating innovation into plain English?

In conclusion, this evaluation process allowed me to understand my vision, career strategy, and the type of leader I want to be. The accompanying table shows how I used the combination of cultural sensitivity and technology adoption curve to analyze market maturity. This is a fun exercise, not a scientifically proven method.

This article inspires you to re-evaluate your career strategy and find the path that aligns with your vision and passion.