What do you Obsess About?

If you want to figure out a company’s strategy look no further than what they obsess about. Apple employees obsess about challenging the status quo and “thinking differently.” They execute on this strategy by constantly finding ways to make their products easy to use and beautiful to look at.

How about Magna? They obsess about finding ways to be the low-cost provider of parts made to strict specifications to the automotive industry. We know they obsess about this because every one of their suppliers will tell you how they’re constantly dealing with price and quality pressures.

Any new start-up should think long and hard about what their “Why” is, and would do well to watch Simon Sinek’s TED talk on this very subject. He makes the case that people really don’t care about what you do until they know why you do it. (Watch it here: https://www.ted.com/talks/simon_sinek_how_great_leaders_inspire_action/discussion?referrer=playlist-counterintuitive_career_advice&language=en#t-247844)

The industry that I work in has been plagued by companies more interested in making a dollar than anything else. Even a company like Magna, who tries to get quality product and low prices realizes they have to pay suppliers enough to make a small profit. Otherwise the day will come when they are without enough suppliers to meet demand, and they'll be out of business.

Companies that obsess about similar things – like positive customer/member experiences – are the best long-term supplier-customer fit.

?Remember your "why," and you'll never lose your way!