SubscribeOriginally published at BostInnovation.com
The world is run by well-connected do-ers, not necessarily the best people for the job.
This little/not-so-little idea occurred to me the other day out of nowhere. Probably not out of nowhere, but because it struck me so powerfully, it felt as it if it came out of nowhere. It felt brand spankin’ new. And for a moment at least, the entirety of my professional life (and everyone else’s it seemed) made sense. Every perceived success and failure, if one can even speak in these terms anymore, came into focus.
Do you ever wonder how a good idea comes to fruition and develops a significant following? Marketing and outreach have something to do it, but even simpler—good ideas gain traction when the person or team behind the idea a) gets things done and b) is well-connected to people in positions of power. And by power, I don’t mean good or bad power, I just mean power: an ability to act or produce an effect—or, my other favorite definition from Merriam-Webster—“an ability to get extra-base hits.” Isn’t that what it feels like when someone picks up what you’re putting down professionally and maybe even tells their friends and colleagues? An extra-base hit?