No matter what you do in life, you have philosophies and boundaries that direct you. It’s definitely the case in your business. I hear many people talk about “thinking outside of the box” as a positive thing. I think it is. In our ever-changing world, social media, euphemisms, and the “what’s hot” list are constantly in motion. You have to think outside the box to be successful. I think Seth Godin does this everyday, effectively.
But I would point out that to think outside the box, you have to have one. If you don’t have structure, you will have no platform to stand on. Nothing that makes your product what it is. Here’s the key: your structure should provide opportunity to change. “We’ve never done that before” is not a viable argument. You have a box. You know who you are (or what your company “ships”, to use Godin’s phrasing). You have to be able to get outside of the box, and then get back in.
For my “business”, as an independent missionary, our model of raising financial support is a bit outside the box in our “missionary world”. So is our gospel illusion ministry. We are oustide of our box. A lot.
Are you ever outside of yours?
Ecclesia Mind 