David A. Goldsmith (315) 682-3157

MetaMatrix Consulting Group LLC

David A. Goldsmith(315) 682-3157


THINKSTRATEGIC


Lorrie A. Goldsmith

Life does not give A’s for

EFFORT, it gives A’s for RESULTS.


REDEFINING

How to Rapidly Strategize while Developing

a Mega-Competitive Advantage in the market place


REDEFINING is a management and leadership tool to ALWAYS find a better way to discover new competitive, mega, advantages by redefining challenges, problems and opportunities.



You need this tool if…• You want to reach your goals faster• You’ve got challenges to conquer• Meetings go on forever• Projects don’t return the expected results• You’re fire fighting all day• Your management needs direction• You’re looking to create a culture change• You’d like a competitive advantage…


Think of the BIGGEST

challenge you have today…



Do you have a process for strategically thinking?



Does it look like this…Determine

Goal or Problem

Figure Out Solutions

Maybe Do Research

Implement the Idea


Or do you do this in a meeting?

Questions asked by meeting leaderAnyone have any problems?

State Problem

Ideas Generated1 or 2 are Selected

Possible Research

Implemented

Ask for Suggestions

MetaMatrix Consulting Group LLCMetaMatrix Consulting Group LLC


THREE SIMPLE STEPS

Step 1 State your challenge

in one sentence.


Challenge Statement Test

Test Questions Column 1 Column 2

1. Is the CS one issue? Yes No2. Is the CS in the present or future tense? Yes No3. Is the CS a problem or solution? Problem Solution4. Are the CS facts verifiable ? Yes No5. Are the CS assumptions valid ? Yes No6. Is the CS essential to your overall goal? Yes No

(Hint: All your answers need to fall in Column 1)


Overall Goal Does your challenge statement reflect

what you’re really trying to accomplish?


ExamplesI can’t get motivated at work.Some employees are not treating patients wellWe don’t have enough spaceOur accounts receivables averages 62 daysWe are looking to grow 32% this yearThe staff needs to improve their accuracyPatients are complaining


Must be one challengeI want to sell a 10 CD set for $300, and I

don’t want people copying it.

Must be in the present/future tenseMy wife cheated on me

Must be a problemMy salespeople need more sales training


Must have verifiable facts (if there are facts)

Shrinkage is 14% in the warehouse

Must have valid assumptions McDonald’s makes people fat

Must be essential to the goalMy office manager is always grouchy


Your office manager is always grouchy impacting clients and employees

We are losing profits and clients due to our office manager

another option


Remember Math Class

It’s like a math question. If you don’t understand the question your going to come up with the wrong answer.

Joe GiezemanSearcy Arkansas


Step 2Convert the challenge into

a “should” statement positive opposite

SPECIFIC ultimate end


The loaded question…What would it look like if

EVERYTHING was

PERFECT?


positive opposite ultimate end

Positive OppositeLosing – KeepingLow – HighSlow – FastWeak – StrongFat – ThinUp – DownDon’t – DoCan’t – CanLose - Win

Ultimate EndUltimate customerUltimate vendorUltimate economyUltimate footprintUltimate industryUltimate powerUltimate productUltimate durationUltimate …


Challenge: We are losing profits and clients due to our

office manager

Should: We should be gaining profits and clients due to our

office manager


CrutchShould: We should not be losing profits and clients due to our office

manager


+OUEWe should be gaining all the clients we want due to our office manager


UNIVERSAL TRUTHS

There is more than 1 right answerThere is always a better wayLess is moreLook to the big picture before the smallDon’t fix a “blame.”


The Final Step 3“What would it take..”


Challenge: We are losing profits and clients due to our office manager

Should: We should be gaining profits and clients due to our office manager

WWIT: What would it take to gaining profits and clients due to our office manager?


Does the mechanic need to know who was driving?Does the mechanic need to know what was hit?Does the mechanic need to know where it happened?Does the mechanic need to know when it crashed?Does the mechanic need to know how it happened?Does the mechanic need to know…

WHY you were driving the car????


What Would It Take…

WWITMetaMatrix Consulting Group LLC


What would it take…

In a race against time on a project that would ordinarily take four months to achieve, a team of designers, 100 workmen and even the neighbors, have just seven days to completely renovate an entire house — every single room, plus the exterior and landscaping.


What would it take…



PRINCIPLE Bad questions produce bad solutions…Good questions produce good solutions

Have you ever done this????1. My office manager is always grouchy2. My manager should be happy3. What would it take to make my office manager

happy all the time.


What’s the cost of inaction?

Sometimes the cost of taking action is to block competition. Stops me from feeling the pain.


Directed evolution…of a product


I’m largely a one man operation, because it’s difficult to find subcontractors who can position, write and create with my quality.

One issue – No

I’m having trouble finding quality subcontractors


I’m having trouble finding quality subcontractors

Overall goal- produce work of remarkable quality.

Assumption – you need multiple people to do that.

Problem is the work varies – level it out.Consistent business-


Michael CarrasquilloOriginal

I want to sell a 10 CD set for $300, and I don’t want people copying it.




Better ChallengeI don’t want people copying my CD’s so that I insure

passive income


Michael CarrasquilloCrutch

People should not copy my CDs

Should StatementPeople should never be able to copy my CDs.


Michael Carrasquillo

Redefined What would it take for people to

never be able to copy my CDs




Redefined What would it take for people to never be able to copy my CDs?



Everyone in the state is not attending our meetings.




Better ChallengeEveryone in the state should be informed

with the most current information?


Michael CarrasquilloReframed

Every “manager” should have the most current information…

(even if they do not attend the meetings)


Michael Carrasquillo

Redefined What would it take for everyone to have the most

current information...(even if they don’t attend the meetings)?

Audio RecordingRadio Shack

Posted on Web




Redefined What would it take for everyone to have the most

current information...(even if they don’t attend the meetings)?


Scott Barter – Fontainebleau Hilton Resort

OriginalEmployees are not thinking like accountants.

(…interprets data)


Improved SOCOriginal

Employees are not thinking like accountants.(…interprets data)

Better ChallengeEmployees are not producing

accurate accounting with the labor pool available?


Should StatementReframed

The organization should produce accurate accounting with the labor pool available.


The real question

Reframed QuestionWhat would it take for the organization to produce accurate accounting with the labor pool available.

Automate data entry using OCR technologySolution: Use software to find variances

PO/Invoice/Receiving kicked out


Compare the twoOriginal

Employees are not thinking like accountants.(…interprets data)

Redefined What would it take for the organization to produce accurate accounting with the labor pool available.


What are you solving?

Past Problem Future Problem


Step 1 In one sentence state your goal or

challenge.

Step 2Convert the challenge into a “should”

statement positive opposite specific ultimate end

Step 3“What would it take..”

THREE SIMPLE STEPS…Don’t Skip


CETAOriginal

Membership is declining.

Better ChallengeDistributor membership is declining.


CETAOriginal

Membership is declining



CETAOriginal

Membership is declining


Better ChallengeDistributor membership is declining

impacting the quality of services being rendered to existing members.


CETAReframed

Distributor membership should be increasingenabling the organization

to fund value added services


CETARedefined

What would it take for the organization to beexpanding in 05 with 50 new members

while continuing to deliver money making solutions to the existing membership.

Interview existing and non-membersWeb based teleseminars

How to guides as membersAdvice service


CETAOriginal

Membership is declining.

Redefined What would it take for the organization to be

expanding in 05 with 50 new memberswhile continuing to deliver money making solutions

to the existing membership.


• Pillow preference program • Clothing program• Leave your clothing• $2200 Night Penthouse• Must know your customer!!


$60,000 -$150,000


The cost of not thinking strategically is significant.

David and Jane Reiss

The cost of the wrong strategy is disastrous.

David A. Goldsmith

David A. Goldsmith (315) 682-3157

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