Strategy 4 Saturday (<4 minute read)

  • Kansas: Wheat, Corn, and….
  • Hidden Resources
  • Book picture
  • Measure Success Podcast
Kansas: Wheat, Corn, and…

On our 3,108 mile, Drive for Strategy, one of my biggest surprises was Kansas. Does this sound familiar? And here we are, again, talking about Kansas.

If we were together, one month ago, if you had asked me, I was going to write two consecutive posts on the Wheat State, I would have told you that I must be crazy.

Call me crazy. The beauty of a non-Chat GPT blog with a single human algorithm. :)

Leaving eastern Colorado to enter Kansas, I expected Kansas to be the same, expansive plains, wheat, and corn production. Yet, we stopped at the Kansas state tourist center, and I was surprised to learn there are 12 distinctive byways (see photo above), including Post Rock, Gypsum Hills, and Flint Hills. There are hills in Kansas!

Then, we started the I-70 journey, and we did see plains and rolling hills, filled with corn, and wheat production. Kansas is #2 in wheat production and #6 in corn production. Yet, then, I started to see what I did not expect. On these valuable fields producing corn and wheat, wind turbines towered over the crops. Matter of fact, Kansas is #4 in wind megawatts of power, and it produces 47% of their energy.

Then, I turned my head again. Was that an oil well? On these same resource rich lands, for corn or wheat, and wind, there are also oil wells! Kansas is #11 in oil production. And of course, this same corn is used to produce cheaper fuel. Yes, there were 4 different gas pumps next to the Freddy’s restaurant, including corn fed 85 octane.

Over the past two decades, Kansas has been able to use technological advances to produce far more out of the same fields which previously produced only crops.

Hidden Resources

Do you have hidden resources that are above or below your feet? Are you already sitting on more value than you know? Or perhaps, it’s right inside of you?

Sildenfel, is an artificial compound, that is used to treat hypertension. However, the drug had unexpected side effects, including an upside. The well- known drug that starts with a V. Today, this drug consistently provides Pfizer with over $1 billion in annual sales.

McDonald’s greatest asset? It’s not the French Fries, but it is their land, with over $24 billion in value.

Often, it is your people within who may be your hidden resource. Perhaps, they are on the wrong seat on the bus, and with a new seat, they can flourish. This is a common occurrence if you are willing to invest and see why something is or not working. (Check out this McKinsey article for more.) This is why we like to use Gallup StrengthsFinder to gain greater insights into our hidden resources.

In your next strategic review, I challenge you to look within to find your hidden resources, with your people, processes, and systems. You may unlock new value and gain an extraordinary return.

Just because you are probably not in Kansas anymore, I encourage you to be open-minded to your potential hidden treasure(s).

Lost at CEO | Client Facilitation

Great to be back in Orange County, California this past week, with a new client, PTS Advance. They have had extraordinary growth over the last few years, and they are working on their future strategic plan. It’s been an honor to kick-off with such a talented senior team. Thank you to Huddl3 Group CEO, Future of Teamwork podcast host, Dane Groeneveld for the invitation. Next facilitation with this team will be in Orange County, Florida.

Book Quote – Shari Burk, Director of Innovation, Consulting, at Salesforce. “Love your book!”

Thank you, Shari, those positive comments make my day.

Don’t forget to post your reviews on Amazon.

Measure Success Podcast

This week, 2023 Speaker of the Year, Renata Chlumska, shared her story on the Measure Success Podcast. Renata is the first Swedish and Czech women to climb Mt. Everest. When she is not training on a mountain, you may find her walking with a ruck, starting before the sun rises, every day. This is a great interview and inspiring story.

This past week we interviewed, bestselling author, Steven M.R. Covey, Speed of Trust, Trust and Inspire. Stephen invested an additional 30 minutes; to share his wisdom regarding the Being and Doing Side, his late father Stephen Covey, and Innovator’s Dilemma Clayton Christensen. I am still pinching myself after this interview. This will release on September 12th. Listen to the podcast here.

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