Receptiveness that leads to better value

As we approach the milestone of ending one year and beginning a new one, it’s a good time to assess how we’re doing. Each of us can ask these three questions (and sub-questions):

1) How well are we fulfilling our mission? (Is the mission still valid?)
2) How well are we achieving our vision? (Is the vision still relevant?)
3) How well have we embraced our differentiating values? (Are they still creating competitive advantage?)

Personally, I’m asking these questions regarding this blog. How well am I adding value to you, my reader?

A Year in Review

Over the past year, I have posted a blog every day, Monday through Friday. The general theme has been as follows:

• Mondays is about a value applied to marketing
• Tuesdays is a video highlighting a value using a meaningful quote
• Wednesdays is about a value applied to leadership
• Thursdays is about a value applied to marriage
• Fridays is about an example couple that either has made or is making a difference in the lives of others, and often includes selected values.

The statistics for this blog: 127,000+ words, covering 220 different values, spanning 261 posts, including 56 videos, and profiling 32 couples. While some added comments, others sent me emails. And I received both positive and constructive feedback.

All great stuff, but am I making a difference? If any assessment is to have an impact, one needs to be open to change.

This is a time the value of receptiveness can play an important role.

The Value of Receptiveness

As a differentiating value, Receptiveness means open to arguments, ideas or changes; ready or willing to receive favorably.

Unfortunately, this value runs against the grain of human nature.

While most business leaders and marketers claim to be open to receiving feedback, there is a natural tendency to defend decisions made, give excuses for current policies, and to justify the current state of affairs. Anything else would require changing the status quo, and that leads to pain.

But when the value of receptiveness is truly embraced, there is a willingness to explore fresh ideas, an openness to change, and a readiness to embrace new insights. In fact, the marriage of insight and receptiveness possess the power of great potential.

As a useful reference, I wrote about the value of insight here and here. While these posts were focused on marketing, the essence applies to other areas of life, including leadership and marriage.

The key ingredient in obtaining useful insight is in asking better questions.

7 Questions to Ponder

When it comes to adding value to the readers of this blog, I must also be open and receptive as I ask the following questions:

• Am I writing about differentiating values in a way that everyone can understand?
• Am I making it easy to apply values to marketing, leadership, and marriage?
• Am I adding value through this blog in a way that no one else is doing?
• Am I encouraging discussion, online and offline, that leads to change?
• Am I helping to strengthen marriages, reinforce leadership principles, and build businesses that will make a difference?
• Am I encouraging husbands and wives to lead meaningful lives?
• Am I doing everything I can to help couples in business together make a Godly impact in the decisions being made in their local communities, cities, and country?

As I consider these questions, I sense the need to make some adjustments. So I’m open to change and ready to receive new ideas that will help me improve the quality of the content offered here.

What can you do to help?

Please post a comment here or email me with your feedback, insights, and recommendations to ensure I’m adding value to you in the most meaningful way. Thank you!!