Comments on: Be original http://www.alwaysdoneitthatway.com/2006/06/18/be-original/ 101 Things About Associations We Must Change Sat, 06 Mar 2010 19:01:32 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Bailey WorkPlay :: The Alchemy Of Soulful Work | Tools Of The Devil - Best Practices http://www.alwaysdoneitthatway.com/2006/06/18/be-original/#comment-8741 Bailey WorkPlay :: The Alchemy Of Soulful Work | Tools Of The Devil - Best Practices Sun, 16 Mar 2008 20:31:57 +0000 http://www.alwaysdoneitthatway.com/?p=90#comment-8741 [...] my own attack on best practices is Jeff De Cagna. A few years ago, he wrote a great blogpost called Be Original. It’s aimed at non-profit professional associations but the core of his message applies [...] [...] my own attack on best practices is Jeff De Cagna. A few years ago, he wrote a great blogpost called Be Original. It’s aimed at non-profit professional associations but the core of his message applies [...]

]]> By: Jeff http://www.alwaysdoneitthatway.com/2006/06/18/be-original/#comment-288 Jeff Mon, 26 Jun 2006 23:32:23 +0000 http://www.alwaysdoneitthatway.com/?p=90#comment-288 Carrie, thanks for your comment. I completely understand what you're saying and empathize with your view. The problem is that while we may start out thinking we're going to use best practices from other organizations in this way, we often simply use them as templates for our own work. Duplication will not drive our success over the long term. I have no problem with learning from the experiences of others. But we don't really learn anything when we look to others for answers. We need to be willing to discover what's works in our unique context to say we've really learned. Carrie, thanks for your comment. I completely understand what you’re saying and empathize with your view. The problem is that while we may start out thinking we’re going to use best practices from other organizations in this way, we often simply use them as templates for our own work. Duplication will not drive our success over the long term.

I have no problem with learning from the experiences of others. But we don’t really learn anything when we look to others for answers. We need to be willing to discover what’s works in our unique context to say we’ve really learned.

]]> By: Carrie http://www.alwaysdoneitthatway.com/2006/06/18/be-original/#comment-274 Carrie Tue, 20 Jun 2006 15:21:36 +0000 http://www.alwaysdoneitthatway.com/?p=90#comment-274 I'm in the information technology part of the association business. I think looking to best practices is simply another way of saying, "Let's investigate what others have done in this space." Sometimes it saves you from having to re-invent the wheel. Sometimes it validates a direction you've come up with on your own. There are some people who are not real good "original thinkers." If we wait for them to come up with a solution, we'd be waiting a long time. Investigating the results of other thinkers' successes is a way to get some traction. I’m in the information technology part of the association business. I think looking to best practices is simply another way of saying, “Let’s investigate what others have done in this space.” Sometimes it saves you from having to re-invent the wheel. Sometimes it validates a direction you’ve come up with on your own.

There are some people who are not real good “original thinkers.” If we wait for them to come up with a solution, we’d be waiting a long time. Investigating the results of other thinkers’ successes is a way to get some traction.

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