We suck less...

One of the presentations I give (when I occasionally get invited out to some independent perspective on the market) is ‘15 keys to a successful CRM implementation’. I’d put a link in to a copy, but I’ve adopted a minimalist approach on my slides – al la Beyond Bullets – all pictures and very few words – so I suspect it wouldn’t make too much sense. Anyway one of the points I make relates to the need to nurture the relationship with your chosen vendor. The gist is anything to do with technology is complex. It’s not a question as to whether problems will occur – take that as a given – it’s a case of addressing them in a way that allows the relationship to live through and beyond the implementation phase. To illustrate the ‘technology is complex’ point I like to recount the story of Brad Feld who positioned his whole company on the basis that ‘we suck less’. To quote him –‘Inspired - I called a 9 AM company meeting and announced our new motto - "We Suck Less." I explained to my bewildered team that computer consulting (well - actualy - anything having to do with computers) is difficult, most people suck at it, and we can succeed simply by sucking less than everyone else.’

A rather good point I thought – I wonder if this refreshingly candid perpective will ever catch on in the computer industry.