Welcome to Sanera Camp! We are a multi-author blog dedicated to helping small business owners get radical results! If you're new here, I invite you to subscribe to the RSS feed.

The Value of a New Voice

One of the interesting hooks of the reality talent-themed television series The Voice is that initial decisions shaping the vocal competition are based on judges only hearing contestants. Appearance, body language, everything visual is removed from the equation.

The popularity of this show confirms an unspoken truth: The expectation of what a singer should look like impacts what we hear. If you doubt this, take a quick look at the top entertainers in almost any venue. There is a common look, a familiarity with which we are comfortable.

This comfort and familiarity extends far beyond entertainment. Professionally, if you’re like me, you tend to read and listen to the same few. We are (understandably) drawn to what resonates, and rarely venture too far with anything initially dissonant. Our comfort level with what we know — look, sound, style and ideas — means we rarely listen to a different voice.

Check the seminars or webinars you’ve targeted for participation. You’ll likely see the same handful of “experts” on program after program. (Organizers demonstrate remarkable resistant to a new voice.)

There are, of course, a number of solid reasons for a conservative approach. When it comes to a discussion of marketing and business development, the best reason is because what you’ve been doing is generating the kind of results and growth you’re happy with.

However, if you expect more (or something different) it is worth noting that the same ideas and strategies can be expected, in most cases, to deliver the same results.

For everyone wishing to hear a different tune, it may be helpful to venture into new territory.

How to Find New Business Perspectives

1. Controversial People

In the 5th Century BC, Plato was considered controversial for stating that the Earth is spherical. Often, the voices that cause the most dissension contain elements of truth. Consider searching for the most contentious voices in your industry and read their content.

2. Look to Other Industries

Reading about trends in the tech, science or educational arenas may give you some interesting ideas for your business endeavors.

3. Read the Unread
When searching for an expert online, go to page 15 or 20 of the search results. Intelligence is not reserved for those with good SEO.

There are no guarantees for what a new voice will do. But (at the risk of mixing metaphors) even old-school NBA coaches know that every so often it is smart to change the game.

To whom do you turn for fresh perspectives on business development? We could use the fodder.