The idea for the Hedgehog concept was first born in Jim Collins’ book “Good to Great.” Essentially, the Concept brings out the methods used by senior business managers to run a business. Depending on the concept, there are two people a senior business manager can adopt when running a business: a hedgehog or a fox.
The idea behind the Hedgehog concept is that, in the wild, hedgehogs understand how to do one thing and one thing only, but they do it extremely well. Unlike the hedgehog, the fox knows how to do several things. Unfortunately, however, the fox is not that skilled in his focus and in his rush to achieve his goal he ends up losing focus.
According to the Hedgehog concept, to be successful in business you need to develop strong discipline. Focus on an end goal and approach it with great knowledge and a strong understanding of the elements around it. In other words, do one thing really well.
To go from good to great, business owners must develop a strong understanding of what sets them apart from everyone else. What do they do better than the competition?
Thinking like a hedgehog to go from good to great
� What is your passion? It’s easier to talk about the things you love than to have a conversation about the things that interest you little.
� What are your natural abilities? What can you do better than the others?
� Where can you earn the most money? It is imperative to have a solid understanding of your profit margins and to focus your attention on generating income from the things you are passionate about.
Successful businesses, both online and offline, are built on consistency. While there may be times when you need to drift off course, this should only be a last resort. In the book “Good to Great,” the Hedgehog concept dictates a host of advantageous advantages to business leaders who take the time to properly develop a workable plan and then act on it. Following the concept will better help companies lay the foundation for a long-term successful business.
Get it right, and in the long run, your business will only prosper. A technique worth mastering so your business can reap the rewards.
