What’s important to recognize about that book is that it has lessons beyond managing a business.  The famous “hedgehog concept” from Good to Great can be applied to your own individual development and is an excellent way to focus your talents and energy on that which you do best.

If you’re not familiar with it, the hedgehog concept is the overlap of the answers to the following questions:

personal hedgehog concept

What you are passionate about? What is it that gets you out of bed in the morning, excited to face the day? I mean, sure, not all mornings go this way, even for the brightest-eyed-bushiest-tailed morning person. But most of us have experienced the feeling when you wake up and remember something you’ve planned for the day, and you can’t wait to do it. Whatever last caused that feeling for you, there’s a good chance it’s part of the answer to this question.

What you can be the best in the world at? A lot of people struggle with assessing themselves critically and honestly: we’re either too critical of ourselves or not honest enough about our shortcomings, and most of us experience both extremes. But it’s important to be able to look at your talents and skills, and decide sincerely where you have the opportunity to excel.

This is where you can start to see the power of the overlap in your answers: you may really enjoy and even be passionate about riding your bicycle, let’s say, but if your ability doesn’t stand out as exceptional, it’s not going to be your hedgehog concept. (It can still be a hobby, but it isn’t where you can focus your talent and energy to really propel yourself forward professionally.)

What drives your economic engine? This reference may be a little obscure if you haven’t read the book, but the gist of it is that your business (or in this case, your personal operations) thrive on some characteristic factor that can be measured. Maybe if you’re in sales, it has to do with calls made. Or if you’re a writer, maybe it has to do with pages written. In some way, you should be able to tie your area of focus to a measurable number.

Why not spend a little time this week answering these questions for yourself so you can come closer to understanding what your personal hedgehog concept is? Once you have a better idea of it, you will be able to ensure that you are set up to pursue it.

Have you applied principles from a business book to your individual development? Tell us about it in the comments.

photo credit: rickilevy69

I’m an unrepentant Bear Grylls fan. His show on Discovery Channel, “Man vs. Wild,” always inspires and encourages me. Most of us will never encounter the challenges and outright risks and dangers Grylls does, but this weekend’s show got me thinking about how we may not be so far apart after all. He used the phrase, “a proper wilderness,” and that feels like a great metaphor for so many people striking out to find their new best careers and goals.

Grylls served three years with a special forces unit of the British army. One can really only officially be on active duty in the army for so many years before one has to start thinking about other things; particular if one has broken one’s back in three places during service! But what if what you do, what you love, what you were meant to pursue and prove and teach, is the very thing you feel required to depart?

Today’s economy and the dramatic shifts in the work place have required many of us to take a step back and start thinking about how to answer this question. If you find yourself required to make a change, don’t be too hasty to assume that all of what you loved about what you used to do is now out of reach. Spend some time in self-analysis, identifying not only your hard skills but your favorite pursuits and activities. Think not only about yourself as an individual, but about your skills on a team, and within an organization.

Grylls left the special forces, and one might think he would never skin a rattlesnake barehanded and eat it raw for a living again; yet here he is, still doing what he does better than anyone, and doing that in which he finds the most personal and professional satisfaction.  (He earns a nice paycheck as well.  Coincidence?  Probably not!)

Give yourself a taste of something new and off-the-charts innovative this week, but bring your favorite existing skills. You might just find yourself rethinking what is and is not possible for your own next adventure.