Greetings.  UFOs.  Extraterrestrials.  Aliens.  The search for intelligent life on other planets.  Parallel universes.  All part of our ongoing fascination with the idea that we are not alone.  That somewhere out there are other people (or creatures) and worlds that exist right along side our own.  And as someone who believes in the importance of finding insight and inspiration from other places, I think this is a pretty exciting idea.  And I also think that it is a bit presumptuous of us to believe that we are the only "intelligent" life forms in our vast universe and beyond.  But rather than debate this point, let's use it to shine an intergalactic light on a big challenge that many companies face.  The strange notion that they are alone in providing unique products, services, and solutions.  Alone in understanding the customer better than anyone else.  Alone in having the best technology or the most brilliant people.  Alone in being more innovative than everyone else.

If you really believe all of these tag lines, buzzwords, and marketing phrases, you probably haven't been paying enough attention to the universe that your business operates in.  Or you're just plain out of touch.  Because it's also a bit presumptuous to believe that your company or organization is the only "intelligent" life form in your industry.  The world around every one of us is a hot bed of innovation, with firms large and small working overtime to invent the next big thing.  And the only way we can survive and prosper is by understanding this reality and committing to continually raise the bar in creating more compelling customer experiences and greater value for those we choose to serve.

We're not alone–whether or not we choose to believe it.  And that's a great thing.  Because it requires us to be far better than we might otherwise imagine.  While Microsoft might be the biggest fish in the world of computer operating systems, the fact that Apple is gaining market share has no doubt led to Windows 7–a dramatic improvement over Vista.  While Toyota and Honda have dominated the market for affordable and high-quality family transportation, the fact that Hyundai and now Ford have reinvented themselves has no doubt pushed the Japanese automakers to raise their game.  No matter what industry you operate in, you're only as good as your best competitor challenges you to be.

We win in business and in life when we acknowledge that we're not alone, and commit to learning from the friends, competitors, and aliens around us.  It's the only way that solid companies ever maintain their genius and commitment to meaningful innovation.

Cheers and have an "out-of-this-world" year ahead!