Dave Oventhal
When Poor Planning Meets Reality

In the March/April 2024 issue of Car & Driver magazine, Jamie Kitman points out the gains and pains within the current four-wheel EV landscape. Kitman’s Upfront article, Alternating Current provides the painful reality of “piss poor planning” (my words, not his) within the hallowed walls of auto OEs, again. As history seems to always repeat itself, once again the lack of reality has bit auto manufacturers in the ass. When global governments started mandating zero-emissions by 2035, the OEs’ jealousy of Tesla gained unprecedented momentum.

When Poor Planning Meets Reality

The Most Valuable Asset

The Most Valuable Asset

An asset is defined as “a useful or valuable thing or person”. The problem in business is that most leaders forget about the person aspect of this definition. Business leaders typically focus on tangible or intangible assets that the firm owns. Most assets that are front-and-center within day-to-day business are inventories, buildings, equipment, patents, copyrights, or financial assets such as stocks or bonds. However, this limited perception ignores the most valuable corporate asset; every, single employee.

Creating an Idea Factory

Creating an Idea Factory

An IDEA FACTORY is a deliberate and systematic virtual and physical space which teaches people how to develop ideas and apply them for continuous improvement. An IDEA FACTORY can be for individuals, groups or teams, organizations, or communities. The goal is for people to learn how to develop and apply ideas to solve problems, take advantage of opportunities, create new products, services, or businesses, or improve processes. Now more than ever, IDEA FACTORIES are needed during such a massive time of change.

A Contrarian’s Perspective

A Contrarian’s Perspective

In good times you should never blindly follow the herd. But this is even more relevant during bad times. As Albert Einstein famously said, "the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result". To develop lasting competitive advantages and provide new, unexpected value for your customers, it is critical to think and act differently from your competitors. You have to reinvent the game.

Intrepreneuring: Don't Wait for Permission

Intrepreneuring: Don't Wait for Permission

I just finished reading two great books from Gifford Pinchot III, Intrepreneuring and Intrepeneuring in Action. These books discuss the need for entrepreneurship within large organizations, and why intrapreneurs are critical for an organization’s success. Pinochet coined the term “intrepreneur” to describe an “intracorporate entrepreneur”. What this role is, is an individual whom acts like an entrepreneur but within an organization.

Value Monopoly

Value Monopoly

We always hear the business press and academics talk about how unpredictable the future will be. How the rapid rate of change will affect all industries and businesses. However, the instability we are all experiencing right now is unprecedented for most of us. As I have written before, these times require all of us to rethink how we conduct business. Times like this requires us all to reevaluate how we conduct business and how to survive and prosper as things rapidly change. If you typically react to market changes, this is a great “kick-in-the-pants”moment to be proactive. Stay positive and realize the unlimited opportunities that now exist.

Creativity and the Coronavirus

Creativity and the Coronavirus

As the coronavirus expands across the globe creating panic and fear, it is critical to rethink how to meet these new challenges. As an increasing number of market segments contract, such as airlines, restaurants, sporting events, and entertainment, it is a great opportunity to quickly reinvent how to conduct business. At a time of great uncertainty and potential catastrophic business contraction, all businesses need to develop new, creative ways to engage with consumers.

Expand Your Imagination

Expand Your Imagination

I urge others and push myself to continually learn and experience unique and strange new things. A great way to do both of these is through reading. I’ve seen a few kids walking around reading books lately and it’s given me hope that reading is not dead. The great benefit of reading is its inexpensive, you can do it anywhere, and it is a great way to stir the imagination.

Developing New Ideas

Developing New Ideas

It is critical for small, medium, and large organizations to emphasize creative thinking in all areas of the business and at all levels. Successful creative thinking to develop new ideas to improve every aspect of the organization, will not happen by building cool work spaces, adding ping-pong tables or bean bag chairs, or fun team building exercises. Creative thinking happens when you train your entire team in the basics of how to develop new ideas, and ensure everyone understands how to avoid “killing ideas” and accepting and celebrating failure.

Fear and Loathing in India

Fear and Loathing in India

New experiences are the ingredients for creativity. And I try to have as many as possible. I love traveling, meeting new people, and challenging myself. With my new job and living in a new country, everyday is something new. And recently I had one of those “bucket list” experiences that was not just amazing, but terrifying, exhausting, and inspirational. I rode a motorcycle for about five days in India. With three other co-workers, we rode from Mumbai to Goa, on the west coast.

Not only was this a great personal experience, but was a fast immersion into the Indian market that I am now responsible for. The ride not only helped me to better understand the Indian market, but allowed me to see areas of the country that most people would never see. And the trip was not just about riding, but we also conducted research. On the trip we visited several Royal Enfield motorcycle dealers to understand their business better, and identify new opportunities.

A Positive Revolution

A Positive Revolution

We are living in interesting times to say the least. More people are being lifted out of poverty and ongoing technology and science innovations are changing lives for the better. As we live in a time of incredible wealth, longer lifespans, and unimaginable progress, we seem to be moving backwards in terms of morality, caring for others, and a sense of community. Due to the ability of those who hate and blame others having a strong voice via social media and various digital outlets, we are at a pivotal moment in time, to stop the progression backwards and move to a positive and more creative future. If we do not demand change and create change, we will continue to slide into a world based on hate, division, and isolation.