My (3/N) solution

Now, Near, Never

Activate on good behavior, and good things happen. I have created or adopted more than a few practical tools I would like to share.

Today is the three of the N solution. A simple way to work with teams and solve problems. Teams are not required; you can use this system alone. Groups tend to develop good ideas, and this model helps you inspire or grow with them.

The method is all about focused energy, time to market, and wisdom. Everyone has a good idea when creating or solving for success. Managing a flood of ideas is a problem. Too many brainstorming meetings end with lists and emails only to be lost or forgotten. And n-1 is never a good sample set, so create n-3.

The entire model focuses on speed to market. The now, near, and never model gives you a framework. Focus every useful input into just one bucket.

Sounds simple enough, so why isn’t everyone doing it?

That isn’t very easy to answer. I find it mostly boils down to the now. Get it now, do it now, return on investment now; anything else is distracting and useless. Management often emphasizes control around the now and see anything else as detrimental to progress.

In some cases, near and never concepts are tabled for another meeting where “BlueSky thinking” captures innovations…