Differentiation...it's time.

My good friend and CEO of Potomac Research Group, Suzanne Clark and I spoke briefly today about strategy.

She had just finished reading some of Harvard Prof Michael Porter's classic work.

Porter mentioned a key part of successful strategy is differentiation.  That's a characteristic many of our associations are missing today.  Here's what I mean -

Meetings - basically the same.  Resort or city property.  If we really get nuts, let's try a meeting in Las Vegas or Hawaii.
Dues structure - revenue based - not value or usage based.
Board meetings - I have been to many, and couldn't tell one from the other.  Then we ask why it is difficult to attract key leaders as volunteers.

Heavens, even our headquarters look the same.  Yet, as we look at revenues decline and memberships dry up we just tweak around the edges. 

Let's watch to see if anyone really breaks out and starts to differentiate their association - in publications, dues structure, meetings and government affairs tactics. 

Porter's thoughts are still on the mark - it's timely to revisit them.