Profitable growth through Sustainable Innovation.
Imago Consulting helps clients create profitable growth.
We do that by helping organizations accelerate sustainable innovation – what they should strengthen, what to stop doing, and what to start. We help leaders identify trends, respond to disruption, develop new initiatives, and create action plans that get implemented.
The word “Imago”(iˈmāɡō) is Latin. Translated literally, it means image.
But it’s much more than that.
It’s the root of the word IMAGination. It’s a word picture of a vision of a future state that doesn’t exist yet. It’s literally seeing what will be, but isn’t yet.
That’s what Imago Consulting exists to do – work with leaders to see a vision for what could be.
At Imago we come alongside leaders to help them move from vision to reality through innovation.
What is Sustainable Innovation, and why is it important?
Innovation is one of those words that means many things to many people. Some leaders love it and see it as core to growth. Others roll their eyes and see waste, ineffective initiatives, frustration, and missed expectations. But innovation means something a little different to everyone. Let’s talk about why it’s important, and then we’ll define it.
Every organization is somewhere on the organizational lifecycle curve. Every organization, every product, every program. There are no exceptions. Every organization is either in its infancy, growing, slowing, plateauing, or declining.
Steve Jobs was fond of quoting Dylan on this topic - “You are either busy being born, or you’re busy dying.”
The key is to understand where you are, where each of your programs or products are on the S-curve, and not be married to one specific innovation or way of doing things. It’s critical to understand the principles that lead to creating new products, and renewing and reimagining existing ones to create new S-curves.
Innovation creates new S-curves – bringing renewal and profitable growth to your nonprofit or business.
“The graveyards of history are littered with organizations that pioneered one way of doing things or another but failed to leap to the next model…”
But what makes innovation sustainable? The graveyards of history are littered with organizations that pioneered one way of doing things or another but failed to leap to the next model, the next innovation. Innovation is paradoxical in this way - it’s both new, and fresh, but it’s also timeless. Ancient even.
Innovation is Ancient
One of the mistakes that organizations make is to assume innovation is all about the latest and greatest. The newest tech. The latest fad. So they chase an endless cycle of shiny objects. Silver bullets.
But innovation is ancient. Innovation has been around since time began. That means there are principles and lessons we can learn and apply to our situation today.
“Sustainable innovation, then, is about being able to not just innovate once.”
Sustainable innovation, then, is about being able to not just innovate once. But to do it over and over again to create a vibrant and flourishing organization that grows. It’s about building a repeatable way of thinking and doing that enables the organization to create those new S-curves.
Sustainable innovation leads to profitable growth
Innovation is not innovation if it doesn’t lead to being able to do more of what it is your organization is created to do. If you come up with some new way of doing things, but you can’t do more of it, or you can’t do it profitably, then it can’t scale. And if it can’t scale, then it can’t create more impact.
If a tree falls in the woods, does it make a sound? If innovation is kept in a vacuum, is it really an innovation?
Growth, sustainable, profitable growth is the key to innovations actually impacting the world.
At Imago, we’re passionate about helping leaders create sustainable, profitable growth.
How we help leaders move from vision to Sustainable Innovation
We help leaders in four ways, primarily:
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For leaders looking to launch, relaunch, or sustain a specific program or product. If this is you, the review and action plan will provide a roadmap with measurable outcomes - what to strengthen, stop, and start.
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A total business review that includes a concrete action plan and roadmap. We’ll focus on what to strengthen, stop, and start to drive profitable growth for your organization.
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Personalized guidance, outside wisdom, and a sounding board for senior leaders and their teams. Coaching includes a leadership development review focused on strengths and barriers to profitable growth, innovation, gifting, context, and personal vision.
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1- to 2-day seminars for your leadership team, group or offsite. Topics include: Building Recurring Revenue in the Subscription Economy, Creating Remarkable Customer Experiences, and Cultivating Profitable Growth through Sustainable Innovation.
Areas of expertise
Under the umbrella of sustainable innovation, areas of expertise:
Leadership development
Leveraging partners/vendors
Outside perspective
Product development
Recurring revenue models
( The Subscription Economy)
Revenue growth
Team alignment
Trendspotting
User experience
Weekly innovation trends and ideas
but not very many people know when and how to catch those waves, let alone understand the trends, the opportunities, and the waves as they come.
Every Friday, we send out The Wave Report, highlighting one trend or insight “wave,” from donor and consumer trends to innovation in different industries, or new models for growth.
Everyone talks about catching and riding the wave of innovation,
The Wave Report
Weekly insights and trends, sent every Friday.