What does the world need that YOU can uniquely deliver?

On my journey through life I am constantly on the lookout for ways I can make an impact. It’s not just figuring out better ways to make money, nor how much fun I can have, or even what the payoff is for me personally. Rather it’s what I can do to make the world a better place by adding my own intrinsic value in ways it will be multiplied.

When I took a risk and went off on my own in January to focus on Internet-as-a-platform and all the things driving the Web 2.0 meme, I started to ask myself one question: What does the world need that I can uniquely deliver? Whenever I think about what I should be doing, choices toward where I should be focusing my energy, or even where I invest, it all starts with that single question.

I’ve been fortunate to have had a really great high-tech career that spanned the microcomputer business all the way to the enterprise software space. It started when I was a manufacturer’s rep for Atari, migrated to selling this new computer company Apple’s stuff (I was in Hawaii in November of 1983 when Jobs introduced the Macintosh to the company) and ended with an incredible adventure at Vignette during the dotcom time and as VP of Strategic Alliances at Lawson Software. I’ve seen a lot, learned a lot, sold and marketed into virtually every type of distribution channel, learned more technology value propositions than anyone probably ever should, and built an intuitive understanding of failure and success.

So have I found an answer to my question about uniquely delivering value to the world?

THE ANSWER
I have the experience, business and technology insight to enable me to see what’s value propositions from the desktop to the enterprise as well as what’s going on around them both. Today, for instance, I can see the chasm that exists between Web 2.0 and the enterprise and realized a month or so ago, “Hey! I can help people in small-to-midsize organizations understand what’s going on. I own a small business, have started one, work with startups, have been an intrapreneur, a big corporate guy and I have a burning desire to guide, provide insight and give ideas to those who aren’t able to see what I do or hire strategists like an enterprise can.”

The report that came out as a result is the Rise of the Participation Culture. My goal was to deliver it before the Web 2.0 Summit I was at all this week, but had some trepidation about doing so since there are so many people I respect and see as thought leaders. Admittedly I had some fear that they might have looked at what I produced as being too simplistic and not cutting edge…but my desire to deliver it outweighed my reservations.

Imagine my delight when the emails started trickling in with praise, suggestions and criticism along with a mention at MNSpeak. Then I got home from the trip, logged on to check out my online life, and found this post which says in part, “Simply put, this report is the BEST primer I have ever read on the history of Web 2.0, Social Media and the related applications for any organization seeking to use this new media to further profit and NONPROFIT objectives.

THAT is why I did the report, why it’s free and why I intend to iterate it just like a piece of software (it’s at version 1.0 and will have dot releases going forward). The world needs guides. In an age of user generated content, a tsunami of information flooding in from all sides, and technology ready, willing and able to deliver all of it to you no matter where you are, experienced filters are needed more than ever.

What’s my motivation besides the seeming intrinsic one about “giving back” and what might seem like fuzzy do-gooder stuff? Hey…I’ve received alot and I owe something back….but I also found myself explaining Web 2.0 over-n-over again to clients and others so this is sort of an education piece that will help me enlighten them and their staffs. Getting everyone on the same page is incredibly useful so we can get past the basics and strategize, create and innovate faster vs. having them pay me for “Web 2.0 for Dummies”.

What’s your unique value? What does the world need that only you can deliver? If you pooh-pooh that and automatically minimize your skills, perspective and intrinsic value…don’t. We’re all here for a reason, inextricably intertwined, and anything you do that’s positive moves us all forward.

Posted in  

6 Comments

  1. Michael's Thoughts on November 13, 2006 at 11:18 am

    Daily Report, Nov 14

    Team Collaboration TeamDirection Project 2007 … TeamDirection updated its TeamDirection Project offering, which offers integration with Groove v3.0 and earlier, and now Groove 2007 and SharePoint 2003 and 2007. “We believe our value add is for projec…



  2. A.Rajendran on July 2, 2007 at 9:51 am

    Guess what? I had the question:”What does the world need, that I can deliver?”

    I searched typing that question and landed in your web page. Hey, there is so much common in thoughts.

    I have an IT experience of 20 years and just started an Operation in the US, but something kept telling me that I need to focus on what I CAN do to this world!

    The question leads to so many answers and broadly I thought we can look at:

    a. Those which will remove current pains
    b. Those which will enhance the happiness!

    Still in the thinking mode, and wanted to get views. You would be a great source of thoughts I am sure.

    Looking forward to have your views.

    With warm regards,
    Rajen



  3. Kat on May 14, 2008 at 8:44 am

    I landed here the same way Rajen above did. I just typed in google search, “what does the world need?” and hit i’m feeling lucky. I have no background in computer technology, I am just a midwestern housewife and mother trying to figure out if there’s something I can do to contribute to the internet phenomenon that will help to change the world. It’s become obvious with exploration of the world wide web that we’re all trying to get on the same page. Whether or not we succeed will depend on how much effort we put into our own communication skills. Bottom line, we’re all here to learn! Thanks for the insight!



  4. John on June 12, 2008 at 11:52 pm

    AMEN! BLESSED YHVH!!



  5. JGL on October 7, 2008 at 9:06 am

    I was looking for inspired things to post on Prayer 2.0 – a kind of web art idea.

    I thought it would be good to post something that the world needed. Interesting article though :o)



  6. Yuri on January 13, 2010 at 9:50 pm

    I google “what does the world need” and got here too. So i’m glad to find out i’m not the only one that wants to contribute to a better world. I’m a spiritual person that had some deep insights in what mankind’s purpose is and guess what even then I’m still figuring out wtf i’m doing here, but seriously i’m glad i’m not the only one still searching to bring good into the world. And yes we can’t all be a Jay Z or some kind of rock band artist lady gaga, J brother whatever you love like disgust it doesn’t matter, artists bring it into the world their way. But i could explain you what we our purpose on this planet/dimension, but it would only freak out people hehe, not everybody is fresh waken enough to cope with that sh** anyway we’re here and need to handle with what we got, place we’re born and the people and society that surrounds us. Let me just tell you that everything is connected how far anything in the world may seem. And if you should doubt that just ask yaself how did i get this job, wife, friends, house, why do i live here, etc, everything and everyone you encountered in life is NOT coincidence but a path, damn, now i’m talking about this sh**. Anyway, nothing happens there without a single plotting of a worldwide path that slowly shall bring mankind into a better place (no you and I are not gonna experience the complete fruits of this, but our grand grand grand grand kids will do) Peace out. Still what could help to make this world better place?



Leave a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

About Steve Borsch

Strategist. Learner. Idea Guy. Salesman. Connector of Dots. Friend. Husband & Dad. CEO. Janitor. More here.

Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn

Posts by Category

Archives (2004 – Present)

Connecting the Dots Podcast

Podcasting hit the mainstream in July of 2005 when Apple added podcast show support within iTunes. I'd seen this coming so started podcasting in May of 2005 and kept going until August of 2007. Unfortunately was never 'discovered' by national broadcasters, but made a delightfully large number of connections with people all over the world because of these shows. Click here to view the archive of my podcast posts.