Like a lot of idealistic twenty-somethings in the early 70′s, when I got out of college I was determined to do what I could to “save the World.” But, after spending several years working for non-profits, I concluded that the World was too screwed up for me to save. By then I was married, had a child and mortgage. I  reluctantly accepted my first job as a Capitalist, working for a corporation.

Still very optimistic (and naïve), I hung on to the belief that it was possible to affect meaningful change if I had the right solution. After a few weeks in my new job, I could see that several internal processes were woefully outdated and needed to be fixed. I came up with a Great Idea that I firmly believed would not only increase efficiency but reduce operating costs. I was positive that my new boss Artie, would be so enthralled with my Great Idea that he’d praise me for being a genius and might even give me a raise in pay.

Eager to share my brilliant solution, I burst into his office and exclaimed, “Artie, I’ve got a GREAT idea!.” Without missing a beat he grinned and replied, “Shake your head. Maybe it will go away.” Naturally, I was crushed and bit shocked at his reaction. I was even more surprised when the man reached into his bottom desk drawer and pulled out a cold beer. It was 9:30 in the morning.

Artie was one of the worst bosses I ever had. But he did teach me a valuable lesson: The trick to getting a Great Idea accepted and acted upon by management is to make a compelling case for it. In other words, I needed to sell it.

7 Rules for Successfully Selling A Great Idea.

1. Know thy boss. What is he most concerned about? What keeps her up at night?
2. Point out the gravity of problem. Get your boss to “feel the pain.”
3. Illustrate, in vivid detail, why your solution makes sense.
4. Create a sense of urgency. Point out the cost and consequences of not taking action.
5. Explain what they will gain by (the “WIFme”) supporting your Great Idea. (Tip: Appealing to the WIFme (“What’s in it for me”) is based on the fact that people rarely do things for altruistic reasons. Most of us agree to change only after we see how we will personally benefit.)
6. Put yourself in your bosses shoes. Expect questions and have the answers. If the answer is unclear, admit it.
7. Don’t leave the meeting with out a “yes,” “no” or “maybe.”

I hope this advice helps you be successful selling your next Great Idea to management. But if you don’t succeed, please keep trying to make a difference. If you don’t, who will?

Remember the words of hockey player, Wayne Gretzky, “You’ll miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.”

Two weeks ago I learned a valuable lesson about generosity. I had volunteered to stop by the  headquarters of Ten Thousand Villages and meet with some of the the employees who had read my book. It was no trouble since I  was traveling to the area anyway to do a seminar. I envisioned a cozy gathering of a half-dozen people during which we shared our favorite Aha! from the book, swapped stories of SODA Moments and if there was time, do a little Unplugging.

But instead I found myself delivering a presentation to all 80 employees. Every one from the CEO to the people who worked in the warehouse were there. The audience appeared to enjoy my presentation and may have benefited from my inspirational message. But I believe the experience inspired me more than all 80 people combined.

The people who work at Ten Thousand Villages are on a mission to eradicate poverty in Third World countries. It all started in 1946 when Edna Ruth Byler, the wife of a Mennonite missionary, traveled to very poor countries and observed the incredible poverty first hand. She concluded that one way to eradicate poverty in these developing countries was to create a market for the beautiful handiwork made by the artisans who lived in the small towns and villages. She started out selling the products out of the trunk of her car and eventually created a social movement that provides economic opportunities for artisans around the world.

Sixty-three years later, Ten Thousand Villages is a successful non-profit that sells an amazing array of handcrafted products via a network of 81 retail stores in the US and Canada, an e-commerce business and by sponsoring one or two-day festivals in various communities every year.

At the end of the presentation the people applauded and thanked me for coming. As they were doing their thanking I remember thinking that it is I who should be thanking them.  I drove away I feeling incredibly grateful for having met these dedicated people. I felt even more optimistic knowing that it only takes one person with a good idea and a vision to make the World a better place.

If you are looking for a way to make a difference, consider going on line and buying an item or two from Ten Thousand Villages. It will do you good.