At the end of the last century, A&E unveiled a series entitled “Biography of the Millennium.” This look at the 100 most influential people of the preceding 1,000 years included historical figures you learned about in school such as Isaac Newton (#2), Charles Darwin (#4), and Christopher Columbus (#6). It also recognized current icons like Bill Gates (#41), Nelson Mandela (#81), and Steven Spielberg (#91), plus a few people whose exact contributions to society are hard to remember: Copernicus (#9), James Watt (#25), and Descartes (#32).

So why is a seven-year-old list important to you? It’s because of who A&E selected as the most influential person of the last millennium. Martin Luther (#3), William Shakespeare (#5), and Galileo (#10) ranked high, but not at the top. Instead, the folks at A&E placed Johannes Gutenberg number one.

Gutenberg’s invention of the printing press some 550 years ago expedited the spread of knowledge throughout the world. Centuries later, one might suggest, it also gave birth to the quick printing industry. Like all great inventors, Gutenberg looked at things the way they were and sought a better solution. Through trial and error and perseverance, he earned his place in history.

While you may not desire to create a world-changing event that lands you on a future “greatest” list, you do have the opportunity to improve your printing business by adopting a new mindset. Pick up any best selling business book these days and chances are the word “innovation” plays a role in the story. In fact, if Gutenberg were doing his movable type thing today, the media would likely label him not so much an inventor as an innovator.

Innovation Sensation

So what exactly is innovation? A simple definition is the implementation of creative ideas. Here is how writers at a major business magazine described the importance of innovation: “In an era when Six Sigma controls no longer guarantee competitive advantage, when outsourcing to China and India is universal, when creeping commoditization of products, services, and information hammers prices, innovation is the new currency of competition. It is the key to organic growth, the lever to widen profit margins, the Holy Grail of 21st century business.” [Business Week, June 19, 2006]

“Creeping commoditization of products, services, and information hammers prices…” Sound familiar? That “commoditization” word keeps popping up all over the printing industry. We’ll leave the debate of whether printing is or isn’t a commodity to others. Instead, let’s focus on the next five words in that article: “Innovation is the new currency.” For your printing business to thrive during the changing times we’re living in, you and the talent you employ must understand and be willing to make innovation a major focus.

Step by Step

As a professional business coach who focuses on the quick printing industry, I help owners just like you navigate through the challenges that stand in the way of getting customers’ projects out the door. One of the continuing themes that comes up in my work with quick printers is the need to better communicate with and involve employees in the overall vision and strategy of the business. When things are moving quickly and there are so many fires to deal with each and every day, who has time to think about the future, let alone share it with others? The answer: It needs to be you.

So how do you start changing your printing business into an innovative organization? Here are four suggestions to prepare your team for a brighter future. Dedicate yourself to implementing these and you’ll discover new opportunities, create more loyalty in your employees, and leave your competition wondering how they didn’t get the message the world changed all around them.