American Express OPEN Forum: Powering Small Business Success

Follow:

Highlights:

The World
Entrepreneurs
Technology
See More
- Topics
  - The World
  - Technology
  - Money
  - Marketing
  - Managing
  - Lifestyle
  - Innovation
- Features
Search

Search OPEN Forum

Search OPEN Forum

Cardmember Profile: New & Improved

OPEN Forum

0 Comment

Tumblr
Email

February 1, 2010

OPEN Forum Message

Watch MSNBC's Your Business

If you missed this week's show or want to catch up on past episodes, you can find the videos on OPEN Forum.

View videos

Be the first to comment on this article

Bob Eckert is the CEO of New & Improved.

First job…
I managed a couple of mountaineering stores in Ohio. I loved it, and intended to return after my six-month leave to work in an "Adapted Outward Bound" program for incarcerated juveniles. However, I fell in love with that work and then moved into setting up drug abuse treatment and prevention programs.

Reason I started my own business …
I saw a strong need for an effective, nationally coordinated, research-driven youth development system. I hung a shingle as "The Learning Institute for Functional Education", known to most as the LIFE Institute and was immediately in demand and in the black. Eventually, I became interested in the process of finding solutions to additional human challenges and began to study the discipline of Creative Problem Solving and the people skills required for innovation. In response, I created a partnership with Jonathan Vehar, a graduate of the Center for Creative Studies and Change Leadership, and changed the company name to "New & Improved, LLC.”

My inspiration …
I would say my work continues to be influenced by the thinking of Kurt Hahn, the founder of Outward Bound. He once said that the purpose of education is to impel people into value-forming experiences, and (to ensure these qualities) a readiness for sensible self-denial, tenacity in pursuit, an enterprising spirit…and above all, compassion.

When not at work…
I’m home in the Adirondack Mountains on our 50-acre tree farm and maple syrup production operation. The great joy for me is that my son & daughter have also love the wilderness and are keeping me on my adventurous edge.

Favorite customer story line …
From a VP at a major biotech firm: "New & Improved has brought value to everything they've touched in our company." And we’ve worked with this company in R&D, marketing, operations, manufacturing, and more!

Best business advice I’ve received…
Do what you love doing, focus on doing it well, and the money will follow.

My advice to other business owners…
Most businesses are built around an idea. But the idea is really the easy part. It requires 110% commitment to working incredibly hard to put the idea into action. And the basis on which any business continues and succeeds in the long run is the culture of the people that you create as a leader. So when you focus equal parts on 1) "the big idea" and 2) creating a great innovation culture, you are far more likely to succeed in the long run.

I’m most proud of…
The myriad of great stories that have come out of our work developing creative thinking and innovation skills in organizations. One example is when we were asked to apply our coaching and support to help South African university students develop and execute a successful plan for integrated dormitory housing in the new post-apartheid era. Another is bringing a team of facilitators to work with a major pharmaceutical company to help them think differently toward discovering new ways to cure cancer.

Favorite American Express Card benefit…
In general, we like the wide acceptance, ease of use, and membership rewards that we get through American Express.