July 2006

From the CEO

Business & The Five Stages

The more I work as CEO of Nia, the more I experience just how the Five Stages of Development (Embryonic, Creeping, Crawling, Standing, Walking) play out in every new initiative, process, and strategy of the business, as well as in my own development. From designing Web strategies to creating business plans, I find that each project unfolds through the Five Stages, as I, too, unfold through each stage.

Every time I brainstorm on a project, it always begins the same way – in the Embryonic stage, the stage where everything is new, the stage where I must let the beginner’s mind be my guide.

As I become aware of a vision of growth that is possible inside a project, I gather information and observe options toward the best solution. Once I have gathered all the available information, I begin Creeping forward to critically assess the situation and environment.

As I carefully guide the project toward fruition, I continue to gather input and feedback from my environment – from the people I work with, from information related to the project – and I continue in Creeping until I’m confident that the project vision has survived transitioning into the revealing light, is realistic and feasible, and is ready to move into the next stage.

With the momentum, stability and security gained by Creeping further into analysis of the possibilities of the project, I then feel ready to move to the next developmental stage of Crawling. This is where I straighten my spine, lift my head and look outside the framework of the project. I observe more of the external environment that might affect how the project reveals itself. In this stage I quicken my pace and begin to interact in a new way with the dynamics of my expanding environment. Taking on external influences – such as guidance from others, and new ways of adapting to the ever-shifting business terrain – I expand my range of motion and discover new perceptions and perspectives. All the while I grow stronger and prepare myself, and the project, to Stand.

In Standing I ground myself, take further assessment of the project, evaluate the dynamics of my environment, and gain balance to make my final determination as to the viability of moving forward – actualizing what began as an Embryonic seed of inspiration. As I take the project into the Walking stage of development, I feel confident that I have the strength, flexibility, mobility, balance, range-of-motion, attention, and awareness to move gracefully and elegantly through fulfilling the vision of the project.

Being consciously aware of the Five Stages of Development as I go through the process of determining a viable project – or any other aspect of business – makes the realization of projects more tangible, and more clearly defined. I feel that by choosing to use the power of the Five Stages I make more mindful business decisions, and I am better able to articulate needs and possibilities to others who are part of the process of making Nia an even more robust and mature company.

Sincerely,

Jeff Stewart
CEO Nia Technique, Inc.

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