BIOMIMICRY: The Art of Copying Nature

 Do You Know the Quickest Way to Improve?  

In her TED talk, Janine Benyus talked about BIOMIMICRY, solving problems humans face by copying what organisms of all kinds have already developed solutions to. She says that over 30 million organisms have used the past 3.8 billion years to devise solutions to problems they faced and we need to study them and copy them. 

For example: 

Thomas and Ana Moore and Devin Gust (University of Arizona) are studying how a leaf captures energy, in hopes of making a molecular-sized solar cell. The goal is create a tiny, sun-powered battery. 

J. Herbert Waite (University of California Santa Barbara) is studying the blue mussel, which attaches itself to rocks via an adhesive that can do what our adhesives  can’t…cure and stick underwater.  

Bruce Roser (Cambridge Biostability) has developed heat-stable vaccine storage that eliminates the need for costly refrigeration. The process is based on the same natural process that enables the resurrection plant to remain in a desiccated state for years.

Joanna Aizenberg (Lucent) has mimicked the process by which the Brittle Sea Star fish self-assembles distortion-free lenses out of seawater.

Every salesperson can improve their selling skills by utilizing BIOMIMICRY, copying strategies from already successful sales reps. How many challenges do sales reps face right now that could be overcome by studying and copying what successful sellers have been doing for 50 years.  We’ve done a very poor job of passing on solutions to common challenges sellers face every day.  The marketplace continues to change, but methods for handling objections such as price, performance issues, order urgency and others haven’t changed.  Start studying and copying those who are already successful and watch your skills improve.  

Every salesperson can improve their selling skills by using BIOMIMICRY, that is, if they can find someone to copy. Happy Selling, I’m Rod Osthus