From idea to action: Download New Verbalizing Grid, a DIY business tool for entrepreneurs, brands, startups and creatives

New Verbalizing Grid
A DIY tool for the entrepreneur and brand founder who wants to deliver & create long-term value for his/her end-users and wants to inspire and influence with his/her philosophy. The Grid consists of 21 short questions, the 21 questions of the 21st century, that will lead to the core of your idea(s). Developed by Ellen Bokkinga, founder of The New Verbalizers. Click on the New Verbalizing logo on the right to see more!

Let me know what you think via Facebook or Twitter & share it (links below page). Appreciate it. The Grid will be updated in February 2012, including the suggestions of users. 

The Grid consists of 3 columns (1. Discover 2. Conceptualize 3. Inspire & Influence) and 21 questions. Via the Grid you’ll have to make concrete decisions about your personal goal(s), the context, your bigger plan, the role of stakeholders, your own actions and more. You can use these answers to sharpen your idea and to process them in your Idea Foundation (Why/How/What) or mission/vision/strategy. In the beginning of 2012 an online document will provide structure to get you through the next steps after going through the Grid.

Work it
1. Follow the yellow questions for a short cut.
2. Follow the three columns from top to bottom.
3. Create your own navigation. Your mind has probably already found a way.

Verbalizing > ‘Speaking’
Don’t you notice that while speaking about your idea, the words often come out more fluently than if you write? Ok, probably your verbal story needs more structure and less words, but you can use this speaking-easiness to get a grip on your idea : 1. Let somebody ask you questions about the meaning and value of your idea 2. Record the answers 3. Transcript it to text 4. Write your idea foundation using your computer (that’s what this thing is for anyway). In doing so, the meaning of your idea in words might carry more depth, emotion and vision. ‘Verbalizing’ ideas is sometimes easier than writing the blank canvas.

21 questions of the 21st century
Let these 21 questions of the 21st century guide you! Ask yourself these questions or let someone question you. She/he should ask you “WHY is that” after your reply. And, after your second answer again: “WHY is this [...] important”. In doing so, you both go deeper and deeper into the meaning of your idea. Now, transcript what you’ve verbalized, edit it, structure it and write your idea foundation. This ‘verbal’ approach might be easier than starting out with a white canvas on which the say-it-all-words have to land.

Transcript-your-speaking
I believe that in ten years time (probably earlier), we all have a more personal relationship with our computer a.k.a. our writing and searching device. No longer will we ‘write’ in order to get the information of our idea/vision across, we will speak to our computer ‘who’ will transcript it and put it on our website/outbox/social media profile after editing. This transcript-speaking-development will have a profound influence on our ability to understand our own ideas and how we explain our ideas to stakeholders.

BETA tests
During the Month of the Verbalized Entrepreneur, Monday October 3rd to Monday October 31st 2011, the New Verbalizing Grid was BETA tested during (inter)national Idea Verbalizing Sessions, which were face 2 face and through Skype. Ellen worked with entrepreneurs and brand owners in various industries – the online business, corporate business, sports, sustainability, the arts, hospitality and more. She continuous makes small adjustments to the Grid.