BusinessOutside

About the Author

Bart Foster is a seasoned business executive and the founder of BusinessOutside. With a profound understanding of corporate culture and its challenges, Bart Foster has dedicated his career to helping organizations and individuals thrive by reimagining how business is conducted. Through his innovative approach, he emphasizes the importance of authenticity, creativity, and psychological well-being. His book, BusinessOutside: Discover Your Path Forward, encapsulates his philosophy and offers practical strategies for fostering meaningful connections and enhancing productivity by bringing business activities outdoors.

Main Idea

BusinessOutside: Discover Your Path Forward by Bart Foster introduces a science-inspired philosophy that advocates for conducting business activities in natural settings. This approach aims to increase creativity, foster meaningful connections, and provide psychological restoration. Foster argues that traditional corporate norms often hinder growth and fulfillment, and he provides practical strategies for aligning personal values with professional goals to create a more authentic and intentional life.

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Challenging Conventional Wisdom
• Establishing Deeper Level Connections
• Personal Values Statement
• Zone of Genius
• Energy Management
• Expand Your Circle of Comfort
• Identifying Your Ideal Environment
• Regret Minimization
• Anchors and Rockets
• Accelerate the Inevitable
• Make It Happen
• Conclusion

Introduction

In the introduction, Bart Foster lays the groundwork for his philosophy, emphasizing the need for a shift in corporate culture. He introduces the concept of BusinessOutside as a means to enhance creativity, build authentic connections, and promote psychological well-being. Foster's approach is rooted in scientific research, highlighting the benefits of nature on mental and emotional health. He challenges leaders to rethink their approach to business, advocating for outdoor retreats and activities that foster genuine human connections and rejuvenation.

Challenging Conventional Wisdom

Foster encourages readers to question traditional corporate norms and practices that may stifle innovation and personal growth. He introduces the technique of the "Five Whys" to identify the root cause of problems and drive meaningful change. This section emphasizes the importance of accountability and the willingness to think outside the box to solve complex issues.

"It can cost nothing to be innovative, and it doesn’t have to take a lot of time, either." - Bart Foster

Challenging conventional wisdom starts with reassessing and asking two key questions: What Problem Are You Trying to Solve? Are You Willing to be Accountable for Your Actions? A great way to motivate a team is to move fast and be more innovative through a technique called the Five Whys, which taps into the cause-and-effect relationships underlying a particular problem. To use this strategy, start with your problem and ask the question “why” approximately five times to drill into each answer and ultimately identify the root cause of the original problem.

It can cost nothing to be innovative, and it doesn’t have to take a lot of time, either. Yes, you can move fast and break things at the same time. How will you challenge the status quo and think outside the box? How might moving beyond conventional wisdom change your business and your life?

• Identify the problem and ask "why" five times to uncover the root cause.
• Encourage a culture of continuous improvement and innovation.

Establishing Deeper Level Connections

Building meaningful relationships is at the heart of BusinessOutside. Foster argues that surface-level networking is insufficient for creating lasting connections. Instead, he advocates for investing in relationships by showing genuine interest and care for others. Simple gestures, such as learning names, asking thoughtful questions, and giving handwritten notes, can significantly deepen connections.

"The art of building relationships before you need them is only step one." - Bart Foster

The art of building relationships before you need them is only step one; it’s the most superficial aspect of relationship building. After this step, you must continue investing in each relationship to deepen the connection and build trust. There are some simple strategies you can implement to go the extra mile and show people you are interested in getting to know them. These simple steps apply to building relationships in business and the rest of life as well: Learn names Ask the right questions Give handwritten notes Add a personal touch Make a list of five people who inspire you and give you energy. Now determine what meaningful steps you can take to spend more time with these people. Write them down and take that first step. Start small, then build.