Idea Ripper // ArchiveCards: 1555 [Live] | Updated: 2026-10-14
Card #c1317IR // #c1317Synthesis

"“My whole goal is to reduce IT as a cost center and ensure more money is put into the mission,” he said. “I think about it in simple terms. How many more beakers can you buy with an additional $5? How many more nights can we provide in a lodge stay if I save $100?”"

— In our words · Source: Digital Impact (Steve Lucas)

[Use when]

You need a team to care about costs that seem far removed from the real work.

[Why it matters]

Koch translates back-office savings into the mission's own units, research beakers and lodge nights for patients. It makes cost-cutting concrete for everyone and ties a support team's work to the goal.

Filed under situations:When the team is looking to you to leadWhen you need a yes and they’re not there yet

More from Digital Impact

#c1300"“We’ve learned to bite off smaller pieces with our integrations, get them working well, and then expand." "When they ask for a car, they…You're building something large for non-technical stakeholders who need to see progress. #c1301"“Previously, we were built for large-scale project implementations. We’d take three to five years and roll them out only when they were as…Your team holds releases until they're nearly perfect and projects take years. #c1302"They want to pick up the phone because that might be their weekly conversation with somebody." "Efficiency isn’t always the right measure…You're automating away a customer touchpoint and measuring only time saved.

Same situation, different book

#c1335Do something, or be something?You're starting a new role and deciding what kind of reputation to build.From Courage Can Save Us #c1275Lead from a circle, not a mountainYou're trying to win people over by announcing things at them.From The Oxford Handbook of Modern Diplomacy #c1269Constituents need to know whyYou're closing a deal at the top that the wider team will have to carry out.From The Oxford Handbook of Modern Diplomacy #c1250Move people one rung at a timeYou want deep commitment from someone who has barely engaged yet.From This Is the Plan