Introduction
It's a common refrain in business: "We're just too swamped for new projects." There is also a new term for it: initiative fatigue. But often, this really means a handful of senior employees are overloaded while the rest of the organisation sticks to business as usual. The key to real improvement? Get more people in on the action. This is where Impact101 comes in, showing how involving loads of people at all levels can supercharge change. Let's dive into how Avery Dennison harnessed this power to spark impressive growth.

Sparking immediate growth
Back in 2002, Avery Dennison's top brass realised their growth strategy needed a revamp. Profitable, yes, but growth was sluggish. CEO Philip Neal and President Dean Scarborough had an idea: why not spur growth using what they already had? So, they picked three divisions in Cleveland, Ohio, for a trial run.

The trial run
What is the challenge for the division managers? Find new business opportunities that could show results in 100 days and promise even more down the line. They picked 14 growth opportunities, including expanding the Specialty Tape Division. They formed inter-functional teams to chase these opportunities, and the results were stellar – one team hit a sales goal in 50 days that was meant to take over a year!

Growing the concept
The success was so infectious that Avery Dennison decided to go bigger. With the help of consultants (like Waymaker), they crafted guidelines for picking and launching projects. They even appointed "growth champions" to spread the word. People like Helen Saunders and Diane Dixon played pivotal roles in getting everyone on board. The idea was simple: Tap into the company's existing talents and creativity. Push people out of their comfort zones. Watch them achieve great things in just 100 days.

Impressive outcomes
The pilot projects of 2002 led to a full-scale rollout in 2003. The results? About $50 million in extra sales in 2003 alone. By the end of the year, over 500 projects were buzzing, with more than 2,000 people involved globally. In 2004, they were on track to hit over $150 million in additional sales from these projects.

Avery Dennison totally rocked at making improvements happen without spending a ton of money upfront. They set a 100-day deadline that lit a fire under everyone and got people from different departments working together to make things happen. And the best part? Even top-level management was super involved and pumped to hear about all the progress.

Why isn't this everywhere?
You might wonder, if it's so effective, why isn't everyone doing it? Well, it's not as simple as it seems. Psychological barriers and myths hold companies back. The four most common myths are:

1. The idea that change is so formidable and resistance so universal that you must always spend a ton of money and time preparing before you can even start.

2. The "father knows best" syndrome is the belief that only the top people in the company know what's best and should control everything.

3. The view that quick results are not important and that you always need to aim for significant, monumental changes. The big-fix fantasy—"To make a big change, you have to think big"—belittles small-scale efforts as trivial.

4. The notion that the larger the organisation, the longer it takes to get change moving., like the belief that big change requires big, costly preparations or that only the top brains should control the process.

Avery Dennison blew these myths out of the water. They got the whole company moving in a year with minimal prep work. It turns out that when given the chance, people at all levels can respond with creativity and enthusiasm.

Conclusion
Avery Dennison's journey with Impact101 is a powerful example of what's possible when you embrace change through rapid, inclusive experimentation. By challenging old myths and fostering a culture of quick, impactful action, they achieved remarkable growth in a short time. It's a lesson for any company looking to revolutionise its growth strategy: involve everyone, challenge assumptions, and prepare to be amazed by the collective power of your organisation. As the business landscape keeps evolving, Impact101 stands as a shining example of how rapid, sustainable transformation isn't just possible – it's within reach for those willing to try.