In talking with CEOs I am alarmed at the short-sightedness I am hearing in how they are focusing their businesses. I even heard one CEO remark, "I'll be glad when we get back to how things used to be."
Regardless of when the economic recovery will arrive and to what extent we return to previous operating levels, we will never go back to how things used to be.
I get the sense executives are just doing what they can to keep plugging along waiting for the recovery to happen and then get ready for a collective sigh of relief. This is not leadership and this isn't the focus organizations need to be having.
Look at the future
When the recovery comes there will be new issues facing businesses. Leaders need to be discussing these issues and preparing for their inevitability because even in good times businesses fail when they are unprepared for the events they are facing.
Here are some of the issues CEOs need to be dealing with now to be prepared for when they happen I the near future:
How will the company handle increased demand with a reduced workforce?
What impact will a rush of new employees have on the workings of the surviving team currently in place?
How has marketing changed in the last two years?
What are the spending habits of consumers or businesses I supply, and how do I need to adjust for these changes in behavior?
What are the skills on my team I will need that I don't currently have?
Getting prepared for 12 months down the road is more critical now because we know dramatic changes are in the wind. Are you ready?
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Monday, July 27, 2009
3 rules for growth communication
The news has been filled with unclear communication, spin control and the inability to admit a mistake. How are we suppose to grow as a country if we can't even communicate effectively?
The same goes for your business. If you want to grow your business communication must follow these three rules.
Rule #1 Be open and honest
A friend of mine was telling me about a blind date he had with a woman he met on the internet. Toward the end of the date she asked him if he thought she looked like her picture. He told her he felt that a picture was just a moment captured and didn't really indicate who she is in her personality, interests and total beauty. (Is that smooth or what?) He then asked her the same question; does he look like his picture. She told him in real life he looked older, more weathered and not as attractive. Well, thank you very much!
Honesty, doesn't have to be brutal; in fact, I've seen people use it as a weapon to bludgeon someone, usually followed by the words, "Just being honest." We need to be open to communications when people have ideas different than our own. Constructive feedback can improve the operations in an organization. However, communication with malice, no matter how honest, will not grow an organization. Be sure your communications have a greater focus on the intent of the message to be delivered than on the side and hidden meanings that can create confusion, damage and duplicitous agendas.
Rule #2 Respond, don't react
President Obama inflamed the situation between the white officer and the arrested black Harvard professor, who happens to be the President's friend, elevating it to a significant news story of the past week.
By commenting the police department acted stupidly without having all the facts of the situation, the President demonstrated the dangers of reacting to a situation. Later after learning more about the arresting officer and the facts of the situation, his semi-retraction of his words indicate he commented hastily. A reaction is emotional and a response is logical, the difference can be significant when you are trying to make progress and growth in any situation.
Side note: Since I am talking about communications here I have to say I believe the President would’ve been better served with an apology for his choice of words than in saying "I should've calibrated them differently." It is this type of double talk and indirect communication that causes people to distrust the person talking. I don't care what position you hold, if you make a mistake, admit it and move along.
Rule #3 Be clear in what you are saying
I watched the President's press secretary try to respond to a direct question from a reporter who asked, "Did the President apologize to the arresting officer for his remarks?" The press secretary spent many seconds during his response searching for words without saying the words, "Sorry," "Apology," or "Retraction." The song and dance was obvious and painful to watch. Why was it painful? Because a leader who declares transparency will occur under his watch and has the inability to utter the words, "I apologize" instead uses the term, "I should have calibrated my words differently." Is not living into his promise.
It is no different than an executive surveying employees for feedback telling them he will respond to their concerns, and later does nothing with the information. Trust is lost and cynicism increases: two of the worst things that can happen from poor communication.
If you want to grow your organization make sure your communications help you, not hurt you.
The same goes for your business. If you want to grow your business communication must follow these three rules.
Rule #1 Be open and honest
A friend of mine was telling me about a blind date he had with a woman he met on the internet. Toward the end of the date she asked him if he thought she looked like her picture. He told her he felt that a picture was just a moment captured and didn't really indicate who she is in her personality, interests and total beauty. (Is that smooth or what?) He then asked her the same question; does he look like his picture. She told him in real life he looked older, more weathered and not as attractive. Well, thank you very much!
Honesty, doesn't have to be brutal; in fact, I've seen people use it as a weapon to bludgeon someone, usually followed by the words, "Just being honest." We need to be open to communications when people have ideas different than our own. Constructive feedback can improve the operations in an organization. However, communication with malice, no matter how honest, will not grow an organization. Be sure your communications have a greater focus on the intent of the message to be delivered than on the side and hidden meanings that can create confusion, damage and duplicitous agendas.
Rule #2 Respond, don't react
President Obama inflamed the situation between the white officer and the arrested black Harvard professor, who happens to be the President's friend, elevating it to a significant news story of the past week.
By commenting the police department acted stupidly without having all the facts of the situation, the President demonstrated the dangers of reacting to a situation. Later after learning more about the arresting officer and the facts of the situation, his semi-retraction of his words indicate he commented hastily. A reaction is emotional and a response is logical, the difference can be significant when you are trying to make progress and growth in any situation.
Side note: Since I am talking about communications here I have to say I believe the President would’ve been better served with an apology for his choice of words than in saying "I should've calibrated them differently." It is this type of double talk and indirect communication that causes people to distrust the person talking. I don't care what position you hold, if you make a mistake, admit it and move along.
Rule #3 Be clear in what you are saying
I watched the President's press secretary try to respond to a direct question from a reporter who asked, "Did the President apologize to the arresting officer for his remarks?" The press secretary spent many seconds during his response searching for words without saying the words, "Sorry," "Apology," or "Retraction." The song and dance was obvious and painful to watch. Why was it painful? Because a leader who declares transparency will occur under his watch and has the inability to utter the words, "I apologize" instead uses the term, "I should have calibrated my words differently." Is not living into his promise.
It is no different than an executive surveying employees for feedback telling them he will respond to their concerns, and later does nothing with the information. Trust is lost and cynicism increases: two of the worst things that can happen from poor communication.
If you want to grow your organization make sure your communications help you, not hurt you.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
George Clooney on Rosanne?
I was flipping channels one evening and ran across a rerun of an early episode of Rosanne. The few minutes I saw had them in a bowling alley and Rosanne was giving her sister hell for making a bet with a guy to see who was the better bowler. In that short moment in that episode stepping up to roll a bowling ball down the lane was a young actor by the name of George Clooney.
How did George Clooney go from a bit player on Rosanne to one of the most bankable actors of our current times? Perseverance.
There is no fast buck. There is no free opportunity to the land of plenty. There is no easy ride. However, there are great rewards and satisfaction when we persevere.
In studying successful people I find it isn't always the smartest people who reach the top. It isn’t always the beautiful people who reach the top. It's the people who persevere in working to improve, make a difference and are fueled by passion.
The comedian Bill Engvall bounced around the comedy club circuit for over a dozen years before joining Jeff Foxworthy’s Blue Collar Comedy Tour. Even then the tour was only moderately successful, and he was still working the clubs, but the video of the tour on Comedy Central was his big break. After years of toiling away at his craft and getting his start on Star Search, Bill Engvall became noticed by the right people and he now has movies, television shows and comedy specials. Over night success? Hardly.
Touring comedy clubs is a brutal existence. The pay is lousy, the travel is hard and the audiences can be brutal. Bill's perseverance eventually paid off, and you can bet every night he give it his best performance and persevered on to the next show.
There are times in our jobs when perseverance is the only way to keep going, and that one more step will always get us closer to the success we are driven for. To grow your business you need to take those tough steps, those steps that feel impossible but you know must be taken.
There is a fine line between success and failure and that perseverance Clooney and Engvall demonstrated to reach the top of their careers could've been skipped and where would they be now? Persevere and reach the top of your career.
Friday, July 17, 2009
10 Extra Miles to Take on Kick Ass Friday
1. When someone asks for help, don't send them a link or an email, talk with them on the phone or if possible in person. Keep the human contact.
2. Contact new customers, clients or members within 24 hours of using your product or service and follow up. You will see if you are good enough or not to retain that newbie.
3. Anytime you send out a customer order include some kind of "extra." The surprise prize is always the first thing someone looks for once they know they are there.
4. A Great White shark is relentless. When you look for going the extra mile frequently enough it becomes a habit, mindset and business culture. Be relentless.
5. If you were tired, hungry, thirsty and ready to give up but you saw relief one mile ahead would you give up? We can't always see one mile ahead, so assume relief is within one more mile and don't give up.
6. Contracts are most often won by those who want it more. Give extra hustle to close that deal.
7. If at all possible the answer to any customer change request is -- Yes.
8. Encourage others to give one more ounce of effort. It's that last push that makes all the difference.
9. When was the last time you totally out-thought the competition? Make today one of those days.
10. When was the last time you out-hustled everyone else until you were the last one standing? The last one standing always does what it takes, including the extra mile.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
The Extra Mile: Being Strategic All Year
As a growth strategist I work with all sizes of organizations and I run into common mistakes across business sizes and locations. The most critical mistake I see is the inability to think strategic, even when they have a "strategic planning" document.
Having a binder of graphs, fancy worded mission statements, and goal projections does not constitute being strategic. Go the extra mile and do you due diligence.
What to open a new restaurant? What kind of food do you have the demographics to support? What location has the best traffic patterns for your type of customers? What depth of financing can you have to cover the cash flow pit falls of a start up restaurant? These are just a few of the thousands of questions need to be accurately answered strategically before taking on the venture.
The restaurant questions are no different than the type of questions all businesses need to be making every year. Forget buffing up the strategic plan from last year. Forget bumping goals 10% across the board because it is easy. Forget limiting your strategic planning process to a weekend a year. Every year you need to approach your strategic thinking with the mindset of starting a business.
The good news with an established business you should have a good capital base, a good customer base, and solid industry information to base growth on instead of starting from scratch.
However, good is the enemy of great, and if you are good at something you are more apt to leave it alone than totally revamp it to be great. Strategically you must think of every product and service you offer and rethink how to better position its place in the market.
It doesn't matter if you make meals, computers, cars or offer services; rethinking everything from scratch is the only way to fully embrace a strategic approach to fit the rapidly changing landscape of business.
Being strategic in a leader's mindset is a 12-month job. The faster you start thinking strategically the fast you become proactive instead of reactive to the industry changes. Take charge of your strategies and shape your industry as a leader of new innovation and drive.
Extra mile: Instead of blowing the dust off of last year's strategic planning document that you’ve not looked at in a year, ask me about my Fast Forward strategic planning process and how it can help you go the extra mile in your organizations growth.
Having a binder of graphs, fancy worded mission statements, and goal projections does not constitute being strategic. Go the extra mile and do you due diligence.
What to open a new restaurant? What kind of food do you have the demographics to support? What location has the best traffic patterns for your type of customers? What depth of financing can you have to cover the cash flow pit falls of a start up restaurant? These are just a few of the thousands of questions need to be accurately answered strategically before taking on the venture.
The restaurant questions are no different than the type of questions all businesses need to be making every year. Forget buffing up the strategic plan from last year. Forget bumping goals 10% across the board because it is easy. Forget limiting your strategic planning process to a weekend a year. Every year you need to approach your strategic thinking with the mindset of starting a business.
The good news with an established business you should have a good capital base, a good customer base, and solid industry information to base growth on instead of starting from scratch.
However, good is the enemy of great, and if you are good at something you are more apt to leave it alone than totally revamp it to be great. Strategically you must think of every product and service you offer and rethink how to better position its place in the market.
It doesn't matter if you make meals, computers, cars or offer services; rethinking everything from scratch is the only way to fully embrace a strategic approach to fit the rapidly changing landscape of business.
Being strategic in a leader's mindset is a 12-month job. The faster you start thinking strategically the fast you become proactive instead of reactive to the industry changes. Take charge of your strategies and shape your industry as a leader of new innovation and drive.
Extra mile: Instead of blowing the dust off of last year's strategic planning document that you’ve not looked at in a year, ask me about my Fast Forward strategic planning process and how it can help you go the extra mile in your organizations growth.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
The Extra Mile Week: It's All in the Name
Snakes on a Plane
The Whopper
Zero percent financing
The importance of naming your product or projects has never been more critical than in today's cynical, been-there-done-that world. But make sure you deliver what you promise or the world is going to wise up and move on.
Snakes on a Plane
This movie title created an amazing amount of internet buzz and was the best marketing this poorly reviewed movie could ever have. The movie ended up grossing over $62 million worldwide. Many consider this the most internet-hyped movie of all time crating a large fan base before the movie was even available for review. How much did the name of the movie impact this viral marketing? The original title of the movie was Pacific Air Flight 121. Do you think that would've created the same buzz?
The Whopper
When this sandwich first came into being it was a monster burger compared to what the competition was offering. The slogan, "It takes two hands to handle the whopper." Spoke to the accuracy of the burger's name. If you wanted a big meal fast food lunch the Whopper was your choice. The name meant something.
Today Burger King has kept the name brand but many competitors offer a burger larger than The Whopper, and The Whopper has shrunk in size, in comparison and in buzz. To resurrect the significance of The Whopper in the burger world, Burger King needs to either lose the product name (never happen) or restore the burger to being king of the burger food chain once again. The name only works if it has meaning.
Zero percent financing
Auto dealers have spent a decade trying to use the allure of "free" financing to pull people into their dealers. Auto finance companies wanted to capture the loan market from banks and credit unions in an attempt to make a different revenue stream compensate for losing car sales. The American public initially responded strongly to the sounds of a great deal, but it didn't take long for buyers to learn in the finer print they would be just as well off taking a rebate or negotiating a harder deal and getting their financing in the normal fashion.
Once again the name of zero percent financing has great buzz and impact until the product didn't deliver on the name.
Are product and service names important? They are critical to getting the word out, creating buzz and viral marketing. However, that in itself isn't enough. The product has to be true to the name, and evolve and progress as society finds the need for something more interesting. The name is just the critical first step.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
The Extra Mile Week: Is Your Marketing an Endangered Species?
I remember the first time I read Seth Godin's book Purple cow. I still find that one of the best rereads I own. Because every time I read it again my mind is in a different place and more new ideas spring forth. We are in Purple Cow marketing times.
Also, marketing is in such evolution, companies need to be looking down the road an extra mile to see where they need to be reaching out and how is the best way to make that happen.
Video marketing
Remember when YouTube was a curiosity site for home film makers posting their version of America's Funniest Home Videos? Now YouTube is a marketing force that millions are using for resumes, promotional videos, and yes pitching products. Imagine making commercials you don't need to buy air time for?
The instant feedback of this type of marketing also answers the old question of which marketing ideas are working. If your commercial or video on YouTube goes viral it rides a wave of the greatest feedback you could ever get in marketing -- word of mouth support and resending the link to the commercial to friends. If it sits there with no views, you are getting cold honest feedback the networks will never provide. Your ad sucks.
Information marketing
Brochures are an endangered species. In fact, print marketing is pretty much no longer necessary with how well society is linked in to mobile information technology. Obviously, everyone knows they need a fantastic website. But what about your website information is attractive and sticky? Sticky means people visiting will stay to read what information you have available. Marketing departments need to spend hours on taking advantage of technology options and forget the traditional marketing methods. They no longer apply.
Information also needs to be information worth hearing! We are so bombarded with information we tune out all but the most attractive. Blogs you write should be attention getting. Your research needs to be up to the minute, and your delivering needs to be spot on for the people you are trying to reach. One size no longer fits all in the information marketing game. Segment and diversify your message. Go that extra mile to be sure your technology-driven information marketing is hitting the target instead of just being "out there" for people to finds.
Social network marketing
The companies who are using facebook and twitter effectively to market what they have to offer are the companies that understand the new age of marketing. Do you have a facebook fan page? As a leader of an organization are you working on the cult of personality for your company?
Google strategies are all about proper positioning within the algorithm to hit front page status. Social media marketing is all about positioning yourself in a core group of fans, customers and business friends. This is the direction marketing is moving because everyone knows word of mouth is the best marketing and the social media marketing program capitalizes on that premise.
Walk that extra mile in the new shoes of marketing and watch your organization capitalize on growth in any economy.
Monday, July 13, 2009
Going the Extra Mile -- Actually 120 Extra Miles
This week's posts will be about going the extra mile in four different aspects of the business to generate, encourage and facilitate growth.
Actually, this was more like an extra 120 miles.
I landed at the Nashville airport once again on my way to serving a client in Bowling Green, KY. I like the Nashville airport because it is clean, bright and frequently has live music playing at a small stage just outside of security check in.
I'm on my way to the Avis lot to get my rental car and I stop by the window in the garage since I didn't see my name on the preferred marquis. They informed me they were out of my class of vehicle and were giving me an upgrade. Great. Only one problem, I was unable to locate my driver’s license. In fact, I left it at home and didn't realize it because I use a passport for security check.
They tell me it is a state law and they can not give me a rental car without an actual license, a faxed copy wouldn't be acceptable. Sure, I fully understood but what was I going to do? I needed to get to Bowling Green in Kentucky.
The manager told me there was a shuttle that made a run there and maybe I should also check with a taxi. As I walked away he told me if those don't work out come back and let me know.
No one was working the shuttle desk -- anywhere. I asked a taxi driver the cost for a one way to Bowling Green and he rolled his eyes and told me it was going to be around $130, That wasn't going to work either.
I walked back to the Avis manager and shared with him what I found out. He put his finger in the air and told me he'd be right back. Within 3 minutes a gentleman walked up to me and asked if I was Mr. White. I replied yes and he smiled extended his hand to shake mine and said, "My name is Leonard and I am here to drive you to Bowling Green." At that point the manager walked up and asked if this would solve my problem. Stunned I only asked one question: How much? The manager smiled and said, "Just keep on using Avis." I thanked him a hundred times and off we went, Leonard and I.
I got to know Leonard as we had wonderful conversations. He knew he'd be getting home late as a result of this trip but he said he was more than happy to help me out.
Years later, I still use Avis exclusively for my rental cars. I will never forget the extra mile they went to overwhelmingly satisfy this customer, who is now a customer for life.
What extra miles should you be taking to get customers for life? The little extra effort will pay huge dividends for your organization.
Friday, July 10, 2009
When Someone Wins, Someone Else Loses: Deal With it.
I learned that:
Winners get the rewards.
Winners get a bounce of confidence.
Winners are more encouraged to work harder because they believe they will see results from their efforts.
My junior high gym teachers (as we used to call them) tried to instill in us that winning was important, that winning made you a better person, and that winning made you mentally stronger. We were a fueled group giving it everything we had to win whatever we played in gym class.
I also remember the day a new gym teacher touring the schools of the district came to our class. He taught us the game of Earth Ball. It was a huge ball we bounced around between the kids and the object was to keep it from hitting the floor. We all asked, "But how do you win?" With a great big smile he told us there were no winners and losers just the joy of playing with the ball was reward enough. Huh?
He could've said it in Japanese and we would've understood it just as well. By the end of the hour of playing Earth Ball the vast majority of us lost interest, we had no desire to ever play that game again and we were thankful he was there only one day. We kept asking over and over, "What's the point?"
We are turning our schools and places of employment into Earth Ball. Because we are so focused on not creating losers at anything, we are losing the winners in the process. If everyone gets a passing grade, if everyone gets the same pay, if every time there is disparity we take from the winners to give to the losers, people are going to quickly start asking, "What's the point?"
If you want to create an organization of growth that is going to improve and become more successful you MUST reward your winners so they will stay and you must send the losers to find a different game to play where they can win. Not everyone is meant to win in every game they play that’s why most successful people find the areas they can excel at and then focus their efforts on building that success.
If we remove all the incentives, rewards and joy of winning we lose the confidence, desire and drive within the organization. Think about it. Do you want people going through the motions to fill the time like Earth Ball, or do you want people driven for success? If you fall into the mind trap of trying to create a system where everyone is a winner, the cold slap of reality is that everyone becomes losers, because you take away the rewards for making the extra effort to win.
Bottom line with winners come losers. Whether you are competing across the street, across the country or across the world, to grow your company you have to want to win with every fiber of your being.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Transparency is Not Always the Best Policy
On twitter and facebook I frequently see people openly expressing themselves in the age of transparency. Some things are best not exposed. It's Wednesday and I have seen no less than a dozen people already talking about getting to the weekend. How can you stay in a job that sucks so bad by Wednesday you are looking for Saturday?
When an individual openly makes such as expression such as, "It's Wednesday, only two more days to the weekend!" I think about the co-workers and heaven forbid the subordinates that work with this person. How motivational is that? How excited are you to have this person on your team? Unacceptable.
People just aren't thinking in this age of tell-everyone-everything by message online. One friend of mine posted on her facebook page, "I don't want to go to work tomorrow." If I am her boss reading that, I would grant her that wish; in fact, I'd make her day be letting her know she never has to work for me again, good bye.
People need to learn that sometimes things are best left unsaid. Even better, some things are best left unthought. If you hate your job as to despise doing it, quit and do everyone a favor. If you are an employer and see an employee who posts online about how much they dislike their job, give them their freedom to find something they do like. Everyone has a bad day at work now and then, but do you want how you feel at that moment in the permanent annals of the internet?
I know there have been many times in my career I bit my tongue and later was so glad I did not say what was on my mind. The last thing you should want in the public view are words from an emotional moment or short term frustration.
If you are going to be a growth organization you need to be populated with people who like what they do and are willing to crank out top efforts; especially, your managers.
One last thing, if you hate your job and post such comments on facebook, twitter etc., do you not think employers and HR personnel are skipping your references and instead checking your online profiles for how you really act? If someone is openly expressing negative thoughts about work, how excited am I going to be to put them on my team?
Keep in mind the next time you want to shout out your feelings to 220 million people on facebook, you are creating a lasting impression one post at time.
When an individual openly makes such as expression such as, "It's Wednesday, only two more days to the weekend!" I think about the co-workers and heaven forbid the subordinates that work with this person. How motivational is that? How excited are you to have this person on your team? Unacceptable.
People just aren't thinking in this age of tell-everyone-everything by message online. One friend of mine posted on her facebook page, "I don't want to go to work tomorrow." If I am her boss reading that, I would grant her that wish; in fact, I'd make her day be letting her know she never has to work for me again, good bye.
People need to learn that sometimes things are best left unsaid. Even better, some things are best left unthought. If you hate your job as to despise doing it, quit and do everyone a favor. If you are an employer and see an employee who posts online about how much they dislike their job, give them their freedom to find something they do like. Everyone has a bad day at work now and then, but do you want how you feel at that moment in the permanent annals of the internet?
I know there have been many times in my career I bit my tongue and later was so glad I did not say what was on my mind. The last thing you should want in the public view are words from an emotional moment or short term frustration.
If you are going to be a growth organization you need to be populated with people who like what they do and are willing to crank out top efforts; especially, your managers.
One last thing, if you hate your job and post such comments on facebook, twitter etc., do you not think employers and HR personnel are skipping your references and instead checking your online profiles for how you really act? If someone is openly expressing negative thoughts about work, how excited am I going to be to put them on my team?
Keep in mind the next time you want to shout out your feelings to 220 million people on facebook, you are creating a lasting impression one post at time.
Monday, July 6, 2009
What It Takes to Win
Watching Sunday’s Wimbledon epic men's final I saw three specifics about winning that directly apply to growing your business.
1. How you view the competition
It's normal to watch tennis opponents on either side of the net crashing balls back at each other. How would you feel if your most ardent competitor kept slapping your best efforts back at you? In tennis you expect your opponent to be on his game and returning almost every one of your volleys, until you get the advantage and you go for the kill shot.
In business I see most leaders wilt when their competition slams back at them. In fact, I see people get angry that the competition isn't "playing fair!" Are you kidding me? You have to force your competition in to a corner to where they have no option but to respond to your control of the game, and then you hit the kill shot.
Expect your competitors to be good and on their game.
Expect them to give as good a game as you can give.
Expect to work hard to find that slightest of opportunity to exploit.
2. How hard you work
The match between Roger Federer and Andy Roddick lasted well over 4 hours of rocket serves, exhausting volleys and intense pressure. History was hanging in the balance for Roger if he could win his 15th Grand Slam title and the pressure was on for Roddick to win his first Wimbledon title against the best in the game.
What amazed me most was after four grueling hours, neither man looked exhausted. In fact, they didn't even look tired!
The conditioning these men put themselves through in preparation for this sport has to be intense. They work on their physical conditioning and more importantly their mental conditioning. It's what makes them able to last a 30 game 5th set and still be on their game.
In business growth-oriented executives need to work on conditioning as well. To be able to lead organizations to grow in today's economy requires great physical and mental strength. It doesn't happen just because you wish it did. It takes full effort. Compare your job preparation effort with that of these tennis champions. How do you stack up? I think it's time to work on your conditioning a little bit more.
3. Commitment
At the end of the match you could tell both players give it their full commitment. The emotion was on the edge during the trophy ceremony, as the cameras closed in to capture their faces. The cynic may say, "I can't believe grown men cry over a game." I say it's refreshing to see a person totally invest themselves into something they believe in. I've never seen a corporate business person give of themselves as these players have. I have seen the occasional business owner on the brink of losing everything totally commit themselves to save their operations.
Imagine, if we frequently put forth that kind of complete effort as leaders how much further along our organizations and careers would have grown. Wait no longer, make today the first day of doing what it takes to win.
Friday, July 3, 2009
10 Lessons for Kick Ass Friday
1. Try something new every day to expand your comfort zone and experiences.
2. Celebrate your day by living it to the fullest. No one lives long enough to waste a day of living.
3. Keep your top three priorities the same and always remember what is really important.
4. Don't wish for accomplishment, be driven for it.
5. Control your own destiny and you never have to worry about someone letting you down but yourself.
6. We don't always clearly see the path to success in front of us. We just need to be able to see which road to take at each decision intersection.
7. Lucky people believe good things will happen to them.
8. You will never be like other people. Be the best "You" you can be.
9. A marathoner who runs 26 miles and stops will never win a race. Always finish the race.
10. What you see depends on what you are looking for. Focus on the successes.
2. Celebrate your day by living it to the fullest. No one lives long enough to waste a day of living.
3. Keep your top three priorities the same and always remember what is really important.
4. Don't wish for accomplishment, be driven for it.
5. Control your own destiny and you never have to worry about someone letting you down but yourself.
6. We don't always clearly see the path to success in front of us. We just need to be able to see which road to take at each decision intersection.
7. Lucky people believe good things will happen to them.
8. You will never be like other people. Be the best "You" you can be.
9. A marathoner who runs 26 miles and stops will never win a race. Always finish the race.
10. What you see depends on what you are looking for. Focus on the successes.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
10 Lessons From My First Year as a Business Owner
This week the blog is going to deal with valuable first lessons I had and how important they are to growing a business as a leader.
After leaving the corporate world and going into business for myself I learned a few valuable lessons in the first year that still help me today, almost two decades later.
1. Working for myself is a greater pleasure than working for a large company.
2. It is easier to work 14 hours days for myself than putting in 8 hour days for someone else.
3. There is no one else to blame when you own the business.
4. You have a greater understanding and appreciation of employee costs such as benefits and FICA.
5. Being my own boss means I have to motivate myself to get everything done on time as scheduled.
6. I can take an occasional afternoon off to play golf without having to ask for permission. That's pretty cool.
7. There is no such thing as a paid vacation. All time off is without pay when I own the business.
8. I have a passion for doing what I want to do in the way I want to do it. For better or for worse, this allows me to do it my way.
9. Selling myself takes confidence, guts and persistence; but, there is nothing like closing a deal.
10. It is easy to have my entire life consumed by my work. I have to set boundaries so I don't get burned out.
Bonus lesson:
11. Everything takes longer than expected, I have to work harder than ever before and I love it!
After leaving the corporate world and going into business for myself I learned a few valuable lessons in the first year that still help me today, almost two decades later.
1. Working for myself is a greater pleasure than working for a large company.
2. It is easier to work 14 hours days for myself than putting in 8 hour days for someone else.
3. There is no one else to blame when you own the business.
4. You have a greater understanding and appreciation of employee costs such as benefits and FICA.
5. Being my own boss means I have to motivate myself to get everything done on time as scheduled.
6. I can take an occasional afternoon off to play golf without having to ask for permission. That's pretty cool.
7. There is no such thing as a paid vacation. All time off is without pay when I own the business.
8. I have a passion for doing what I want to do in the way I want to do it. For better or for worse, this allows me to do it my way.
9. Selling myself takes confidence, guts and persistence; but, there is nothing like closing a deal.
10. It is easy to have my entire life consumed by my work. I have to set boundaries so I don't get burned out.
Bonus lesson:
11. Everything takes longer than expected, I have to work harder than ever before and I love it!
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
It’s Cool to Hate Work
Thank God It's Friday.
I hate Mondays.
My boss sucks.
All three of these slogans I've seen on t-shirts people are proud to wear and proclaim. When did it become cool to hate your job? In the Great Depression people begged for any kind of work they could get paid for in order to provide for their families. Working people were grateful to have a job. any job.
Somewhere along the line it became the norm to dislike your job. In fact, a recent survey indicated 75% of the American workforce was dissatisfied with the jobs they were in. That is ¾ of our working population unhappy, disgruntled and less than fully committed to performing their jobs. And we wonder why we have an economic crisis?
Most of the reasons people indicate for their dissatisfaction relate to their direct manager. More people leave a job because of who they directly report to than any other reason. How can this be fixed?
It comes from both sides of the issue.
Managers need to shape up!
Leadership in this country is atrocious. We have lost sight of how to lead people. We have lost focus on what are the keys to being a leader in an organization, the most important being good communication. Once corporations took their focus off good employee relations, customer service and product quality commitment, and instead, focused on the bottom line profit numbers, they lost their way.
Managers are also not being given proper training (because of a bottom line profit focus) so the damage continues to be repeated by people ill-fit for the position they are being asked to fulfill.
The long-term damage of poor leadership can ruin a company, create irreparable employee attitudes, and eventually shut down the organization. Management has a great responsibility to give people work they can care about and actually enjoy doing.
Employees need to stop whining!
Being a cynic has become an American past time and employees are using this state of mind to focus on all the negatives they encounter. Get over it. Should work be challenging? Yes. Should work push a person to achieve more and improve on their skills? Yes. As long as the attitude is "I hate my job," nothing productive can come from that mindset. Ever work for a pitifully bad boss? Sure, we all have but is that any reason to carry that animosity into your next job working for the new boss? No, and this is where the American worker needs to stop whining.
Often times our own attitudes and negative behavior creates that which we dislike the most. If my mind set is to dislike work at any job, then I will never be happy, fully productive or satisfied with my work contribution. Considering most of us will have to work 40 to 50 years to cover our financial responsibilities, wouldn't it be more productive and satisfying to be able to have the mindset to enjoy those years?
Managers and employees need to work hard to find a common ground of satisfaction before all American business ends up like the American auto industry. That is a wake up call for everyone to find work you find satisfying, enjoy the parts of the job you currently have, and work with management to open the lines of communication.
Common sense says, having the mindset of enjoying what you do will help you to be more productive where everyone benefits more. In reality, hating your job isn't cool, in fact it could bring down the entire economic system, and then we'd once again be glad just to be able to dig a ditch for a pay check.
I hate Mondays.
My boss sucks.
All three of these slogans I've seen on t-shirts people are proud to wear and proclaim. When did it become cool to hate your job? In the Great Depression people begged for any kind of work they could get paid for in order to provide for their families. Working people were grateful to have a job. any job.
Somewhere along the line it became the norm to dislike your job. In fact, a recent survey indicated 75% of the American workforce was dissatisfied with the jobs they were in. That is ¾ of our working population unhappy, disgruntled and less than fully committed to performing their jobs. And we wonder why we have an economic crisis?
Most of the reasons people indicate for their dissatisfaction relate to their direct manager. More people leave a job because of who they directly report to than any other reason. How can this be fixed?
It comes from both sides of the issue.
Managers need to shape up!
Leadership in this country is atrocious. We have lost sight of how to lead people. We have lost focus on what are the keys to being a leader in an organization, the most important being good communication. Once corporations took their focus off good employee relations, customer service and product quality commitment, and instead, focused on the bottom line profit numbers, they lost their way.
Managers are also not being given proper training (because of a bottom line profit focus) so the damage continues to be repeated by people ill-fit for the position they are being asked to fulfill.
The long-term damage of poor leadership can ruin a company, create irreparable employee attitudes, and eventually shut down the organization. Management has a great responsibility to give people work they can care about and actually enjoy doing.
Employees need to stop whining!
Being a cynic has become an American past time and employees are using this state of mind to focus on all the negatives they encounter. Get over it. Should work be challenging? Yes. Should work push a person to achieve more and improve on their skills? Yes. As long as the attitude is "I hate my job," nothing productive can come from that mindset. Ever work for a pitifully bad boss? Sure, we all have but is that any reason to carry that animosity into your next job working for the new boss? No, and this is where the American worker needs to stop whining.
Often times our own attitudes and negative behavior creates that which we dislike the most. If my mind set is to dislike work at any job, then I will never be happy, fully productive or satisfied with my work contribution. Considering most of us will have to work 40 to 50 years to cover our financial responsibilities, wouldn't it be more productive and satisfying to be able to have the mindset to enjoy those years?
Managers and employees need to work hard to find a common ground of satisfaction before all American business ends up like the American auto industry. That is a wake up call for everyone to find work you find satisfying, enjoy the parts of the job you currently have, and work with management to open the lines of communication.
Common sense says, having the mindset of enjoying what you do will help you to be more productive where everyone benefits more. In reality, hating your job isn't cool, in fact it could bring down the entire economic system, and then we'd once again be glad just to be able to dig a ditch for a pay check.
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