Starting and running a business takes a well of energy that tends to get tapped into every waking our of the day. Business leaders take requests from friends, family members, employees, vendors, clients and random people – in addition to putting out fires either caused by them or caused by other people. When a day goes by and nothing happens – the business leader is probably a bit un-nerved.
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As a business leader, when you started your business, you were born running. It was easy to get up every day and simply make things happen. You had a vision for where you wanted your business to go, who you wanted to serve and what you expected to happen as a result of your business’s existence.
As reality hit, as the economy shifts, you’ve discovered that things aren’t as you had dreamed. The work is a little harder and longer, the business consumes more and more of your life, the world is less friendly and getting people to do more than talk about your products or services is a bit more complicated than you anticipated.
But you know that you cannot stop running. Like an athlete, you know that if you don’t keep running, you cannot finish the race – even those in last place do finish. That is not so for those who quit.
Consider, for a moment, what it takes to be a great athlete. It takes clear focus, training, understanding of what it takes to win, clear goals on how to get there and people around you to help keep you on track. You recognize the rules and guidelines and make a choice whether or not to obey them. You get the proper resources and make sure that they are maintained in order for you to keep running. You have a coach – someone to point out ways for you to do what it is you do a little better.
As a business leader, it is no different. Clear direction, training, conditioning, people and a coach are not just nice to have, but requirements for you to be able to run the race for the long haul. As you scan the environment – your industry and your marketplace, at least, you will see businesses that could not make it – that had to quit as a result of any number of effectors. You must consider to yourself what will keep you out of that haphazard heap of corpses.
While it is no easy feat, you’ve got to keep running. If you trip and fall, you’ve got to get up and do it, again. As an extraordinary leader, quitting is not an option. Though you may change your course or your perspective, you don’t quit. Be extraordinary. Keep running!
Aepiphanni Business Consulting: The Business Strategy People is a Strategy Consulting Firm dedicated to serving the needs of small to medium sized business leaders and executives. We specialize in helping leaders create extraordinary businesses. We welcome clients in the personal and professional services industries, including Creative and Design Services, Software & IT Services, Professional Services and Healthcare Services. As always, we welcome your comments, thoughts, questions and suggestions. If you are seeking a business assessment, or have further questions about creating your strategy or developing your vision, please give me, Rick Meekins, a call at 678-265-3908, or email us at [email protected].
As a business leader, when you started your business, you were born running. It was easy to get up every day and simply make things happen. You had a vision for where you wanted your business to go, who you wanted to serve and what you expected to happen as a result of your business’s existence.
As reality hit, as the economy shifts, you’ve discovered that things aren’t as you had dreamed. The work is a little harder and longer, the business consumes more and more of your life, the world is less friendly and getting people to do more than talk about your products or services is a bit more complicated than you anticipated.
But you know that you cannot stop running. Like an athlete, you know that if you don’t keep running, you cannot finish the race – even those in last place do finish. That is not so for those who quit.
Consider, for a moment, what it takes to be a great athlete. It takes clear focus, training, understanding of what it takes to win, clear goals on how to get there and people around you to help keep you on track. You recognize the rules and guidelines and make a choice whether or not to obey them. You get the proper resources and make sure that they are maintained in order for you to keep running. You have a coach – someone to point out ways for you to do what it is you do a little better.
As a business leader, it is no different. Clear direction, training, conditioning, people and a coach are not just nice to have, but requirements for you to be able to run the race for the long haul. As you scan the environment – your industry and your marketplace, at least, you will see businesses that could not make it – that had to quit as a result of any number of effectors. You must consider to yourself what will keep you out of that haphazard heap of corpses.
While it is no easy feat, you’ve got to keep running. If you trip and fall, you’ve got to get up and do it, again. As an extraordinary leader, quitting is not an option. Though you may change your course or your perspective, you don’t quit. Be extraordinary. Keep running!
Aepiphanni Business Consulting: The Business Strategy People is a Strategy Consulting Firm dedicated to serving the needs of small to medium sized business leaders and executives. We specialize in helping leaders create extraordinary businesses. We welcome clients in the personal and professional services industries, including Creative and Design Services, Software & IT Services, Professional Services and Healthcare Services. As always, we welcome your comments, thoughts, questions and suggestions. If you are seeking a business assessment, or have further questions about creating your strategy or developing your vision, please give me, Rick Meekins, a call at 678-265-3908, or email us at [email protected].
I was working with a client, over the weekend, at his office in Downtown Atlanta. He mentioned to me, when we were walking in, that he had gotten a ticket parking in the same location that I did. However, there was a 2 hr parking sign there, so I felt like I was safe.
As I was returning to the car, after the meeting, I noticed a Parking Nanny (patrol officer assigned to writing parking tickets) standing at the corner of my street with two other guys. They were talking about writing parking tickets and were debating on whether or not to have my truck towed. As they continued their conversation, I walked down to the truck, got in and drove off. As I drove by them, I saw them staring at me with their eyes bugged and their jaws on the floor. They had missed an opportunity.
This is what happens with many business leaders and super villains. They spend so much time evaluating and discussing their opportunity that them miss out altogether. This is why it is so important to have a plan in place to evaluate and take advantage of opportunities, quickly. This is why you’ve got to be of the mindset that you are always looking for opportunities.
For example:
All of these are typical scenarios and responses are tools that you, as a business leader, need to use in order to take advantage of some opportunities. Of course, this is the short list. Yours will be a bit longer, and practical for your line of business.
When opportunity knocks, be ready to be extraordinary. Don’t just stand there. Open the door!
Aepiphanni Business Consulting: The Business Strategy People is a Strategy Consulting Firm dedicated to serving the needs of small to medium sized business leaders and executives. We specialize in helping leaders create extraordinary businesses. We welcome clients in the personal and professional services industries, including Creative and Design Services, Software & IT Services, Professional Services and Healthcare Services. As always, we welcome your comments, thoughts, questions and suggestions. If you are seeking a business assessment, or have further questions about creating your strategy or developing your vision, please give me, Rick Meekins, a call at 678-265-3908, or email us at [email protected].
I was working with a client, over the weekend, at his office in Downtown Atlanta. He mentioned to me, when we were walking in, that he had gotten a ticket parking in the same location that I did. However, there was a 2 hr parking sign there, so I felt like I was safe.
As I was returning to the car, after the meeting, I noticed a Parking Nanny (patrol officer assigned to writing parking tickets) standing at the corner of my street with two other guys. They were talking about writing parking tickets and were debating on whether or not to have my truck towed. As they continued their conversation, I walked down to the truck, got in and drove off. As I drove by them, I saw them staring at me with their eyes bugged and their jaws on the floor. They had missed an opportunity.
This is what happens with many business leaders and super villains. They spend so much time evaluating and discussing their opportunity that them miss out altogether. This is why it is so important to have a plan in place to evaluate and take advantage of opportunities, quickly. This is why you’ve got to be of the mindset that you are always looking for opportunities.
For example:
All of these are typical scenarios and responses are tools that you, as a business leader, need to use in order to take advantage of some opportunities. Of course, this is the short list. Yours will be a bit longer, and practical for your line of business.
When opportunity knocks, be ready to be extraordinary. Don’t just stand there. Open the door!
Aepiphanni Business Consulting: The Business Strategy People is a Strategy Consulting Firm dedicated to serving the needs of small to medium sized business leaders and executives. We specialize in helping leaders create extraordinary businesses. We welcome clients in the personal and professional services industries, including Creative and Design Services, Software & IT Services, Professional Services and Healthcare Services. As always, we welcome your comments, thoughts, questions and suggestions. If you are seeking a business assessment, or have further questions about creating your strategy or developing your vision, please give me, Rick Meekins, a call at 678-265-3908, or email us at [email protected].
Getting to the top isn’t ever going to be a free and easy ride. There will be bumps in the road, there will be pitfalls, detours and everything else. Doug reminds us that through it all, we need to stay focused.
“You’re ridin’ high in April, shot down in May.” –Frank Sinatra
If you are reading this you are likely in one now currently or are remembering a time when you were. The dreaded sales slump. It happens- even to the best of us. Sales can be a hero to zero business. The highs can be heavenly while the lows are at best bearable. When you find yourself in one, consider the 4 “R”s.
• Remind– Take a big breath. Remind yourself that you have been successful in the past. If you have been in sales for awhile, think back to a time when you were on a roll, in the zone, selling at your best. What was different about your attitude, energy, and activity? What were you feeling, focusing on, and driven toward? Strive to regain that energy and mindset.
“This too shall pass.” –Persian proverb
• Refocus– Set specific, measurable, achievable goals for the next 30 days. There are 2 types of goals to set: activity and outcome. You need both to increase the velocity of getting out of a slump. Activity goals address # of calls, presentations, networking meetings, referrals, etc you are committing to. Outcome goals address # of sales, $ amount and other relevant “bottom line” sales results. Yes, I know this is sales 101, but let me guess- you haven’t done it in awhile. Just do it.
“When you find yourself in a hole…, stop digging.” –Will Rogers
• Re-energize– get back in the gym, go for a run, listen to some of your favorite music. Get up earlier and focus on your goals. Turn off the TV- read and listen to inspirational, educational, or motivational material. Get around inspiring people. Buy yourself something pretty.
• Re-commit– This is more important than the first 3 combined (the first 3 tend to make this one easier). Decide what you are committed to and get to it.
“Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness… the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Begin it now.” -Goethe
Pick yourself up, get back in the race, you’ll be “back on top in June.”
Happy Selling,
Doug Grady
Aepiphanni Business Consulting: The Business Strategy People is a Strategy Consulting Firm dedicated to serving the needs of small to medium sized business leaders and executives. We specialize in helping leaders create extraordinary businesses. We welcome clients in the personal and professional services industries, including Creative and Design Services, Software & IT Services, Professional Services and Healthcare Services. As always, we welcome your comments, thoughts, questions and suggestions. If you are seeking a business assessment, or have further questions about creating your strategy or developing your vision, please give me, Rick Meekins, a call at 678-265-3908, or email us at [email protected].
As a business leader, have you ever had an employee or associate that absolutely grates on your nerves? It’s that associate who gives you a headache as soon as he or she walks into the room. It’s that person that seems to know that they do get to you and strives to ensure that each day, their personal mission is to push you over the edge.
The impending aneurism would be a blessing right now.
For some reason, though, you don’t feel like you can part company with that person, for whatever reason. Perhaps that person is the one that seems to pay an essential role in the company, or has an incredible amount of talent. Perhaps they are a family member or friend or some other association.
There are two schools of thought that immediately come to mind.
Option number 1 requires no investment in the person. However, you’ve got to be committed to finding the person to replace the initial pain in your behind. Many business leaders might feel that it isn’t worth the trouble and expense, and will simply continue to endure. The problem with that mentality is that the problem will continue to exist, moral and productivity will likely be reduced, and you may lose other productive stakeholders – including employees.
Option number two does require investment in the person. However, the results can be outstanding. Think about it like this – you will have difficulty putting a round peg in a square hole. No matter how much you push and pull, the fit will never be quite right.
If, on the other hand, you adjust the hole, suddenly, you have a good fit for the peg, and everyone is happy. In the same way, finding out what motivates this challenged employee, and learning how to leverage their greatest strengths can be one of the best investment you make in your company. You’ll be loving the unlovable, and find that you have great commitment and cohesiveness that you could have by trying to put a round peg in a square hole.
This could mean – just to be clear – that the peg might actually be the wrong fit for the company. In that case, you may still need to help them move on to brighter pastures. At the same time, however, they may be willing to help with the training and development process for the incumbent.
As a business leader, it is your job to make sure that the organization runs as smoothly as possible. Being extraordinary means that at times, you will have to love the unlovable. It means that you are going to have to invest in your employees. It means making that square hole fit the round peg.
Aepiphanni Business Consulting: The Business Strategy People is a Strategy Consulting Firm dedicated to serving the needs of small to medium sized business leaders and executives. We specialize in helping leaders create extraordinary businesses. We welcome clients in the personal and professional services industries, including Creative and Design Services, Software & IT Services, Professional Services and Healthcare Services. As always, we welcome your comments, thoughts, questions and suggestions. If you are seeking a business assessment, or have further questions about creating your strategy or developing your vision, please give me, Rick Meekins, a call at 678-265-3908, or email us at [email protected].
As a business leader, have you ever had an employee or associate that absolutely grates on your nerves? It’s that associate who gives you a headache as soon as he or she walks into the room. It’s that person that seems to know that they do get to you and strives to ensure that each day, their personal mission is to push you over the edge.
The impending aneurism would be a blessing right now.
For some reason, though, you don’t feel like you can part company with that person, for whatever reason. Perhaps that person is the one that seems to pay an essential role in the company, or has an incredible amount of talent. Perhaps they are a family member or friend or some other association.
There are two schools of thought that immediately come to mind.
Option number 1 requires no investment in the person. However, you’ve got to be committed to finding the person to replace the initial pain in your behind. Many business leaders might feel that it isn’t worth the trouble and expense, and will simply continue to endure. The problem with that mentality is that the problem will continue to exist, moral and productivity will likely be reduced, and you may lose other productive stakeholders – including employees.
Option number two does require investment in the person. However, the results can be outstanding. Think about it like this – you will have difficulty putting a round peg in a square hole. No matter how much you push and pull, the fit will never be quite right.
If, on the other hand, you adjust the hole, suddenly, you have a good fit for the peg, and everyone is happy. In the same way, finding out what motivates this challenged employee, and learning how to leverage their greatest strengths can be one of the best investment you make in your company. You’ll be loving the unlovable, and find that you have great commitment and cohesiveness that you could have by trying to put a round peg in a square hole.
This could mean – just to be clear – that the peg might actually be the wrong fit for the company. In that case, you may still need to help them move on to brighter pastures. At the same time, however, they may be willing to help with the training and development process for the incumbent.
As a business leader, it is your job to make sure that the organization runs as smoothly as possible. Being extraordinary means that at times, you will have to love the unlovable. It means that you are going to have to invest in your employees. It means making that square hole fit the round peg.
Aepiphanni Business Consulting: The Business Strategy People is a Strategy Consulting Firm dedicated to serving the needs of small to medium sized business leaders and executives. We specialize in helping leaders create extraordinary businesses. We welcome clients in the personal and professional services industries, including Creative and Design Services, Software & IT Services, Professional Services and Healthcare Services. As always, we welcome your comments, thoughts, questions and suggestions. If you are seeking a business assessment, or have further questions about creating your strategy or developing your vision, please give me, Rick Meekins, a call at 678-265-3908, or email us at [email protected].
A Japanese proverb says, “Fall down six times, get up seven.” While we don’t always talk about the endurance it takes to run a business, and the chaotic environment in which we try to exist, it is important for us as business leaders to look at things for what they are: challenges to overcome.
Overcoming is a choice. We’ve overcome economies, employees quitting, irate customers, legal challenges, cash flow challenges, and we are still here. As a matter of fact, we’ll be here tomorrow. As a business leader, maturity comes when we learn to embrace the challenges and to keep getting up.
Aepiphanni Business Consulting: The Business Strategy People is a Strategy Consulting Firm dedicated to serving the needs of small to medium sized business leaders and executives. We specialize in helping leaders create extraordinary businesses. We welcome clients in the personal and professional services industries, including Creative and Design Services, Software & IT Services, Professional Services and Healthcare Services. As always, we welcome your comments, thoughts, questions and suggestions. If you are seeking a business assessment, or have further questions about creating your strategy or developing your vision, please give me, Rick Meekins, a call at 678-265-3908, or email us at [email protected].
