Tag Archives: strategy

Grow, grow, grow?

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We all want our companies to grow. OK, some of us just want our companies to insure we have more money. (These are generally the lifestyle business folks- like plumbers, handyman, and  the home workers.) Others of us are looking to really grow our businesses- gross revenue, bottom line (profit after taxes), employees, and notoriety.

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Leadership<>Management, Part 2

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Yesterday, I explained that leadership is not management – and management is not leadership.  But, that did not take the conversation far enough.   Too many leaders extol those wonderful values and ideals to their teams- but never get involved in the nitty-gritty of getting things done.  Followers- and other leaders- trust leaders who have ‘done it’.  And, one of the best ways to develop trust is to show folks how it’s done- once, twice, thrice.

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How will I know when I get there?

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Yes, the key points to your success are vision, mission, and goals- as long as you implement. Too many people nowadays expect that thinking will make it so. Unfortunately, there’s a fair amount of work required to make our dreams a reality. And, it’s not just following a plan- we need to insure that our plans are still valid and reflect the world as it is- not how we wish it would be. Maybe this is a good time to remind you that a business plan need not be a 200 page document with graphs, tables, and appendices. Don’t confuse your planning with these formal documents one sees for enterprises hoping to get venture or government funding. Your document has to be clear in its goals and its definition of your environment (customers/clients, competition, and your company- the 3 C’s). If we have been lucky (and, occasionally, prescient) to have our plan scenarios be totally in concert with reality- then, we are golden. But, that rarely occurs. With our weekly dashboard meetings (monitoring four key areas, with “traffic signal” measurements- on target, not on target, and Where are you on the health platform?warning- green/red/yellow), we can determine if and where we need to change our efforts and plans to insure our (continued) success. At a minimum, your plan must contain the following:

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So you want to start your own business? Are you really ready?

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I keep reading that more people should be starting their own businesses, mostly in reaction to the current employment levels.  I am certainly not against the foundation of new enterprise- but there needs to be an acknowledgment of the pitfalls involved.  Most new businesses fail within the first three years- so it’s not a panacea, it won’t (necessarily) solve your financial dilemnae.

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