Mark saw his bosses’ reaction to his project and knew he was in trouble. “She’s so picky. Why does everything have to be done exactly her way?” Karen, Mark’s boss had the opposite reaction, “Why can’t he just do exactly what I tell him? Why does e have to improvise?” Bosses are usually good at what they do, that’s why
Will You Do What You Have To Do To Get Results?
Our 50th state is full of people who know how to get things done. I heard the legend of one determined community on our recent vacation. Ferry, Alaska is a remote community, population 32 (11 households). It has the dubious distinction of being located across both banks of the Nenana River. Until recently, only a railroad bridge connected the two
When Was the Last Time You…?
There are lots of ways to end this question: cried at a movie took a trip read a book got angry ate cotton candy But other questions are more thought provoking.
Run Full Tilt
I was watching Kurt play fetch with his new puppy, Max. Kurt would throw a ball as far as he could, Max would race after it, never slowing down until he had it in his mouth. Sprinters call this “running through the tape”. Have you’ve ever watched as some runners near the finish line and slow up in the final
When in doubt, do without.
JoAnn shared the best advise she ever received from her grandmother; “When in doubt, do without.” The advice rings in her ears when she shops, when she ponders taking a vacation on a credit card and most recently when she was approached by a friend to get a tattoo.
Everything can change tomorrow – Can you adapt?
John Nese’s business was going broke. His family-owned grocery store was being eaten alive by big chain stores. So, when a woman called looking for a unique mint soda, he saw an opportunity. Today John’s store, Galco, sells every imaginable kind of soda from around the world. Business is good. John Nese was able to adapt, here are other examples:
Make People Talk About You
I walked into a purchasing manager’s office and noticed his wall was peppered with quotes on blue postcards. There were quotes about quality, pricing and appreciation. I asked about them and he enthusiastically explained that a supplier sends a quote-card every month as a thank you for doing business with them. He even pointed out his favorite.
What Limiting Beliefs Do You Haul Around?
Trevor founded a manufacturing company 20 years ago. The business continues to expand; the customer list now includes Fortune 500 companies. He has been asked to share his wisdom on several occasions, but declined. Despite his success, Trevor secretly feels inferior to other owners, insecure because of his lack of formal education.
Mess Makers and Fixers
It became clear as I listened to the conversation around the table: there are two kinds of people in the world – the mess-makers and the mess-fixers. Mess makers come in all shapes and sizes; their intentions may or may not be good. Some know they are manipulative, but others don’t have a clue.
Say Goodbye and Move On
I build and facilitate roundtables for business owners. In a recent meeting a member shared, “A long-term employee just quit.” A chorus of sympathetic groans rose from around the table. Good employees are hard to find and losing a valued, long-term staff member can be hard.