Problem Solving

Leaders solve problems by wielding their decision-making power.  We don’t like problems and we want them to go away fast – so we want to solve problems quickly.  But too often we don’t make the right decision and have a sub-optimal solution. 

Slow down.  Problem-solving is 80% discovery and diagnostics.  Ask questions and frame the problem correctly.  

What caused the problem?  What caused that?  What caused that?  Get more information.  Look closer.  Zoom in.  Zoom out.  Go to the front line and see it yourself.  

Ask what the various solutions are and think about how permanent these decisions are, what the costs are, and what the unexpected consequences may be.  

Once you know and understand the problem, fixing it will be far easier and clear.

You can't teach what you don't know.

Who trains your people?  Your sales manager?  Your production manager?  You?

A person can never out-train their own ability and discipline to learn themselves.

You can’t teach what you don’t know really well.

Id the teacher a great learner who has done to work of learning enough to teach well?

Compound Interest on Learning and Change

If I notice an area I can improve in my business, and think about making a change or improvement that can save $200 (or $2000 or $20,000) a month, would I benefit more if I made the change now, a year from now, or ten years from now?

I take the long view.  I’m here and I am not going anywhere.  But if I see an opportunity to make things better and more efficient – I do it right away.

How about you?

"I don't want more business"

The other night Marie and I went to a restaurant near our house.  We had gone there periodically over the last 4 years.  Often they are slow.  I asked the owner how business was.  He said he was keeping his head above water, and sighed as if he was disappointed.

He was bringing a pizza out to some customers and I had heard recently that people loved the pizza.  I didn’t even know they had pizza.  I suggested he put a sign out by the road saying they had pizza.

He gave me a strange look and said  “You don’t understand. I don’t want more business.  I am 64 years old.  I’m tired.”  He went on to say that he makes no money – he just keeps things going.

Of course, I wanted to coach him, but it seemed too late.  How sad.  A guy works (nights) his whole life, takes great responsibility, and winds up depressed with nothing to show for it.  Unfortunately, this is the fate of many business owners.  

The time to learn how to do it is ASAP! As early as possible!  The next best time is NOW.  If you are going to do it, you may as well do it right.  Doing it well takes no more time than doing it poorly –  in fact it takes less time.  

I wondered if he was struggling all these years, why he didn’t do something earlier.  Sometimes it is easier to learn to deal with struggle than to learn to get better.  

Being a business owner is an inside game first and foremost. 

From the inner – the outer.

A Product of Your Decisions

Your business is not a product of circumstances – it is a product of your decisions (made or unmade).

As the leader, you are the only one who can make the most important decisions.

What important decisions have to be made now?