The Double Bottom Line

There’s the net profit, and there’s the good you are doing for people (employees, customers, community).

Do you achieve a double bottom line?

Act Boldly!

Building a great business is not for the feeble of heart.  You must be strong and firm, be urgent and aware, capable of zooming in and zooming out back to back, and act boldly. 

Are you acting boldly?

Balance and Mastery Don't Coexist

If you are an entrepreneur, business is a big part of your life. I advise business owners to live a three dimensional life – that is not ALL business. You need a family life, and time for fun/sports/hobbies. By filling up your heart and soul, you’ll be better at work and avoid burnout.

But if you are to master anything, that is be the best at something, then “balance” is out the window. You have to give a disproportionate amount of time and energy to something to be great at it. And being the best at SOMETHING is how we rise to the top.

A balanced life can only lead to mediocrity while your competitors devote more of themselves and outshine you.

How do your people know they are winning?

Do your team members know what you are going for?  What you are trying to improve?  How they are being measured?  What the current measurement is?  

People like to feel like they are winning – like they are making a difference.  

How do your people know if they are winning or not?

Tell more stories

Logical arguments are sterile and don’t move people. Stories move people.

Tell stories that makes sense to people to make your case. A few good stories well told can move many people.

What stories are told in and on behalf of your business?

Should you be happy with where you are?

If you compare where you are to perfection – the ideal, you will never be happy.  Use the ideal situation as something to strive for, but not to determine if you shoud be happy today.  

For that, compare yourself to WHERE YOU STARTED.

Should you be happy?  You tell me.  Where did you start?

What Happens Inside You

You can’t always control what happens in and to your business, but you can control what happens inside you.

How do you think about what happened?  

How do you feel about it?

Who was responsible for what happened?

What will you do about it?

These are thoughts and decisions YOU make, and that will ultimately make you.

Control what happens inside you.

Use Positional Power for Good

As the leader, you have the power to lift someone up. Your opinion matters to people, and they pay attention to what you say about them. Who needs a lift today?

Smile at them. Tell them what you like about them. Point out what they are doing well. Write them a note or give them a little gift. Acknowledge them.  

You have the power to make someone’s day – use it!

Execution is what matters!

We can think and plan and strategize forever, but to make things better, we have to get a meaningful project done.

Pick the most important project that, if you get it done, would make the future of your business better. Then focus on that. Forget other things for now – even pretty good things. Just work on that one most important thing until you and your team get it done. (And imagine how that will feel!)

Okay?

Now…what is the most important project?

You can't learn from yourself

Leaders and entrepreneurs must be good students.

How and what are you learning everyday?