Self obstruction

The story of many small businesses being stuck is the story of leaders being in their own way, and many of them can’t see it, or won’t admit it.

How about you?

Train your people

If you don’t train your people, then they are running your business, not you.

Do you (or someone else in your company) know what to train your people on and how to do it?  If not, you need to get better yourself.  Then train them – often.  They’ll feel empowered, important, and perform better – and so will you.

Daily motions

You have stuff to do.  So do your people.  Maybe it’s a lot of stuff.  If someone was watching you they may say you’re busy.  But being busy isn’t what’s important.   We need to be productive.  That is – getting stuff done that matters.

Are you “productive”? 

Avoid Crisis

If it’s urgent AND important, it’s called a crisis – and it could have been avoided if you did the important stuff in the first place.  

What’s important?

What’s important?

Urgent things, the ones it’s easy to fill time with, are seldom important.  And important things are seldom urgent – and easy to put off.

What’s important?

Focus

The more things you try to do, the less the odds are that you’ll do any of them extremely well.

Danger is a given

Fear is optional.

Winner Takes All!

That job, that account, that business – only one of the parties competing for it will get it.  There’s no second place.

You have to be the best choice for the buyer – on purpose.

Get prepared.

Talk too much?

In a sales situation there’s a time for talking, but not until you listen first. This is what a typical sales call may demand –

First 40% of the time – ask questions and listen, and ask follow-up and clarification questions and listen more. 

Next 40% of the time – Speak passionately – give information and transfer enthusiasm. 

Last 20% – ask questions and listen.

Are you and your people doing it something like this?  Are you sure?

Passion or Money

What’s more important – following your passion, or following the money?

Look for intersections.