Posts in Stuff

Commitment

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Entrepreneurs: Would you move from a 5,000 sq ft home to a 360 sq ft recreation vehicle for 2.5 years for your business?

How committed are you to your business?

What are you willing to risk for it?

How hard are you willing to work?

In 2016, we made a decision to buy a 100-acre piece of property and open a horse farm. Our decision meant moving onto the property and selling our “forever” home.

However, that meant that we couldn’t buy the property, start a business, AND build a new home. So, we bought a fifth wheel to live in temporarily until our house sold.

We expected that to take about six months.

Two and a half years later, we finally sold our home and were able to move into our new house on the property.

Being successful requires more than dedication — it requires commitment, the state or quality of being totally dedicated to a cause, activity, etc.

For entrepreneurs, commitment is paramount.

Entrepreneurs take risks, give up comforts, and go all-in.

What’s your commitment story?

#business #success #incubator #coaching #consulting

Spot the risk!

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What’s wrong with this picture? Can anyone spot  the risk? Why do we care about pans in business? 樂

If you’re a cook, or a parent of young kids, you probably noticed the potential issue.

For many, this obvious flaw might have gone unnoticed.

See the handle of the gold pan? See how it protrudes out in front of the stove?

This presents a potentially unsafe situation. Someone could easily bump the handle and knock the hot pan and its contents onto themselves or the floor. A child, being ever inquisitive, might reach up and grab the handle.

So, to be safe, you keep the handles turned to the side to help prevent an avoidable bad situation.

Why is this important in business?

How often do you take the time to study your company and assess your potential risks?

Do you have any pans on the stove that might be accidently bumped and burn someone?

Disaster, crisis, and risk management is a very important part of running a business. Unfortunately, business owners often have trouble seeing the forest through all the trees.

Annually, a business should examine its company and the environment, identify risks, determine likelihood and impact, and establish mitigation strategies.

Are their any pans protruding in your business?

#business #success #incubator #coaching #consultants

Breakthrough Silos

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Breaking ⛏ Through Siloed  Organizations  First Requires Leadership Awareness! 類

Silos exist in practically every company, business, and organization. For profit or non profit … doesn’t matter. I’ve even identified silos in solo proprietorships.

The natural tendency of leaders is to “tear down the silos.”

Oh, I’m sure you’ve heard it all before … maybe you’ve even said it.

Everyone knows silos are bad!!!

Right?

Unfortunately, very few know why silos exist in the first place.

Unfortunately, very few understand why and who created the silos.

And, unfortunately, very few understand why playing “whack a silo” in your company doesn’t work!

The first step in dealing with silos in your organization is to learn why they formed in the first place and why you’ll NEVER get rid of them.

I challenge you to read Overcoming Organizational Myopia and learn not only why they form, but how to deal with them.

Increase your awareness!!!

#success #incubator #business #coaching #consultants
#overcomingorganizationalmyopia

Volunteer Leadership

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Want to be a great leader…learn to lead volunteers.

In 1992, a mentor of mine, in the Air Force, got me involved in a volunteer leadership role with a professional military organization.

I completely failed in the position.

But, I didn’t quit. I stuck with that organization as an active leader through 2008 (my retirement). In fact, I’m still a life member and assist other leaders now and again.

When I started out as a volunteer leader, I knew nothing about volunteering or leadership — I was just a young junior enlisted member.

What I learned … unimaginable.

Today, I run two nonprofit organizations that my wife and I founded. We keep them small and serve niche needs in our community.

It’s our way we give back constantly to our community. Better than giving to a faceless charity with zero control on how your money and efforts are spent, huh?

Want to learn how to lead?

Lead volunteers.

Want to learn how to lead an organization.

Become a volunteer leader of a nonprofit.

The perfect place to start is Toastmasters International. Their nonprofit program has a leadership and speaking tracks that teaches you how to be a great leader.

What have been your volunteer experiences?

#success #incubator #business #coaching #consultants
#leadership #volunteering

Is consistency key?

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Pre-COVID Boss to Employee: We need to be consistent in our operations, processes, and products.

Post-COVID Boss to Employee: Consistency in our operations, processes, and products is killing us.

Consistency is Key   — Right?

But, what if it isn’t?

What if Consistency is Killing  Your Business?

Consistency essentially means to do things the same…right? And that’s a good thing! Or is it? 樂

As businesses all over the world ran headlong into COVID-19, many of them tried to continue doing what they’ve always done…regardless of the changing environment.

Innovative companies — maybe not so consistent companies — quickly adjusted and continued to operate.

So, is consistency really key or what?

Many a business has been left behind due to consistency … Blockbuster, Kodak, KMart, etc.

Standard work is good…yes. Having consistency in operations, processes, and products is good. As long as your constantly evaluating effectiveness and can quickly change with the environment.

Is it time to reevaluate consistency?

#success #incubator #business #coaching #consultants
#consistency #covid19 #coronavirus

Reopening

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What’s your plan  to reopen your business? Do you even have one? 路‍♂️

Do you feel you even need a plan?

What’s a business to do…just reopen their doors and start serving customers again?

What precautions should you take?

Will your employees come back or do you need to hire and train new ones?

Will you be busy or slow?

How will people know you’re open?

Last week, I visited a restaurant that has reopened. It was lunch on Sunday.

Everything shined it was so clean.

On every table, they had paper napkins, a clear spray bottle of some liquid (unmarked), and a bunch of individual hand sanitizer gel packs.

I could see that some if the tables had been moved — probably six foot rule.

Our waiter wore a mask (all employees did)…no gloves. The bartenders wore gloves.

All total, aside from the two of us, there were nine patrons — yea, I counted.

Visible employees were a hostess, two waiters, two bartenders, and a manager.

The manager came by to thank us for visiting…he wore his mask under his nose to breathe better.

Do you think they had a plan?

If they did, do you think they were following it?

Should a business, reopening after the COVID Lockdown, have a plan to reopen?

#success #incubator #business #coaching #consultants
#covid19 #coronavirus #reopening

Coaching Approach

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One-on-one (1:1) coaching versus group coaching. Which do you like better? Why?

I’m examining the differences in coaching models and would love your thoughts. Here are some of mine:

Cost: Being coached 1:1 (privately), should essentially cost more than a group session –right? In reality, group coaching should be more lucrative for a coach, if you have enough participants. Plus, it’s less expensive for the participants. Though, you might need a room for a group, where 1:1 can be much easier.

Content: 1:1 seems more specific to the needs of the individual. Group coaching seems more like training and follows a loose agenda. 1:1 seems more personal. The coach probably needs to work more on engaging content with a group.

Mastermind: When you have a group, you have more opinions to share and discuss. In a 1:1 situation, the coach is essentially your only source, but you expect them to be the expert.

Value: I know that value is always measured from the customer’s point of view, but I think value depends on what you want from coaching. One might value cheaper sessions that have a lot of group interaction. Where another might value privacy and targeted advice.

What are your thoughts?

#success #incubator #business #coaching #consultants

Being the Leader

Business Coaching Business Consulting Leadership Meandering Genius Stuff Thoughtful Thursday

Pre-COVID Boss to Employee: I’m in charge. I have all the answers. I don’t need to discuss the situation with you.

Post-COVID Boss to Employee: I’m in charge. I don’t have all the answers. I need to discuss the situation with you.

What are the top leadership lessons that we’ve learned in this crisis?

Is it best to be open, up front, honest, and vulnerable with your employees?

Do you tell them that cash flow is struggling, sales have dropped, and no one is buying?

Do you let them know you don’t know what to do and that you’re concerned about layoffs or going out of business?

Do you protect your employees and don’t tell them any of your concerns — it’s better this way?

These are thoughts every leader faces at some point. But how do they respond and what’s the pros and cons of each?

It’s easy to tell someone how they should act, but it’s a totally different thing when you have to do the acting.

What are your thoughts?

#success #incubator #business #coaching #consultants
#leadership

Best approach to sales?

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Pre-COVID Boss to Sales Employee: “Call as many people as possible, we don’t have time to get to know them.

Post-COVID Boss to Sales Employee: Get to know as many people as possible, it’s a waste of time just calling people you don’t know.

Is there an aggressive shift in sales?  Moving from a ‘numbers game’ to ‘relationship selling’?

I see a lot of talk about the importance of relationships when it comes to selling.

However, I still get the same amount of canned emails and messages going for volume click bait over connection.

I still see people wanting to get more views on social media than actual engagement.

Let’s face it, relationship selling takes time. You need to learn about your prospects…spend a lot of time getting to know them.

What’s easier, getting a, “No,” response on the 15 minute phone call, or after 3 weeks of getting connected with someone?

I’ve worked in the Bullpen, making 100 calls a day for a couple of leads.

In that same company, I’ve researched 100 people and made a few great long-lasting connections.

I’ve also spent months connecting with clients and developing long-term relationships. I prefer this approach.

What works best for you?

#success #incubator #business #coaching #consultants
#sales

Did you plan for COVID?

Business Coaching Business Consulting Change Management Leadership Meandering Genius Promotion Tuesday Strategic Planning Stuff Tips

Pre-COVID. Boss to Employee: “We don’t have time to plan right now — we need to get work done.

Post-COVID. Boss to employee: “We need to plan right now, or we won’t have any work to get done.

Planning…

That must be one of the scariest words in the Business Dictionary.

Why?

Because, so many shy away from it.

By this Friday, we are expecting it to start raining here in San Antonio TX. It’s forecasted to rain for the next seven days.

That means flooding.

I turned to my wife last night, after looking that the weather report, and said, “We’ll need to get the Flooding Checklist out.”

Is just one of our ‘plans’ that makes sure we are as prepared for the worst as possible.

You do that when you run a business. Ours is a 100-acre horse farm with 40 horses on property.

We didn’t have a “Pandemic Checklist.”

But, almost three months ago, we did pull out our Disaster Preparedness Plan and developed a list of actions.

These actions kept our business moving forward and helped since I was laid off on April 20th.

Did you plan for COVID?

Were you ready for COVID?

What are you doing Right Now about planning for the next crisis.

#success #incubator #business #coaching #consultants
#planning