During the 1980 presidential campaign, candidate Ronald Reagan vowed, if elected, to appoint the first woman to the United States Supreme Court. Six months after his inauguration, President Reagan kept his promise ? nominating a member of the Arizona Court of Appeals. The Senate soon confirmed her by a vote of 99-0.
Recently, Sandra Day O'Connor sent a short letter to the current Chief Executive announcing her retirement: "It has been a great privilege, indeed, to have served as a member of the court for 24 terms. I will leave it with enormous respect for the integrity of the court and its role under our constitutional structure."
President Reagan made history by appointing a woman to the Supreme Court. Justice O'Connor made her own history by casting the deciding vote on 136 cases, including some highly emotional issues. The willingness of both the president and the justice to take risks helped change the country.
Success Handler Action: Robert F. Kennedy said, "Only those who dare to fail greatly ever achieve greatly." As an entrepreneur, you took a leap of faith by starting your small business. If you've been at it for a while, are you still willing to take big risks, or do you often find yourself deadlocked on difficult decisions? After you finish reading this E-Newsletter, use these questions to determine if you're becoming more or less of a risk-taker:
~ Where are the innovative ideas in your industry, and are you ahead or behind the curve?
~ When was the last time you introduced a new product/service or bought new equipment?
~ Who do you turn to for guidance, and how often do you consult with them?
~ What is your reaction when you hear other business owners talk about their latest initiatives?
~ How often do you read magazines like "Fast Company" or visit leading-edge Websites?
One of the biggest reasons people take less risk as they get more successful is the fear of losing what they worked so hard to gain. When you had nothing, there was nothing to have taken away. However, if you're not continuing to pursue the edge in your small business ? "placing enough interesting, freakish, long shot, weirdo bets," in the words of management guru Tom Peters ? then you are creating a weakness that your competition can exploit.
Success Handler Action: With your team, discuss the opportunities awaiting you in the second half of the year. Seek their input on some of the decisions you've been avoiding because you're concerned about the risk. Also, encourage your team members to take their own risks, so they can grow. Here are five ways to help them start acting like risk-takers:
1. Explain the importance of change, and assure them it's normal to fear new approaches.
2. Coach team members on how to think like an entrepreneur and take ownership of their individual roles.
3. Give them more responsibility, grooming them as leaders.
4. Challenge them to look for new and better ways to do things.
5. Allow them to fail occasionally?and support them when they do.
Growing up on her grandfather's 200,000 acre cattle ranch in Arizona, Sandra Day O'Connor learned the importance of hard work and discipline. Upon graduating third in her class from Stanford law school in 1952, she couldn't get a job in Arizona, because no private firm would take the risk of hiring a woman. She credits these experiences as shaping her later judicial opinions.
Justice O'Connor said, "Slaying the dragon of delay is no sport for the short-winded." While you most likely will never serve on the Supreme Court, the people you serve every day in your small business are counting on you to keep moving forward and being innovative. Commit once again to being the entrepreneur you are, and start being the risk-taker you once were.
Copyright ? 2005 by Success Handler, LLC. All rights reserved.
The Coach, David Handler, is the founder of Success Handler, (http://www.successhandler.com), and specializes in helping small business leaders find clarity and take action. He understands the challenges of running a business, because he's been there ? as a small business owner, franchisee, franchisor, corporate leader and trainer. Much like sports coaches, his coaching will show you how to compete on a level playing field in your industry.
one time home cleaning Highland Park ..Q: After years of dreaming about starting my own business,... Read More
Achieving real success should be the goal of any good... Read More
Starting the blind cleaning business is one of the best... Read More
How do you find the best business partners?Finding a good... Read More
Many physical therapists in private practice have the appearance of... Read More
Nothing can drive a business down faster than customers who... Read More
As a company grows, the owner's role begins to change.... Read More
A consultant must remember that the business belongs to the... Read More
Database Problems in MarketingI have been working on a direct... Read More
Is it right for you?If you decide to advertise your... Read More
If you've been considering incorporating your small business, you've probably... Read More
Small business owners often enter their field with great expectations.... Read More
1. TargetYou are not all things to all people. Decide... Read More
In today's fast paced marketplace it is easy to neglect... Read More
Many times small businesses want to expand their businesses and... Read More
Technical writing services are employed to explain the details of... Read More
-- Beyond Cold Calling, "Warm" Calling and Sending E-mails --Many... Read More
Disclosure laws in franchising are suppose to help the consumer.... Read More
No matter how small your small business is, it is... Read More
If you are a franchisee of a large franchise system;... Read More
Many people ask how many graphs or charts they should... Read More
1. Leadership Is Learned ? While many people appear to... Read More
As an Investment Representative you've worked hard to build trust... Read More
In my 18 years of consulting I have heard it... Read More
What could Seinfeld possibly have to do with marketing a... Read More
licensed cleaning services Park Ridge ..So you want to get into the auto detailing business... Read More
If you're like me, you love accounting. It's so fascinating... Read More
Small business owners often enter their field with great expectations.... Read More
Running a small business requires many skills. However, to do... Read More
Does your company have a community relation strategy? Have you... Read More
If you own a mobile car washing, pressure washing or... Read More
Some marine biologists feel that the concentration of dead marine... Read More
Purchasing a franchise has become one of the most popular... Read More
Do you know what your genius work is? It's the... Read More
That's right ? are you making enough mistakes in your... Read More
Time. As a small business owner, it's the commodity you... Read More
What is the best time to expand a mobile car... Read More
I have a confession to make. My name is Caroline... Read More
Microfiber cleaning towels have been around for about ten years... Read More
In a perfect world, starting a small business would be... Read More
I propose this thought on the subject of Franchisee territory... Read More
How many "get rich schemes" have you joined? Or have... Read More
You've always liked flowers and you think the idea of... Read More
When you feel like you're always busy working on your... Read More
The current lack of industry leaders represents an exceptional opportunity... Read More
You may be in Mail Order, Direct Mail, or you... Read More
I meet and talk to hundreds and hundreds of business... Read More
Congratulations, you are starting a small business! You are taking... Read More
There are only a handful of car wash franchises in... Read More
If you're an entrepreneur responsible for your own small business... Read More
Small Business |