For our family, the Fall is filled with Friday Night Lights, as our oldest child is a member of her high school marching band. While we certainly enjoy the football team's successes on the field, the process and progress of the marching band really captures our attention. From two-a-day practices in the August heat, to entering the stadium in line to the drummers' beat at each game, to practicing for the always-sold-out Patriotic Game?everything the band director does is designed to build his team into a synchronized unit performing at its highest possible talent level.
A similar approach would be of tremendous value to your small business. Band directors don't show up in September and start figuring out what to do. They work on it all summer long, so they're prepared when students arrive for their first practice. As you and your team work through the daily challenges of running your small business, are you making plans for what you want to accomplish six months from now?
Success Handler Action: After you finish reading this e-newsletter, spend some time thinking about your goals. Consider all aspects of your small business including employees, your products/services, your competition, finances and the economic direction. Here are some questions to help you get started:
~ What do you hope to accomplish in the next year?
~ Where are your biggest opportunities?
~ Who on your team are the key players for getting you there?
~ How will you get your message out to prospects and current customers/clients?
~ What is your competition doing, and what can your learn from them?
Marching bands typically practice in 'sectionals' ? clarinets with clarinets, drum line with drum line, tubas with tubas, etc. ? then come together to blend all of the individual pieces into one cohesive unit. To the casual observer in the stands, everything seems to flow in perfect unison. However, it's the hours of practice leading to each performance that produce musical and marching masterpieces. Similarly, taking the time to develop your team members will pay off tremendously in the results you ultimately achieve.
Success Handler Action: As you begin the process of planning for the next six months, consider what your team needs, individually and as a unit, to take you to a higher level. Here are five ways you can have an immediate impact on their productivity and individual growth:
1. Pay for employees to attend an advanced learning class ? online or in-person.
2. Review the software your team uses regularly and decide if it's time for an update.
3. Reach out to your vendors and ask them to provide educational materials/training.
4. Make this "Employee Idea Month" ? and remember?the quantity of ideas you receive, not the quality, ultimately leads to discovery.
5. Give each employee two tickets to the movies...it will help relieve some of the stress, and not cost you much.
When our daughter began playing the clarinet in sixth grade, many months were filled with incorrect notes and shrill squeaks. However, she practiced every day, took weekly private lessons and began to improve. With ongoing encouragement from her middle school then junior high band directors, and her own self-determination, she eventually gained a skill that now provides her tremendous joy.
The same success is possible for your small business. Figure out what it is you want to accomplish, communicate that vision to your team members, motivate them to achieve their goals and help them overcome their roadblocks along the way. Before you know it, all of you will be cheering loudly for the victories you're enjoying together.
Copyright ? 2004 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, franchisees and franchisors 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.
rental limo Atlanta .. Lockport Chicago limo O’HareThe best way to predict your future is to create... Read More
The present model of business and career motivation, the one... Read More
Over the years many people have offered their models of... Read More
The story that is being used to illustrate the concepts... Read More
Ask yourself the following:1. I have created a life-strategy plan... Read More
Why is it that most people still equate being successful... Read More
We all want to improve our top line - our... Read More
Your own pressing needs, your long-standing frustrations, would benefit tremendously... Read More
In my private practice for the past 13+ years I... Read More
The problem with writing about success is that almost everything... Read More
There is a disquieting trend emerging among women particularly -... Read More
The Outlaw Josey Wales is an interesting Western that I... Read More
Well, it's that time of the year again. No, I... Read More
Ever have those days where no matter what you try... Read More
Last month Along The Purpose Path was about how to... Read More
Success can easily be compared to the "genie trapped in... Read More
It sounds simple- right? You are where you THINK you... Read More
Business knowledge and skills are not the only keys to... Read More
All too often, people pursue a vision of material success... Read More
Once you've made it...throw a Success Shindig! Of course you... Read More
I'll let you in on a little secret...life delivers pretty... Read More
The Definition Of PerseveranceFrom a dictionary: "Persisting in or remaining... Read More
"Write checks on a regular basis to those who you... Read More
What do we want most from life? Certainly, we all... Read More
The need to be successful. This is the bottom line... Read More
Bedford Park taxi to Midway ..FOCUSAs you're building your business, you can choose to win... Read More
Step 1 ? Learn a powerful key to increase financial... Read More
We set goals, strive for them and only consider ourselves... Read More
About six years ago I began to study tai chi.... Read More
Recently I stumbled across a list of Microsoft Interview questions... Read More
Thoughts move faster than the speed of light.Expectations jump faster... Read More
One of the first things most of us remember hearing... Read More
The greatest deterrent to success in life is fear. It... Read More
The sun crept over the horizon and lodged itself above... Read More
McDonald's does it, why shouldn't you? Life is filled with... Read More
If you are wishy-washy and undecided about you want and... Read More
Never settle for what you can currently imagine You are... Read More
If you want to be rich and famous, you have... Read More
Everybody wants to get to the top, whether it is... Read More
Recently, I coached a young woman whom I'll call Mary... Read More
Here is a great way to create affirmations that may... Read More
You already have all the resources you need to accomplish... Read More
It was one of the worst periods of time in... Read More
It can be great to do something new 'for a... Read More
(Excerpted from the 1999 Weekend Seminar audio/CD series)Parents, leaders, employers,... Read More
One of the most important aspects of creating success involves... Read More
Imagine that right now, right here, today? there is within... Read More
Do not make the mistake of looking at your failures... Read More
How does an online marketer define success ? There are... Read More
Are you looking for the secret or magical formula for... Read More
Success |