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by Rick Baker
On Nov 18, 2011
3 forces drive entrepreneurs:
- Entrepreneurs have this burning feeling inside them…a Need To Achieve something. I describe it as ‘a wanting’.
- Entrepreneurs have a desire to create and Build Things Of Value.
- Entrepreneurs have a need to Be Recognized As Different – a different type of contributor.
These are defining internal forces driving An Entrepreneur.
In addition, An Entrepreneur is a business leader who:
- Recognizes, uses, & develops People Strengths…first in self and then in others,
- Clicks with other People [has self-control & a pleasing-enough personality], and
- Is ready, willing, and able to lead change…first in self and then in others.
These are the defining characteristics of – the key Personal Strengths of - An Entrepreneur.
These 3 forces coupled with these 3 characteristics form Spirited Leaders’ definition of An Entrepreneur.
by Rick Baker
On Nov 15, 2011
Robin Todd, President/CEO of Marks Supply Inc., was the special-guest speaker at CFFB’s October breakfast.
Robin shared her family-business story and she shared her ‘boss’ experiences. That title “ Confessions of a Bad Boss” send many messages. Here are some of the thoughts that went through our minds as we listened to and talked with Robin:
- No Boss is perfect…all Bosses make mistakes
- Owning up to those mistakes…that involves self-awareness, courage, and a desire to improve
- All Bosses can learn…it starts with self-monitoring
- Bosses can learn from their mistakes
Robin has a habit of testing herself with tough questions…here are a few samples:
- What if you impede the success of your company?
- Great people have options: how do I find them? Entice them? Keep them?
- What did you do wrong to allow this person to leave?
Robin’s key message was:
How much better would your company be if you were a better boss?
About Marks Supply Inc. – a local Family Business Success Story.
Marks Supply is a wholesaler of top-quality Plumbing, P.V.F., Hydronics and HVAC products.
Recognizing their products, to some degree, are viewed as a commodity, Marks Supply strives to out-service its competition.
Robin joined the family business when she finished schooling. That required an adjustment on the part of her Dad. He wanted to separate family and business. None of Robin’s 3 older sisters worked at the family business. Robin was the first and only to join her father. They agreed to a one-year period. After the year, when her Dad agreed to keep her full time he provided this piece of advice:
“Show up earlier, stay later, work harder, and be happier than everyone else. Don’t embarrass me.”
What clarity and candour of advice. What valuable Father-to-Daughter advice. Particularly the part about being happier, what a way to lead by example: working hard and being happy while you do it!
Working for her father, Robin moved through a number of jobs…as her career unfolded and her responsibilities grew.
In 1995, when her father decided it was time to sell, he sold the business to Robin. That was a surprise to Robin and others in her family and her business.
At this ‘transition’, Robin’s Dad provided another excellent piece of advice:
“Don’t be trapped…make sure you have money…there will be surprises that require money.”
Robin followed her father’s advice. She repaid her ‘buy-out’ debts in 5 years.
During the last 16 years, Robin has led Marks Supply to impressive growth - from $8Million to $71MM.
Robin was very candid. She plans for continued growth.
Why?...
”Because you grow or die!”
It was very clear to all of us…Robin isn’t a Bad Boss…Robin balances the numbers side of business [impressive growth of revenue] with the personal side of business [the Human side]. She thinks a lot about the people who choose to follow her at Marks Supply. She has learned from the people-mistakes she has made. She takes full responsibility for her errors…and her self-development.
Robin closed with:
“If you care about your people, you should let them know”
***
Congratulations on your personal and business achievements, Robin!
THANK YOU for sharing your Family Business Success Story with our CFFB.
by Rick Baker
On Nov 9, 2011
WHO are we?
Our Vision: Canada’s best source for entrepreneurial business education
WHAT do we do?
Our Purpose: We educate entrepreneurs.
HOW do we do that?
Our Values: Courage, Confidence, ‘The Differences’, Learning, Labours of Enjoyment & Enthusiasm
Our Branding Proposition: Inspire People, Grow Profits!
WHY are we doing what we do?
We enjoy learning. We enjoy business. We enjoy teaching.
WITH WHOM – Who receives benefit?
Our Ideal Clients are entrepreneurial business leaders who want to champion change.
WHAT DO OUR CLIENTS GAIN?
With enjoyable and helpful business education, action lessons, and tools - we help our Clients inspire practical business.
WHY THE NAME SPIRITED?
Spirited is defined as: full of courage, energy, and action. We like the adjective - spirited.
WHY THE UNICORN LOGO?
Unicorns are spirited, courageous creatures. Perhaps…if not likely…they are creatures of mythology. Regardless, they are symbols of inspiration for many cultures around the world. Some say unicorns are the only mythological creature not created out of fear. We really like that last part.
[Sure, we know unicorns have some weaknesses…but wow, what Strengths!]
by Rick Baker
On Sep 27, 2011
OK…you might think that’s true…or you may think it isn’t.
AND – you might think - even if it is true…what difference does that make?
Here’s the point:
Many people are struggling with their work.
I suppose people have said that for generations. But, now, struggling at work seems to be a worse problem than it used to be.
If you do not agree then please do not read on.
***
If you are still reading then you are interested in people struggling at work. Maybe you are a life-long student of self-development and you want to expand your knowledge so you can continue to excel at work…sharpening your saw…keeping your leadership tools up to date and in good working condition]
Maybe you are trying to figure out why your work seems to be less successful than it used to be…and you want some solutions.
Maybe you want to learn so you can help other people struggle less as they go about their work.
***
Back to Business contains only 3 things: People, Process, & Situations.
Q: Is that true?
A: Nobody has proven otherwise…until someone can prove there are more than 3 things we will not change our minds. There is no need to over-complicate things. In fact, the opposite is true: there is a need to simplify things. So, we challenge any over-complication of the content of business. Business contains only 3 things.
Q: OK, only business contains only 3 things – what difference does that make?
A: Since you are still reading, you know people are struggling in business. And, probably, you want to do something to relieve that struggling. One way to begin to relieve business struggling is to clarify and simplify things to the extent that is possible and practical. Do your part to clear the fog of business. Defining the components of business in a simple/straightforward way is the best way to start.
So – Business Contains Only 3 Things: People, Process, & Situations.
You can start with these 3 basic elements of business. You can focus on each one. You can focus on how each of the 3 interrelates with the other 2. Then you can increase your ability to understand the sources of the struggling at work that naturally happens when all 3 basic elements are mixed together in your business workplace.
The more you know about the basic elements of business and how they interrelate the more you will understand the keys to reducing work struggles.
Footnote:
We have approached the topic – What is Business All About? – from several perspectives: psychological, social, and business-bottom-line to name a few.
We have read the education provided by numerous authors. For example, here are some thoughts and excerpts provided by Alvin Toffler in his book, ‘Future Shock’.
Related to what we call the basic elements of business, Toffler described 5 relationship experiences people have, ‘outside of themselves’. Toffler taught, people have only 5 relationship experiences, they are:
- Relationships with people
- Relationships with things
- Relationships with places
- Relationships with institutions and organizations
- Relationships with ideas and information
Quote: "These five relationships -plus time- form the fabric of social experience. This is why, as suggested earlier, things, places, people, organizations and ideas are the basic components of all situations."
This quote provides seeds you can use to help you develop a different perspective of people and the huge impact situations have on people. These are the 2 most-important elements of business and knowledge of and skills around these 2 elements are the foundation for great leadership.
by Rick Baker
On Aug 11, 2011
Self-Confidence is the 1st accomplishment.
I have often told the story of Alexander the Great who eased his commanders’ fears and inspired his army by telling them they were guaranteed to win because they had one thing the enemy lacked. When his followers asked them about the one thing that would guarantee victory, Alexander the Great answered, “We have me.”
Now, to be clear, when I tell that story I make sure to mention I have no way of knowing if this is just legend, let alone the exact words used by Alexander the Great. However, the history books confirm his father was a warrior-king and Alexander was private schooled by Aristotle. Alexander was a young fellow at the time he became ruler. Think about people today who become famous at a young age. If we compare Alexander the Great to the rock stars of today, he would be at least a stage full of them. If compared to the business leaders of today, he would be at least the Chairman of the Board of at least a few upstart car makers, oil producers, and technology disruptors.
So, some 2300 years ago we had this young Alexander fellow with a huge amount of fame and absolute power. Perhaps, it could have gone to his head just a little bit. Perhaps, he did say things like “We’re gonna win because we got me”.
On a much lesser scale, of course, I have made similar claims. I have seen myself as the best person to do the job at hand.
Isn’t that a big piece of the definition of entrepreneur?
Entrepreneurs and leaders need to be the difference makers…isn’t that right?
A leader must be confident about his ability to succeed…right?
A leader must be confident about her ability to succeed…right?
None of us wants to follow an unconfident leader.
None of us wants to be an unconfident leader.
Some of us feel confidence is near or at the top of the list of leadership attributes.
To be crystal clear: I think self-confidence is very, very close to the top of that list.
by Rick Baker
On Aug 4, 2011
While this probably has never been the subject of a scientific study, I believe the most-successful people of all time form the same crowd as the most-successful question askers of all time.
In some disciplines, this is self-evident: teachers, trial lawyers, philosophers, scientists, inventors, sales people, and market researchers come immediately to mind.
In those disciplines, the master-players all excel at The Art of Good Questions.
How about your discipline...your chosen field of business?
Could you and your people learn the Art of Good Questions?
The answer is - Yes.
Consider buying & selling as one example and think about it this way…
- You are a sales person. You are on one side of a chasm…a wide, deep, dark, bottomless crevice…it looks like a mini-Grand Canyon, except it is pitch black and you can see nothing when you stand on the edge and look down
- Your probable client is on the other side…too far to jump to be with you
- You and probable clients have been here and there before…lots of your probable clients are in that wide, deep, dark, bottomless crevice…somewhere
- You can do one of two things:
- You can do and say the same old things you have always done and said
- You can ask a terrific question that magically launches your probable client over the wide, deep, dark, bottomless crevice…over to your side
If you picked #2, well done, you know the The Art of Good Questions.
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