by Rick Baker
On Nov 8, 2012
We are fortunate to live near numerous successful businesses.
I've had the privilege of visiting many of these businesses, meeting the people who generate the success, and seeing the winning processes in live-action.
In a nutshell, here's how I would summarize our local, successful businesses:
- the owner-leaders lead balanced lives...as opposed to being eccentric
- at least one of the business owner-leaders has a magnetic personality, which is regularly put to use with clients, suppliers, and commercial allies
- the business models can be described in simple, easy to understand words
- the products and services are straightforward, tangible, and widely used in many geographies
- the businesses have leading-edge process equipment [that fits the products, services, and client needs in their industry sector]
- the owner-leaders have access to real-time information on business performance [ERP, CRM, Accounting, Dashboards]...either expensive world-class information systems or proprietary systems created to fit their specialized needs [and their people]
- a workforce that confirms right-sizing [consistent with leading-edge process technology] and the right people on the bus [which seems to be a combination of Jim Collins' Good-to-Great thinking and a conscious balancing of people & technology]
- generally happy employees throughout the hierarchy and all departments and roles
by Rick Baker
On Nov 7, 2012
Thought Tweet #603 Solving Problems: that's the essence of growing relationships with clients and growing business.
The Thinking Behind The Tweet
Problems are the seeds that allow opportunities to flower. And, when problems are solved the results are things of beauty and value. And, from the customers' shoes, providing value is the only reason your business exists.
by Rick Baker
On Nov 6, 2012
Having witnessed many business leaders fighting fires and alligator challenges day after day, year after year, I am concerned.
Alligators are sneaky and hungry. They seek out prey and when they find a feeding ground other hungry alligators join them.
Alligators tend to come in packs.
Business success happens when alligators are anticipated and removed before they arrive. While it is not possible to anticipate and remove all alligators before they arrive it is very possible to anticipate and remove most of them. Strength in this area can be developed. Success happens when business leaders find the best ways to anticipate alligators and do this at the same time they fight alligators [in those ongoing day-after-day battles].
Experience helping owners fix business problems confirms month-after-month, alligator-after-alligator, fighting does not work unless it is coupled with permanent alligator repellents. Inevitably, alligator fighting drains energy and weakens spirits. And the reality is, alligators keep on arriving. When the list of business alligators is too long it signals a larger ‘root’ problem - the environment, the culture, and the atmosphere is such that alligators are able to feed and breed in the territory. When this is the case, the environment needs to be changed so alligators no longer find it easy to feed and breed. Clear fencing needs to be constructed to establish the alligator boundaries. The territory itself needs to be changed so it repels alligators. And, all people in the territory, not just the owners, need to know how to shoo away alligators not just when they are big and scary but also when they are babies…before they grow and become annoying and troublesome and require expert handlers.
It's best to handle alligators when they are babies.