"A business is one of three things: Operationally Efficient, Client Intimate or Innovative. You better choose ONE to be successful."
- Jason Carpenter, CEO, MidSouth Consulting Group
I must admit that the above quote RESONATED with me when I heard it. I never really thought about the TYPE of business I was in.
Companies that STRUGGLE often do so out of an identity crisis. They want to be "customer centric" when their clients want high operational service. Some seek to be process driven, when their clients need more CUSTOMIZATION in their ordering. Very few of us are INNOVATORS (such as Apple or Google).
What is YOUR business? Are you client focused? Do they need extra time with you to feel COMFORTABLE? If not, you better be up on your processes...
2 DEGREE SUCCESS STEP:
Understanding your SKILL SET is critical in defining your business.
For me, I am very client intimate. I build and maintain deep relationships as a goal in my life. As such, my processes sometimes FALTER.
Solution: PARTNER with groups/people that are Operationally Efficient, while lacking client intimacy! Solve EACH others challenges by fulfilling the shortcoming.
Amazing concept, eh??
Cheers,
Zach
*To enjoy past editions of the Morning Motivator go to – http://grow-learn-lead.blogspot.com
The Morning Motivator is a copyrighted publication. The use of this article is open for print or publication with proper citations.
Morning Motivator – Simplify Your System
"Efficiency is doing better what is already being done."
- Peter F. Drucker
- Peter F. Drucker
A major problem with any business is the need to REPEAT the same action twice (or more). This includes the submission of paperwork to multiple people, separately, requiring "management authorization" for a BASIC problem, as well as the dreaded, COMPANY MEETING…
For those who are fans of Verne Harnish, you may already UNDERSTAND the need to eliminate meetings for meeting sake. Rather, you focus on small, high level, fast meetings daily (called "huddles") to keep all parties on the same page. There are two (2) reasons why – (1) it keeps everyone in RHYTHM and (2) allows everyone in the company to hear the CRITICAL measurements of each area. Seriously, when was the last company meeting you attended that should have lasted MORE than 10 minutes? (it's a control thing)
As for workflow, you may consider the AUTHORIZATION process or having a KEY PLAYER in work flow. What I mean is, when you generate a work order, sales sheet, or any other action driven item, you should NOT be forced to provide it to more than 1 person. If more than 1 person needs it – at the same time – then you have WASTED effort. Otherwise, the document should go from one person to the next with accountability coming from the last.
Would you agree there is nothing more FRUSTRATING than sending the same email 4 times over a week? (maybe other than standing in line)
2 DEGREE SUCCESS STEP:
Want to improve your SYSTEM? Ask the people that deal in it. Eliminate the need for "authorizations," so that people can just keep moving.
Manage by DEVIATION. The reality is that you either HIRED the right people to do the job or not. If not, then you will have multiple 'work-arounds" and circles in your work flow.
When you EMPOWER your people, with guidelines, then you should only be dealing with issues outside the scope of that work.
Hour long meetings – end them. They are a waste.
Set an agenda, have a time keeper, get to business and get out. NEWS FLASH: No one wants to be there anyhow… Now get to work!!
Cheers,
Zach
*To enjoy past editions of the Morning Motivator go to – http://grow-learn-lead.blogspot.com
The Morning Motivator is a copyrighted publication. The use of this article is open for print or publication with proper citations.
Morning Motivator - HAPPY BIRTHDAY DUANE!
"I hope that this year is your best ever - personally and professionally."
- Zachary Barker
Today is the birthday of my good FRIEND, Duane Marshall. Besides being one of the most FOCUSED people I know, he is also an EXCEPTIONAL mentor of others.
I sent him "birthday wishes" (yesterday) and his response to me was:
"I've learned to be careful for what you wish or plan for. Because when you put it down on paper and are ready to commit good things usually happen. This year has been no exception and the list I made this morning looks pretty good."
(I hope he isn't mad that I published this). =)
2 DEGREE SUCCESS STEP:
Duane is RIGHT!! Putting your goals ON PAPER increases the dedication, focus and likelihood they will be completed.
I, like Duane, use my birthday as a time of REFLECTION and REFOCUS. I sit quietly and REDEFINE my goals for the next 12 and 36 months. (Anything further is silly as you don't have enough control).
Occasionally, I write down too many goals... Yet I think its better to shoot to HIGH than to settle too LOW. Agree?
Write down your success to achieve it (and Happy Birthday Duane)!!
Cheers,
Zach
*To enjoy past editions of the Morning Motivator go to – http://grow-learn-lead.blogspot.com
The Morning Motivator is a copyrighted publication. The use of this article is open for print or publication with proper citations.
- Zachary Barker
Today is the birthday of my good FRIEND, Duane Marshall. Besides being one of the most FOCUSED people I know, he is also an EXCEPTIONAL mentor of others.
I sent him "birthday wishes" (yesterday) and his response to me was:
"I've learned to be careful for what you wish or plan for. Because when you put it down on paper and are ready to commit good things usually happen. This year has been no exception and the list I made this morning looks pretty good."
(I hope he isn't mad that I published this). =)
2 DEGREE SUCCESS STEP:
Duane is RIGHT!! Putting your goals ON PAPER increases the dedication, focus and likelihood they will be completed.
I, like Duane, use my birthday as a time of REFLECTION and REFOCUS. I sit quietly and REDEFINE my goals for the next 12 and 36 months. (Anything further is silly as you don't have enough control).
Occasionally, I write down too many goals... Yet I think its better to shoot to HIGH than to settle too LOW. Agree?
Write down your success to achieve it (and Happy Birthday Duane)!!
Cheers,
Zach
*To enjoy past editions of the Morning Motivator go to – http://grow-learn-lead.blogspot.com
The Morning Motivator is a copyrighted publication. The use of this article is open for print or publication with proper citations.
Morning Motivator - Why Boy Scouts are Successful...
"I didn't know what I was looking for, so I didn't know what I'd find."
- Jack Johnson, "Brokedown"
First, I must CONFESS that I was a Cub Scout for a month and never a Boy Scout. I have great RESPECT for those young people that stay committed to the Boy Scouts, especially those that become Eagle Scouts!
As I was listening to Jack Johnson this morning, I was STRUCK with a thought provoked from the above quote. I thought about how so many of us are LOST in a world of material fulfillments, short sighted goals and meaningless, empty success. The root CAUSE of this seems to be the lack of DIRECTION and FOCUS towards achieving anything meaningful, as well as just defining "meaningful."
What Boy Scouts have that many others lack, is the skill of ORIENTEERING. The ability to find ones way using simple tools, such as a compass and map. It is not that they are EXCEPTIONALLY intelligent or NATURALLY gifted with the ability to find their way - they just know how to SET A GOAL and use the tools available to ACHIEVE it.
2 DEGREE SUCCESS STEP:
What DIRECTION are you going in? Are you FINDING the success you are seeking? Do you even have a DEFINITION of "success?"
If you have been challenged with a feeling of EMPTINESS in your success or a LACK OF PURPOSE in your actions, it may be caused by the fact that you are not properly ORIENTED on your success map.
Without a clear DEFINITION of MILESTONE goals, an understanding of the TOOLS required to get you there and the SUPPORT of those in your pack, you will likely continue to WANDER AIMLESSLY around in search of "success," hoping you will "know it when you get there."
End the WANDERING. Set a SPECIFIC target goal. Get the TOOLS. Get MOTIVATED. Get MOVING.
Success is at the end of a path of POSITIVE decisions!
Cheers,
Zach
*To enjoy past editions of the Morning Motivator go to – http://grow-learn-lead.blogspot.com
The Morning Motivator is a copyrighted publication. The use of this article is open for print or publication with proper citations.
- Jack Johnson, "Brokedown"
First, I must CONFESS that I was a Cub Scout for a month and never a Boy Scout. I have great RESPECT for those young people that stay committed to the Boy Scouts, especially those that become Eagle Scouts!
As I was listening to Jack Johnson this morning, I was STRUCK with a thought provoked from the above quote. I thought about how so many of us are LOST in a world of material fulfillments, short sighted goals and meaningless, empty success. The root CAUSE of this seems to be the lack of DIRECTION and FOCUS towards achieving anything meaningful, as well as just defining "meaningful."
What Boy Scouts have that many others lack, is the skill of ORIENTEERING. The ability to find ones way using simple tools, such as a compass and map. It is not that they are EXCEPTIONALLY intelligent or NATURALLY gifted with the ability to find their way - they just know how to SET A GOAL and use the tools available to ACHIEVE it.
2 DEGREE SUCCESS STEP:
What DIRECTION are you going in? Are you FINDING the success you are seeking? Do you even have a DEFINITION of "success?"
If you have been challenged with a feeling of EMPTINESS in your success or a LACK OF PURPOSE in your actions, it may be caused by the fact that you are not properly ORIENTED on your success map.
Without a clear DEFINITION of MILESTONE goals, an understanding of the TOOLS required to get you there and the SUPPORT of those in your pack, you will likely continue to WANDER AIMLESSLY around in search of "success," hoping you will "know it when you get there."
End the WANDERING. Set a SPECIFIC target goal. Get the TOOLS. Get MOTIVATED. Get MOVING.
Success is at the end of a path of POSITIVE decisions!
Cheers,
Zach
*To enjoy past editions of the Morning Motivator go to – http://grow-learn-lead.blogspot.com
The Morning Motivator is a copyrighted publication. The use of this article is open for print or publication with proper citations.
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