Plan ahead....

Business planning can be difficult: having a structured and strategic format helps make sense of that process. Whether you’re a professional in charge of an organization or an individual planning your future, having a roadmap to help find the best way forward is important. One of the key parts of any plan is the SWOT analysis. This identifies Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats: those four perspectives help organize your thinking and understand the things that most impact anything you want to do. For a business this forces you to see the big picture and think holistically; for an individual it helps clarify what future career path might be best. Unfortunately, most businesses and people do not plan ahead or consider all options because they think it’s easier to just act; the problem with that is it can lead to a dead end. Plans may or may not be worthless, but planning is everything. So, when planning a journey of any kind, start with where you want to go, consider all of your alternatives, and then map out the best route. That’s the best way to get where you want to go today.

Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower (1890 – 1969): American army general and statesman who served as the 34th President of the United States

Continually strive to be the best....

Continuous improvement is a popular business tactic these days: it’s a process that sometimes can be difficult to achieve. There are several steps required to be successful at this: clearly identifying processes that could or should be changed, carefully planning to determine how current processes or practices might be changed, effectively implementing those changes, and reviewing how they’re working. Getting better than you already are is tricky: people and organizations become attached to what they’ve accomplished and often resist efforts to review and remake themselves. The best people and companies do the best they can until they realize and understand what might be better: once there, the best then attempt to do better. When you reach the top of anything, continue climbing: those that don’t then begin descending. Don’t be afraid of what you might then achieve: curiosity and courage are important to becoming and remaining the best at anything. Always look for ways to continually improve who and what you are and be the best you can be today.

Maya Angelou (1928 – 2014): American poet, singer, memoirist, and civil rights activist

Be bold....

I recently attended a workshop for non-profits that focused on board development and strategic planning: the theme was to ‘be bold’. Lots of people volunteer for various causes and find how hard it is to think big enough while struggling to survive in that world. But as I reflect on what I saw and heard in that workshop it’s apparent that successful organizations (and people) have the courage to bet on their ideas and take calculated risks. And even though they (and we) have moments of doubt and worry, with courage comes the confidence to act.  Businesses of all kinds – for-profit and non-profit – have to find the means to operate and grow: banks and donors need to be convinced that the cause is worthy and the outcomes are reasonably assured.  Success in that requires having the right people, the right plans, and the ability to execute. Make sure your people and plans are up to the challenge today.

Maxwell Maltz (1889 – 1975): American cosmetic surgeon and author of Psycho-Cybernetics (1960) that he claimed could improve one's self-image

Be an effective two-way leader....

Clients tell me they want to get the most out of their leaders; the leaders themselves tell me they want to get the most out of their careers: both are achievable if they follow Hopper’s advice. Being effective with superiors and one’s crew ultimately comes down to good leadership practices: superiors want clear and timely answers and subordinates want to know that their leaders care. Don’t be afraid to ask questions to clarify what your superior wants: it’s not a sign of weakness to be open about what you need. And don’t be afraid to be empathetic and understanding of subordinates: the right amount of caring, coaching, and mentoring builds trust, respect and loyalty.  Most leaders have at one time been in a subordinate position: remember what that was like and treat subordinates the way you wanted to be treated back then. And subordinates want to be successful and get ahead: doing their job without any drama will help to achieve both of those goals. Be a two-way leader today.

Grace Hopper (1906-1992): American Computer Scientist and Naval Officer

When yesterday and today combine....

My 50^thhigh school reunion was held this past weekend and it was great to see so many former classmates and friends. Many brought their yearbooks, complete with the things we wrote to each other back then: words filled with affection, hope, sorrow and pain. Others brought memorabilia and pictures that also sparked talk of the things we did and how we felt all those years ago: it really did feel like yesterday. As we matched faces and nametags there were expressions of amazement as the memories flooded back: the things we recalled along with the songs the DJ played from 1968 transported us back in time. The evening, like these intervening years, passed too quickly and as we started to leave it was apparent that the pain of parting all those years ago was nothing compared to the joy of meeting again. We really can’t go back in time, but these remembrances and realizations are good for the soul. The moral of this story: know that sometime in the future you’ll probably be looking back on how you lived your life today.

Charles Dickens (1812 – 1870): English writer and social critic regarded by many as the greatest novelist of the Victorian era

Find your happy place in life....

Headed back to the airport via Lyft last night and had a memorable experience with my ride-share driver. He wasn’t happy with his job in Texas and moved to Vegas to find something better: says he found it with Lyft. I take ride share a lot and this guy was the most motivated I’ve had: only been at it 3 weeks and has it all figured out.  The key, he says, is don’t sit and wait for a fare: he says that’s being lazy so he spends his time in the company provided car picking up anyone, anywhere, any time. When asked if he likes it, he sounded like a guy who’d hit a jackpot: likes the people he meets and loves the company he works for.  Says the more he works the more rewards he gets and he’s proud to have had the strength to start over at something he’s clearly good at. Don’t wait for success to find you: seek out something you can be proud of and successful at today.

Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald (1896 – 1940): American fiction writer, whose works illustrate the Jazz Age

Learn and be more today....

My keynote address to a group of Professional Club Marketing Managers the other day focused on the challenge of making the most of the jobs they have.  They are responsible for attracting members to their clubs and, like most jobs, it’s better if everyone pitches in because ‘two heads are better than one’.  Their strengths and skills can help others promote the overall success of their efforts: making sure external and internal communications are clear and catchy, teaching employees about the values promoted during membership drives that have to be followed thru on continually, and keeping the experience alive. Successful companies weave everyone’s efforts into a cohesive patchwork of skills and abilities and that their most successful people keep growing in ways that satisfy the organization and themselves: in fact, their HR partners could collaborate with and learn from them.  Be proud of your professional growth, and remember that the best job for you is most often the one you have. Take the challenge to make it the one you want today. 

Paula Scher (b. 1948): American graphic designer, painter and art educator in design