About Purpose is about your purpose.
Aim: Identify and articulate your purpose.
Arm: Shape yourself around your purpose.
Act: Achieve your purpose.
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About New Babies and Old Business
©2003, Bob Ryan
Clearly, this “June” newsletter is late, arriving in July. But I have an excuse. You see, I’m a first time grandpa to Elizabeth Grace, born on June 3. While this edition would normally go out during the third or fourth week of the month, I was spending an entire week with my wife, daughter, son-in-law and new granddaughter at a time-share in Wisconsin. So why should you care? I learned a few things about business that I pass along to you in this newsletter. You may not be a grandparent, or even a parent, but you will surely be able to apply these insights to your own situation.
Insight #1 – The Ebeneezer Scrooge Principle – In A Christmas Carol, Scrooge is shown a glimpse of the future that gives him insight into how his current actions affect others. Having a grandchild gave me a chance to look at how my own parenting affected my daughter and her parenting. Step back from your business and look at how your employees handle the business. Are they confident, competent, conscientious? Are they dysfunctional, disinterested, discouraged? Your employees are your legacy. What have you created with your management style?
If you step back and see things that make you uncomfortable, then you can be sure you are setting the stage for disaster. Don’t be concerned if you see them making mistakes. But be very concerned if you see negative attitudes, ignorance, backbiting, poor customer service, or carelessness about quality.
Insight #2 – The Long View Principle – Looking back on child-rearing years, I can now see that there were some critical actions we took that resulted in strong, positive outcomes in my daughter. I can also see that some things were of no consequence whatsoever. Did she sleep a little longer than we expected? Did she not eat as much as we’d hoped? Did we miss the fact that her diaper was loaded again right after we changed her? In the long view, only a few things really matter.
Look at your business. Are you taking actions that really make a difference? Are your decisions focused on the long view? Are you worrying about things that, a year from now, no one will even know about? This is the reason for strategic planning – to keep you focused on the critical path, and to keep you from being distracted by the unimportant.
Insight #3 – The Eat, Drink and be Merry Principle – I genuinely enjoyed my week with Elizabeth and my family. Perhaps more than any other vacation week I’ve taken. What could be more important than building relationships that will last a lifetime? I didn’t feel a bit guilty about taking the time and letting myself enjoy it. And when I got back into the saddle, I was truly energized.
All too often, we take our work too seriously. Learn to enjoy it. Look for those elements that spark your passion. Balance your work with genuine fun. Put energy into building positive relationships with the people around you and not just into the technical side of your craft. Look around at the faces of your employees. Is there joy there? Do people seem relaxed and peaceful as they work? Strive for a work environment in which people want to work.
Summing up Babies and Business – Step back and look at your business from the standpoint of the next generation. Have you created something you can be proud of and confident in? What it all comes down to is creating the proverbial win-win. Applying what you learn will be better for you, your employees and your customers.
So your newsletter is a week late. But I, for one, am feeling pretty good about business and life in general. I hope you can share in that with me.