All I want for Christmas….A Business Owner’s Christmas List
In just 3 short weeks Santa will be here. If you own or manage a business we wanted to share 4 things we hope you all put on your Christmas list, regardless if you have been naughty or nice this past year. I think some of the most successful businesses we have worked with would agree if you could box these up and put them under the tree, you would be ready to charge into 2013! So today, we wanted to share some of the secret sauce.
Present #1: Clarity of Vision/Mission/Values
A clear vision of who you are, what you are and what you stand for is at the core of every successful business. Of the four packages under your tree, this present should be the largest. It is the foundation on which everything else in your business is built on. Before you buy any other gifts, I would recommend this one first. Until you establish a base line to build from, it is hard to move forward with a purpose.
Present #2: Focus on what matters most
Business owners often feel like they are getting pulled in 10 directions at once. Purposefully prioritize what is really important and what is going to get you where you where you want to go. Complete a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis on your business. Through strategic planning, develop the action steps necessary to achieve the desired goals. Set goals that are thoughtful and achievable. Then, put time lines on them and assign an owner to every goal.
Present #3: Momentum to achieve your goals
Avalanches start from one small section of snow breaking away from a slope. But first, something (either natural or manmade) has to trigger the snow to break away. For businesses, getting focused would be the trigger, but the avalanche it creates is where all the momentum (energy) is released. The momentum ignites excitement in both your employees and customer base. Positive momentum can also boost you and your team like a high energy drink and that energy will be contagious.
Present #4: Accountability for success
This present is the one that sits in the back of the tree and often gets overlooked, however if you don’t open it and use it with the first 3 presents, the first 3 presents may as well be returned for a refund, because they will not produce the results you desire. Sometimes we see businesses use the gift of accountability with eager dedication, when it is shiny and new. But over time, it starts collecting dust on the shelf and eventually ends up misplaced in the storage room. And unfortunately, without Present #4 (Accountability) continually being incorporated with the other 3 gifts of Clarity, Focus, and Momentum, none of them ever end up reaching their fullest potential and consequently, neither does the business.
So as you get into the hustle and bustle of the Holiday shopping season, we hope you get the perfect gifts for all those special people in your lives and remember those who are truly less fortunate than you during this season of giving. And, as a business leader or owner who is thinking about what the future holds for your business in 2013, we hope these four presents are on your list and find their way under your tree. If you are not sure where to start, where to find these four presents, or how to make them work (instruction manuals can be confusing!), please give us a call. As always, our goal is to do our very best to help you. What (business intangibles) would you like to get as a gift this year? Share your thoughts below.
Chris Steinlage Kansas City Business Coach
Photo by kennymatic via flickr
