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In March 2020, the world started falling apart for everyone. We didn’t realize it immediately, but a week of shutdown turned into a month, then into a year and more. Most of us haven’t returned to the “normal” of 2019 and probably never will.
Sometimes you plan to change, and sometimes it’s thrust upon you with no warning.
I find it remarkable how well we’ve survived so far. Sure, we had tremendous inconvenience and quite a few businesses and organizations were forced to shut down. Industries were brought to a halt.
Read the rest of this entry »Some problems are just a bear to work out. I don’t know about you, but it seems like I can get stuck on them forever. So I avoid, procrastinate, and complain.
Which, of course, is no help at all.
So I’ve developed some approaches which seem to help, at least most of the time.
Read the rest of this entry »The traditional wisdom is that businesses are best run with unemotional logic and analysis. And there indeed is a place for that, but it misses the elements that engage customers, partners and employees.
There’s a place for passion, purpose and story. To have your soul shine forth.
About five years ago, Simon Sinek introduced us to a concept he called “Start With Why.” Check out his TED Talk if you haven’t seen it.
Read the rest of this entry »I’m involved with several organizations for which this is the beginning of the new year. Not on the traditional calendar, but in the way we think and plan and organize.
January 1st is just an arbitrary date, right?
So now might be a good time – as good as any – to make some decisions.
Sometimes it’s better to wipe the slate clean.
Not that you’re ACTUALLY going to do that most of the time. This is a mental exercise, intended to open up possibilities and get your imagination going again.
Usually we take actions based on current relationships, current priorities, and what’s happening right now. Which is fine – stuff needs to get done. But you may never get to planning for a better future.
Read the rest of this entry »Where does your strategy come from?
If you’re spending most of your energy looking at the competition, then I argue that:
- By definition, you’re behind.
- There are several others who probably “own” that space more than you do.
Don’t get me wrong: You need to be aware of competitive moves, and incorporate what you see. It’s just a lousy way to direct your strategy.
Read the rest of this entry »Some days it’s hard to get focused. And stay focused. This can be a struggle for everyone on your team.
It’s understandable: There’s a lot going on, a lot of big, big issues and concerns.
So the first step on this path is to cut yourself a little slack for being … human. But you don’t want it to stop there, right?
Read the rest of this entry »I’ve been talking about the three key dimensions of a company’s mission. Starting with delivering value for customers, we then added articulating what the value is for us, the team.
Finally, let’s talk about how a Mission captures value for the world. This might stretch your comfort zone, but stay with me here.
The good news is that you get to define “world” for your organization. It could be the local community, society at large, your industry, or even literally the whole world.
Read the rest of this entry »Last week I talked about how we know when a company’s mission is truly a solid foundation, starting with delivering value to customers.
The second dimension is delivering value to us: our leaders, employees, contractors, partners, … anyone who is involved with creating and supplying products and services to those customers.
If you have a non-profit, feel free to change the language. But the concept is the same.
We won’t be able to continue, sustainably, unless WE want to do it. Again and again, year after year. And this is captured by a powerful mission statement.
Read the rest of this entry »I had a powerful conversation recently with someone, exploring the nature of having an organizational mission. In my view, this is the absolute foundation for everything you do. So I’m going to explore this in the coming weeks.
I admit I’m a bit hesitant to start with your customers, but that’s where everything begins. The fact is that you need to supply value to customers, otherwise your business is not sustainable.
If you’re a non-profit, I understand that you might not want to call them “customers.” That’s fine. Call them beneficiaries, sponsors and donors. The fact is that you must deliver continuing value over the long term, or you’re going to fold.
So why am I reluctant to start with customers?
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The Values-Based Business 
