What prompted a school principal to use the word ass in front of a bunch of fourth graders I’ll never know. But I do know he quickly had our attention and the experience was memorable.

I’ve been doing a great deal of talking and writing about things like values, mission statements, vision statements, operational philosophies, strategies, tactics, etc. What I just realized is that I have ‘assumed’ that everyone knows the ultimate pay off for actually investing time in these activities. And in doing so, I have… well, you can finish that sentence for yourself.

Here’s the point. The reason for doing all of these activities I talk so much about is to influence behavior. Specifically to align behavior or make everyone motivated to do all the same stuff for the same reasons.

What do you get when alignment is achieved?

• A strong brand and a brand promise that is trusted.
• Authentically empowered employees doing what they are supposed to be doing, even when no one is looking.
• Improved effectiveness and efficiency – or said simply, you will be doing the right stuff in the best way possible.
• Bottom line, all of this adds up to making and keeping more money.

Many companies create these organizational documents and when they are finished they pat themselves on the back, tell each other job well done, and then place them in a binder on the shelf to gather dust. When this happens, alignment is a dream and none of the above outcomes occur.

On the other hand, when a business understands that these documents are living, breathing tools that influence behavior and daily choices of activity – magic happens. Examples of companies that get this idea are Starbucks, Patagonia, and Zappos.

As business owners and leaders, do not assume that your employees understand the importance of these documents. Or that they even know what they say. Instead, create daily opportunities for conversations about your vision, mission, values, operational philosophies, and strategies.

What do you talk about?

• Clarify what they say and mean
• Illustrate how they should influence behavior, and
• Create a shared belief and motivation.

And remember, a conversation is a two-way communication method. Spend more time listening, than you do talking.

It’s never too late or too early to start this process. What can you do today?

Have an excellent day!

Karen

The sub-prime mortgage debacle is a good example of operational risk-taking. Banks strayed from their core competencies – an operational risk. And they went for the big return without respecting the possible consequences – another operational risk. According to Malcolm Gladwell, large companies are more likely to experience operational risk-taking.

Social risk-taking, on the other hand, involves risking the approval of one’s peers. Returning to the sub-prime example, there was very little social risk-taking. All of the banks followed suit. Despite the fact that some individuals in these banks felt that the investments were ill-advised, they did not take the social risk of being the person to point this out to their peers or supervisors. They feared the risk of being seen as foolish and out of the loop. They feared social risk-taking.

Entrepreneurs seem to be more comfortable with social risk-taking. They see that the status quo could be improved. In fact, entrepreneurs see this as an opportunity to do things differently. They frequently stake their future, both financially and socially, on their idea and fearlessly go off to change the world with their new product or service.

I believe that it is this fearlessness of social risk-taking that makes the entrepreneur powerful and most likely to succeed. It translates into a passion for her business that infects others. It is infused into her product or service, making it an authentic offering. It is what drives the entrepreneur to ‘prove them all wrong’ and succeed despite the barriers and difficulties she may encounter. And it is this drive that brings many of the great leaps in technology, creativity, etc.

Are you a risk taker?

I started my business being risk averse. I knew I had something unique to offer, but I was afraid to stick my neck out and be unique. What if my approach was rejected? So I did my best to blend in and shared my differences only with those I knew and trusted.

My approach changed the summer I almost quit and went back to work in a conventional job. In my efforts to make myself fit into others’ preconceived molds I had failed miserably on a project. As a result, I started questioning myself and everything I believed in.

My life and business changed the day I decided that I was going to continue in business but I was changing the rules. I was who I was – a quirky individual who I was now going to embrace. I was going to be authentic in all I did. And this has made all the difference.

I share this with you so you know it’s not too late. You too can become a risk taker if you want. As an entrepreneur, social risk-taking distinguishes you and gives you the opportunity to excel and change the world. Operational risk-taking is healthy when approached with open eyes. So let me ask you again…

Are you a risk taker?

Have an excellent day!

Karen

What is the problem? What’s keeping me from getting this done?

Originally it was that it was the end of the year; I was burnt out and needed a rest. Then it was hard to get back into the rhythm. Then business picked up and it was all I could do to meet client deadlines. Then I needed to get caught up on email and other tasks.

Are you seeing what I was beginning to see? I was making excuses.

Here is the reality that hit me this morning. I have been procrastinating. The tasks that are in my strategic priorities are truly important and have real value that can make a difference in my company. But they are also all marketing and advertising related.

Marketing tasks are important but do not excite me. If anything they make me nervous and take me out of my comfort zone. They leave me feeling overwhelmed and stressed. I want them done, but I don’t want to work on them.

Today I found my motivation to get these tasks done. I have an idea for a new service that I find inspiring. I am ready to get to work on it: talk to people, run a test workshop, create interesting new content.

How is this motivating? While the new idea is exciting and important, it is not as important to my business as the tasks on my priority list. So, I need to hurry up and get these marketing tasks done so I can start devoting my time to my new project. Now I have a reason to complete the priority tasks that is urgent and compelling.

Check back with me in 2 weeks. If those original tasks aren’t completed yet, I bet I will be close!

Have an excellent day!

Karen

In 9^th grade my family moved to a new school district in the middle of the school year. On the second day in my new junior high, I was invited to sit with the cheerleaders at lunch. I had arrived! I was finally going to be popular!

During lunch, I realized that I was not in yet – they were checking me out. All I had to do was fit in, be like them, and I would instantly be popular in my new school. Yeah!

Unfortunately, as lunch continued I realized that being like them was not going to be easy. The topic of conversation revolved around nail polish colors (I didn’t wear any), football games (I was not a fan), and the best looking boys (I didn’t know them yet.) If I wanted to be like them, I was going to have to change who I was, how I dressed, and the activities that I attended.

As I walked to my next class I was overjoyed at the opportunity that I had… and certain that I would not take it.

In business, we call doing what I needed to do to fit in with the popular crowd rebranding. We’ve seen companies change their image to chase after a more promising customer base. Or to take advantage of a new fad or initiative that has become popular. Or perhaps, to mold themselves into what their marketing agency tells them they should be.

This process is never comfortable because it’s not authentic. And it never works for the same reason. In the end, these companies lose customers because the customer becomes confused about what the company stands for.

A better approach is to figure out what your company stands for and believes in before you begin branding. What are the key values that all decisions are based on? How do you want to be perceived in the market place? And why is it important for potential customers to see you in this way?

Remember, your brand is everything that customers, employees, and vendors experience when they interact with you. It includes how your employees dress, the words they use to greet people, the design of your brochures, the images you use on your website, the color you paint your walls, and anything and everything else you can think of.

To attract your ideal customer, your brand must be authentic and consistent. For it to be authentic, it will be based on your companies’ values, mission, and vision. And when you consistently live your brand on a daily basis, your brand will be a marketing asset.

In 9^th grade I learned that my personal brand did not involve hanging out with cheerleaders; I was happier with other groups that shared my interests. As a small business owner I know that my business brand involves excellence, authenticity, and learning so I can change the face of business – objectives that are important to me. And everything I do, including writing this article, involves these core values.

What is your brand? And what is it based on?

Have an excellent day!

Karen

The workshop gives small business owners a means to do strategic planning at a relatively low cost and in a manner that is non-threatening.  And the best part is that it takes only a one day time commitment. Small business owners are stretched in all directions. This is a very time efficient process to increase both profits and business success  for the coming year.

Yield better business results for your small business.  The next workshop will take place in Harleysville  on Wednesday, June 20, 2012 from 8 am to 5 pm. Participants will collaborate with me during this interactive session to create their own strategic plan to implement immediately. We’ll take an unintimidating, easy and balanced approach to planning. Attendees will leave this powerful workshop with a complete strategic plan, quarterly goals (detailed action plan) and three clarifying questions to keep on track.

Save an additional $40 with early registration on or before 6/1/12.

For details and further information on the workshop see the information attached and register at: http://www.strategicplan-ting.​com/

The speaker told me he had free information. “Just go to my website to access this great free resource.”

It sounded interesting and useful, so I went to his website. Upon arrival, I found out that I couldn’t access the ‘free’ stuff until I signed in and provided my name and contact information.

That’s not free! I don’t know about you, but I believe my contact information is valuable information. If it wasn’t why would Mr. Expert Speaker be requesting it? If you require me to trade valuable information how is your information free?

Now here’s the really interesting part. For all the times I wanted the ‘free’ stuff enough to pony over my contact information (and that’s not often – I frequently just click close and walk away) here’s what happened.

• About 75% of the time I never hear from this company.
• About 10% of the time they automatically add me to their e-newsletter distribution list.
• About 10% of the time they start to spam me.
• And about 5% send a single follow up email or phone call.

Why do those 75% needlessly aggravate me? If they are not going to use my contact information, why don’t they just give the information away without any strings?

The next 20% are just annoying. If I wanted their newsletter I would have signed up for it myself. Don’t make me unsubscribe afterwards…it’s extra work and it makes me feel rude. As for spam, well, nobody likes to be spammed.

Only the last 5%, and I am being generous here, do this right and treat my information respectfully. They use it to reach out to me once, or once in a great while, to invite me to join other things like their newsletter.

But here’s the point. By requiring me to provide contact information and a possible lead for Mr. Speaker, the resource is no longer free. And using ‘free’ stuff as a lure to capture my information is sneaky and underhanded.

I challenge you to be different and more honest in your approach. Be up front and call it ‘almost free’, ‘no money required’, ‘membership level’, or something similar.

Further, if this bugs you like it bothers me, I encourage you to stop. Just stop participating and stop downloading stuff that says it’s free but isn’t. Who you are combined with how to contact you is valuable. And until we start valuing it appropriately, the experts won’t stop asking for it.

I am now climbing down off of my soapbox. Thank you for letting me rant and have an excellent day!

Karen

They may have strayed slowly by starting to overemphasize outcomes at the expense of the underlying beliefs. Or they may simply have seen them diluted as a result of staff turnover or growth. Or they may have abandoned their business values in the name of beating out increasing competition.

How they get to this point is irrelevant. What comes next is highly relevant. This organization has 2 options:

• They can continue on the current path with the outcome being an eventual implosion of some sort (fraud, business failure, struggle, etc.)  Note, the timeline for this outcome is variable, it could be days or      decades, but with no change in course, it is inevitable!
• They can work with current employees to benchmark where they stand now and then work together to re-identify and re-implement business values and an operating philosophy.

The process of rebuilding and instituting a values based culture is not a panacea. It will not work instantly, and it will not cure all ills. Sales people still need to have basic sales skills; accountants still need to understand debits and credits; leadership still needs to have a strategic plan. However, this process starts to unify all the pieces of the organization and provides a rallying point that all employees can understand and implement. Done correctly, this process will not only stabilize the organization, it will also provide a way to differentiate your company in the market place (i.e. create a brand) that will attract customers to you.

Given the alternative, what is there to lose?

Have an excellent day!

Karen

February is a wonderful time of the year for strategic planning. The first rush of the year is over so in February you have more time and less pressure in the planning process.

March is prime time for strategic planning. In March, the first quarter is almost over. You can analyze what has worked, what hasn’t, and what you’d like to change over the next 9-12 months.

April is a fine time to engage in strategic planning. The first flush of spring brings the excitement of possibility into all of our lives. This buoyancy flows into the planning process expanding the realm of possibilities of what you can achieve.

Strategic planning in May? Absolutely! Like May showers bring May flowers, May planning brings May expanding.

Is there a finer month than June for planning? The year is almost half way over, providing you with the incentive to refine your focus and get more done.

July is prime time for strategic planning. For many businesses, this is a slower time of the year which provides more time for planning for the future. It also gives you a jump start on following through.

Ahh, the dog days of August. There is nothing like the end of summer to revitalize and focus your thinking and planning.

In September the kids have returned to school and you have one full quarter ahead of you in the calendar year. The air is getting crisp and so is your desire to meet your goals, making September a fine time of year for setting new ones.

October couldn’t be better for strategic planning. The shortening days and cooler weather are natural for reflecting on where you are, what you’ve accomplished, and where you want to go.

In November you are nearing the end of the year. You are winding down and readying for the holidays. By completing your strategic planning in November you have a jump start on the upcoming New Year.

December is perfect for strategic planning. It’s a time of year when many businesses are a bit slower, business meetings and contacts limited, and therefore more time is available for in-the-office, reflective time. What better way to reenergize than to plan for next year’s business success?

You may have figured out by now that there is no bad time for strategic planning. The best time of the year depends on you and your business. The important thing is not the time of year that you do strategic planning, but that you prioritize it and make the time at some time. Once you do, you will be energized, focused, and get more done.

So, what are you waiting for?

Have an excellent day!

Karen

I smiled in response to her remarks for two reasons.

• I was pleased that she was taking action and moving forward on her plan.
• The challenge of meeting date expectations is fairly common.

Tanya has a great attitude and is already working on modifying the dates on her action plan to be more achievable. And, she’s optimistic that she will finish within a reasonable amount of time.

But why is this such a common issue? Why do I frequently hear that small business owners have challenges with accomplishing strategic priorities within the dates they initially set?

There are many reasons, but the most common is that in your excitement to accomplish something exciting you overestimate the amount of time and energy you will be able to devote to the task. So, when you initially set dates they are not as realistic as you believe they are. (I’m experiencing this challenge myself right now.)

Sometimes, life itself gets in the way. You could have made that deadline if…

• If you hadn’t caught a cold
• If you hadn’t had that family emergency
• If business hadn’t been so gosh darn good
• If that employee hadn’t quit, been in a car accident, etc.

You get the idea. Life is just busy and doesn’t always conform to our agendas.

Sometimes, you may fail to prioritize your time properly. You spend time on things that may or may not be urgent but definitely are not on your strategic radar. You may be distracted by shiny baubles. You may just have trouble organizing your time. Or you may be practicing avoidance due to fear or other emotions.

And in rare occasions, it may just be that the strategic task you have prioritized is no longer relevant. This doesn’t happen often, but can result when you aren’t honest about what you really want, you listen to well meaning advice that’s not congruent with whom you are, or you mistake a shiny bauble for an opportunity. When this happens, go back to your strategic plan and start working on the next most important tactic.

Regardless of the reason, it’s important to act like Tanya, and immediately start working on creating new deadlines that are achievable. If necessary, forgive yourself, and move on. You can’t change the past, but you have the opportunity to be productive and move toward your vision today.

What’s holding you back? Can you move past it today?

Have an excellent day!

Karen

Many entrepreneurs exhibit that same lack of focus. What is it I need to do today? What do I feel like working on? Should I spend time on the marketing? Or client related issues? Or maybe I should check email again!

Small business owners accomplish a great deal more when they focus their efforts in one direction. So even if they only have 15 minutes today, and 30 minutes tomorrow, and 23 minutes and 17 seconds the day after that to work on their next initiative, they continue to make progress on completing their goal.

Compare this to a lack of focus where today you spend the 15 minutes working on a marketing initiative. Tomorrow you spend that 30 minutes researching a potential client base. And the day after you spend your 23 minutes and 17 seconds on adding a Google+ account.

In the first example you have made over an hour’s progress toward accomplishing something big (and hopefully important.)  In the second example you may or may not have completed a single task. Instead you have split your attention among three different endeavors that are now each just a wee bit further along than when you started.

If focus is what helps you to keep moving forward, strategic planning is what helps you to identify the project that is important enough to merit your focused time and energy. And ironically, strategic planning helps you to focus because it’s much easier to maintain a consistent focus when you are invested in the outcome and convinced of its importance.

What are you focused on? Is it strategically important to grow your business? If you answered no or you’re not sure, then it’s time to get fired up. Do some strategic planning, identify the critical strategies that are in your strategic leverage zone and get ready to start marking them ‘DONE’.

Have an excellent day!

Karen