The Accountability Minute:Business Acceleration|Productivity

I was reading an article about how to keep “work” fresh by William Arruda. He said that he has a Friday afternoon activity that he calls the “Feel-Good Trifecta”. He says it’s an opportunity to reflect on the week and document three important elements:  something I accomplished,  something I’m grateful for, and  something I learned.    He says he has clients who have also adopted this ritual, and...

I thought it might be fun to share a cute poem about Thanksgiving with you today.   This is called the Ode to Thanksgiving. May your stuffing be tasty May your turkey plump,  May your potatoes and gravy Have nary a lump.  May your yams be delicious And your pies take the prize,  And may your Thanksgiving dinner Stay off your thighs!   Have a fantastic Thanksgiving Holiday for those in the US, and...

Growing up, did you ever hear: "That attitude will get you nowhere!"   Well... the truth is as much as we didn't want to hear it then and likely don't want to hear it now, it is still the truth! Your attitude will determine the creativity, energy, passion and purpose in which we grow and build businesses and relationships.   As entrepreneurs, if we don't know how to step i...

Today we are talking about Tip #6 of the 6 tips for Gaining Confidence, which is Success Breeds Confidence.   When you are facing a situation that takes you outside your comfort zone, keep taking steps forward.  Even if you have to take baby steps, at least they are steps in the right direction.  Trying something new isn’t always easy, but take action before the nerves have time to settle in.  The...

Tip #5 for Gaining Confidence    Today we are talking about Tip #5 for Gaining Confidence, which is to Have Unwavering Optimism.   There are only two outlooks you can have on life and in business.  Either the world is your oyster or it’s out to get you.  It is only the latter that will not support your success and confidence.  If you are an entrepreneur and you think the world is out to get you, c...

Today we are talking about Tip #4 for Gaining Confidence, which is to Try Something New Every Day.   We all get used to routines, because we like to stay within our comfort zone.  However, it’s staying within that comfort zone that keeps us from gaining confidence.  Knowing what you know now will only get you so far – and I regret to point out, that is not very far.  As an entrepreneur, you must c...

Today we are talking about Tip #3 for Gaining Confidence, which is to Know Your Target Audience.   Most entrepreneurs think they know what their clients need and want, but rarely do they truly understand how to market and deliver the right products and services to the right people.  Invest in research, so you have a full snapshot of your market.  Without it, you can only hope for successful sales...

Today we are talking about Tip #2 for Gaining Confidence, which is to Have an Insatiable Thirst for Knowledge.   Your business will not survive unless you continually learn, nor will your confidence grow.  When you don’t learn new things, you cannot offer expanded products or service, and that is a death sentence to your business.  The market and demand are constantly changing and if you don’t cha...

Becoming an entrepreneur can be one of the most unnerving ventures in your entire life.  Just when you thought you knew it all, you find out you’re just a student trying to make the grade.  So, what do you do when your confidence takes a hit?  Follow these 6 tips that we will be exploring over the next 6 days for gaining confidence.   Let’s start today with Tip #1, which is to Start with What You...

Today we are discussing a 10th tactic of the 10 required to help you make the right business decisions, which is Communication.   A dynamic and focused company well equipped for the demands of today and future possible demands will usually have a strategic agenda that includes open communication channels from the top down.   In today’s world of advanced technology and telecommunication, there is n...

Today we are discussing a 9th tactic required to help you make the right business decisions, which is Results, Rewards, and Recognition.   An effective decision-making team requires acknowledgement when the results of their decisions prove to be advantageous to the organization.   Similarly, decisions that have adversely affected the company’s performance or outcome also need to be acknowledged. I...

Today we are discussing an 8th tactic required to help you make the right business decisions, which is Too Much Information.   One of the major barriers to a company’s ability to make decisions in a limited time span is a desire for over analysis of too much information.   Effective decision making is hampered not only by information overload, it can also be paralyzed by over analysis of that info...

Today we are discussing a 7th tactic required to help you make the right business decisions, which is an Intuitive vs Logical Response.   Making decisions that result in a positive outcome for the business relies on a healthy mix of logical analysis and well-informed intuitive skills.   Rather than basing intuition on simple “gut feel”, intuitive analysis is based on knowledge, experience, practic...

Today we are discussing a 6th tactic required to help you make the right business decisions, which is The Political Factor.   Company politics destabilizes and interrupts the overall efficiency of a business.   By adopting precise business procedures and processes and adapting a more creative base for measurement of decision making and conflict resolution, a company can minimize political interfer...

Today we are discussing a 5th tactic required to help you make the right business decisions, which is Decentralized Decision Making.   A top-heavy, centralized decision-making company is slow to react to change in a rapidly evolving environment.  The efficient flow of information is halted by gridlocks and hurdles that prevent the timely receipt of relevant information by the primary decision make...

Today we are discussing a 4th tactic required to help you make the right business decisions, which is a Results-Oriented Environment.   In a highly functional organization, work is about getting the job done to the best of your ability and achieving the required results.   The focus is on a team-oriented environment where every individual has a role in defining the end result. This requires that a...

Today we are discussing a 3rd tactic required to help you make the right business decisions, which is Clear and Precise Responsibilities.   In a company that requires high performance results, everyone from the janitor to the CEO has a clear mandate defining his or her primary responsibilities, role, and function within the firm.   Control mechanisms such as operating procedure manuals and individ...

Today we are discussing a 2nd tactic required to help you make the right business decisions, which is Streamlining the Decision-Making Process.   Gone are the days when management decisions had to be streamed through a chain of command.   The decision-making process has been accelerated by developing a strategic planning committee made up of those who have a stake in the ultimate decision(s). The...

Today we are discussing the 1st tactic to help you make the right business decisions, which is Improvement in Information Technology.   A disciplined and focused information gathering facility is fundamental to the decision-making process.    Informed decisions can only be made when senior management has the necessary data available, and that data has to be structured in such a way that the key po...

Leadership is not a popularity contest. In business as in life, it’s not always the good guy who wins, it’s the person who makes the good decisions.   Business leaders are forced to make choices every day, as you know. Some of those decisions will prove to be highly successful and innovative; some will dissipate into thin air; some may cause dissention in the ranks, while others may have staff bel...

Success isn’t just about working hard, as we all know. It’s about working smart and knowing your numbers inside and out. In order to move from where you are today to where you dream of being, you need to shift your approach.    Over years of coaching successful business owners, I discovered that many of them didn’t initially have clarity on which clients drove their success. That changes now. With...

Today we are talking about Idea #5 of the 5 ideas to help you attain even better work life balance, which is to understand that the word “No” is powerful and is your friend!   Please learn to say “ no ” to work and life events that you simply don’t want to do, don’t have time to do, or that won’t forward your life or career goals. You don’t have to be mean about the “no.” You can say, “Thank you,...

Today we are talking about Idea #4 to help you attain even better work life balance, which is the fact that you need down time .   Schedule time for yourself. If you’re not practicing personal care you cannot be the best version of yourself for your family or your clients. Grab time in your calendar just for you – whether you go to a spa, meditate during lunch, walk the dog, or go for coffee with...

Today we are talking about Idea #3 to help you attain even better work life balance, which is to ask yourself, What are my priorities?     Just as important as knowing what your priorities are is knowing why they are important. Before you leave your office, or go to bed at night, take a few moments to plan your following day. Look back at what you’ve accomplished today and assess its impact on you...

Today we are talking about Idea #2 to help you attain even better work life balance, which is to just let it go .    Being a perfectionist and trying to be everything to everyone is a recipe for disaster and burn out. If you’re feeling stressed in your personal life, you need to delve deeper into what those stressors are. The same goes for your work life; what is adding to your stress? Once you kn...