November 2013 - What's Next for Your Business in 2014?

Letter from the Editor

Being Present to the “Little Things”

What I teach as an executive coach and motivator has virtually nothing to do with what I learned from a book. My education has come from the life I’ve lived, and my ability to teach what I’ve learned is simply a God-given talent. I’ve worked hard and given my all in an effort to make a difference on this planet; to do this gift justice. But, it did come with a cost. A cost, that in the last few years, I’ve just begun to calculate. Why am I telling you all of this now? I’m simply setting the stage for what I have to say, which is:Don’t miss being with your children... Don’t miss truly seeing them grow into the phenomenal human beings you’ve taught them to be... Don’t miss being with them physically, mentally, heart, and soul. Don’t miss it for anything!My three children are all grown, and as I’ve grown along with them, I can see now how I could have been more present in their lives. And, here’s the thing. This is what I’ve spent decades teaching everyone else how to do, and as present as I was to being present to them, there is still so much I missed. Yes, I was absolutely present in the big things, but I think I could have done better in the little things that mean just as much, if not more.

What “little things” am I talking about?

• The car rides to and from their activities! Think about how much there is to learn about your children -- who their friends are, what challenges they’re facing, their joys, what they like and what they don’t -- simply by being more present to them when you are running to and fro, rather than thinking about the meeting you have to get to.
• Extra encouragement with hugs, pats on the back, a quick phone call or text, or one last wave as they climb onto the school bus.
• The precious memories and bond you can create by turning off the television as dinner is being prepared and instead, putting on their favorite music and dancing and singing right along with them.
• Being in the stands for each and every game, front row and center!
• Making sure you tuck them in each-and-every night, even if you have to do it by telephone or Skype when you are out of town. (And, yes! Your teenagers, even though they may not admit it, need to be tucked in too!)
• Listening more... talking less.
• Laughing more... grumbling less.
• Saying, “I love you!” Every. Single. Day.
• Taking in stride the busyness that comes with raising a family, knowing in your heart that some day you’ll miss it when everyone is grown and living their own lives.

Being a parent is no easy task. There is no roadmap of rights and wrongs, but having traveled a large distance of my own parenthood journey I can without a doubt say, you will never ever regret making a point to be more present to your children. You won’t get a second chance.Remember: Every second you give up being with your family (for a job or anything else) is a second you will never get back.Warm Regards,

What's Next for Your Business in 2014?

As we edge closer to the end of 2013 and continue working our plans for this year, it is important to start the planning process for 2014. (Insert eye rolls and groans from the masses here!) Yes, it is THAT time again. But, wait. You don’t have time now? Make the time!Suppose you won a trip around the world. You’d make the time to plan for it, right? You wouldn't just jump on the plane or ship without any planning. You'd plan out exactly where you want to go, what stops to make, how you want to get there, and what you want to do when you get there. You'd think about what you will take with you, who you'd take with you, and you would make contingency plans in case parts of your ideal plans didn't work out. The same should be true for your company and its "journey" to what's next.You and your team will get the maximum enjoyment, results, and success from a journey that is planned. So, if you haven't done it already, now is the time to do the homework and research necessary to create a business plan that sees your company through to what's next.

Take time to consider the following:

1. What are the market demands for what your company offers?
2. Does the market need educating about what it needs from your company?
3. What changes, suggestions, or requests have your clients made that you may want to implement in your services?
4. Do you have staffing needs or changes to make?
5. Does your organization's mission statement still ring true or does it need to be modified?
6. Are your company's values clear?
7. What past goals were not met? Are these goals still important? You may have a "pet project" your team really wants to do, but is that something the consumer needs or wants?
8. Think about your company's strengths and weaknesses. What are the opportunities and possible obstacles? What's working well, and what isn't?
9. Do best case-worst case scenario thinking. Start developing responses to "what ifs" that might occur. For example, what if your industry experiences an unexpected, unprecedented change in demand for your services? Consider such things as changes in regulations or demographics. What potential strategies might work?
10. Is it time to just shake it all up and take a fresh, new, unpredictable approach? Sometimes companies stay with what worked because, well, because that's what worked! Even "what worked" can get stale and predictable... and your clients can lose interest. It could be time to turn your company on its head and get a whole new look! Think about what elements make it successful and what elements could be restyled, refurbished or refreshed without impacting the workability and success of your company.

Have fun and be creative! Don't limit your thinking to what your company has always done. Share your wildest ideas with your team and listen to all of the team's ideas. You may come up with a future for your company that is so exciting you'll want to get started right now writing the strategic plan for getting there!

Give Thanks to You

Giving ourselves “props” isn’t always the most comfortable thing to do. Instead, we beat ourselves up for not living up to our own expectations. We want to do things perfectly 100% of the time, and yet we are human. So, instead of consuming ourselves with the 5, 10, 15 or even 20 % of our lives that could be better, why not give yourself a pat on the back for the 80% that is working well? Give thanks for what is working!Sometime between now and January 1st, sit down in a quiet space and write down all of the things you have accomplished since January 1, 2013. Write down all of your accomplishments including: personal, business, health, financial, recreation, communication, relationships, and anything else you can think of.Why take on this exercise on during what is often the busiest time of the year? When we are at our busiest, we tend to beat ourselves up the most, instead of giving ourselves credit for what we have accomplished. So by focusing our energy on the good we do and the goals we have achieved, we instantly create a whole new way of thinking. Standing there, we can then take on what we want to do better in 2014 from a much more powerful state of mind!Do you want to know how to make your list even more valuable? Teach from it! You can keep the list hidden in a drawer for your eyes only, but consider the value you get from sharing it with others. Your kids will get lit up seeing all that has been accomplished as a family. Your team will be energized and inspired knowing that they are a part of a dynamic team, and you will teach others the value of acknowledging their own accomplishments.So, please, get out your paper and pen, take some time to reflect on all that you, your family, and your team has accomplished this year, write down everything you can think of, and start patting away! You deserve it!