My New Puppy

I purchased a miniature schnauzer puppy for my wife as a Christmas gift. Cute, yes...........work, ABSOLUTELY! Waking up at 3am to walk my wife's gift.....(I pretty much figured I would do all of the work) I recalled how much work it takes to create a successful business. And, just as with a new puppy, its all about consistency, consistency, consistency. Constant work pays off consistently. Of course there are set backs, an accident on the floor, chewing on your slippers, but with proper correction anything is possible. Take the time to train and teach yourself, is just as critical as spending quality training time with a new puppy.An opportunity missed, is a step back. So, even when you're tired and don't want to get out of bed to walk the dog, or "too" tired to respond to a valued customer, remember that its worth an extra few minutes. A well trained pup grows into an obedient friend and companion, and a well nurtured business matures into income for life.

"If it doesn't make dollars, it doesn't make sense!"

Have You Stop Challenging Yourself?

With the new year right around the corner, it is time to reassess your business and yourself. How far have you come? Have you reached the goals that you have set out for yourself this year? A few weeks ago I spoke about how a large ego can result in small profits. One element of developing a swollen ego, even if its unintentional, is the failure to challenge your methods. Even for a system that works, there may be alternatives that enable it to work better or faster. In the age of technology, a process that was on the cutting edge a few months ago may now be antiquated or obsolete. The Japanese concept of a "kaizen" business approach is one of constant improvement. If do not seek ways to improve your organization or mode of operation, you risk being left behind by "the better mouse trap." A periodic reassessment of yourself and your organization is a good way to ensure the health of your business. Think of it as a business checkup or assessment. Follow the same approach you take to your clients to ensure that you are continuing to make progress. With the days in the calendar counting down, now is as good a time as ever.

"If it doesn't make dollars, it doesn't make sense!"