"The Longer you look back, the farther you can look forward”

The Longer you look back, the farther you can look forward

Did you know that Lee Iacocca was “dismissed” at Ford Motor Company after serving as President? Did you know that Lee Iacocca was asked to be the President of Chrysler after that? Did you know after helping to rebuild Chrysler Lee Iacocca’s replacement cashed in and sold the company?

Lee Iacocca who many think to be one of the great leaders of all time in the American Auto Industry could serve as a platform for future leaders. I think we could apply his platform of leadership across many industries. 

The best way to learn about leadership and business is to look at what has already happened. They say history repeats itself over and over, so why not learn from it. Why don’t we concentrate more on what happened to us in the past? Well…..because there is always the one person who will tell you not to live in the past. I ask why not.

On December 20, 1803, the biggest land deal in history took place when the United States led by Thomas Jefferson purchased 831,321 square miles of land from France.  The Louisiana Purchase cost the United States fifteen million dollars and more than doubled the size of the United States.

As a business owner what can we take from the real estate transaction completed by one of our founding fathers?  His business was to expand the United States territory.  Decisions had to be made, risk had to be taken, and the impact would involve many.  The outcome was unknown but the plan was in place.

Two years after Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation, the 13th Amendment was created.  This Amendment  to the Constitution abolished slavery throughout the entire United States and not just areas under Union control.

Abraham Lincoln had a plan, a goal, and a strategy to abolish slavery.  His business was to free all people, and he believed in his business.  His decision involved risk, lives, and an impact that is felt today.  Robert F Kennedy, once said, "Each time a man stands up for an ideal or acts to improve the lot of others or strikes out against an injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope...Those ripples build a current that can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance."

Do we as business owners believe in our business?  Do we take pride in our work?  Are we willing to put a plan in place, stride for a goal, and work HARD to get there?  Will our hard work add value to others?  We are in the "New" economy, reevaluate, not reinvent.

History is History, and we should strive to learn from what great leaders have done before us.  When we opt to look forward before looking back we forego the opportunity to capitalize on the most valuable resource, HISTORY.

“We Must Demonstrate to People that our COMMONALITIES are greater than their Differences”

Small Business owners….the tag line of this blog will tell the story. We as small business owners have for years been stuck on the thought what “Separates” our company from the others. What makes us different from our competitors, what will make us “Stand” out? Being business minded I have thought this way for years structuring my company, my employees, my time, and my knowledge in a way that will make us “Different”.

This is hard for me to swallow! In this world; if each one of us is trying to reinvent the business model, than progress will continually be at a standstill. AT NO point am I stating a business owner should not be innovative, think outside the box, or not be creative. So….your first thought will be, if we are not different, than we are all the same, how will we be competitive. Good question? If we are the same, and we can’t compete on price with the large box stores how will we stay in business.

Yes….the answer is simple and you may blow off the rest of this blog, but take time to absorb it and think about your business. Unless you are in the business of R&D for a cure for cancer, business should not be over complicated. Very straight forward….Provide a product or service that is in demand at the highest quality possible. See, very simple.

Take time to think about it. We’re so caught up in the Wal-Mart mentality that we have forgot about what made our country amazing. We once created top notch products, provided customer service above and beyond, and focused on the fundamentals of our business. Then the period of bottom line or nothing sweeps the world and large box stores buy in bulk, factories move overseas, customer service is thrown out the window, and then our country is labeled fat and lazy. We have become so focused on the bottom line that we have thrown away our opportunity to be “Different” in our commonalities.

If you want to be different, I recommend start by focusing on the fundamentals of your business. Ask the following questions: What does my company offer? Who else provides these items? Who do I DON’T want to be like? Do I as a business owner value my employees? Yes, you must focus on what YOU do in the company. The TONE of your business will start with YOU. If you tell your employees thank you then your employees will be more likely to thank your customers.

We are in the “New” economy where we will be required to revaluate everything…not reinvent everything. Focus on being great at what you do across the board and that will make your company “Different” from the pack.

The Fight

“Nothing worth having comes without some kind of fight”
Yes I have a MBA, an Accounting Degree, and I look like your typical business executive. I am balding and aging daily in this current economic time. I work in the Financial Industry and daily I see small businesses collapsing, folding up, and even worse families losing everything they have.
My degrees show the stamp of approval that I have an idea of what I am doing, but the years of experience that I carry on my back is the staple that I hang my hat on. My experience started way before my post grad experience, and to be honest, those are the days that developed me into the person I am today. This is a FREEBEE….for you mid level managers that look at resumes and say the new college graduate has a blank resume since he graduated should start asking more in-depth questions. Yes, they are fresh out of college, but do they have what it takes to WORK HARD and LEARN. I have been on the front lines and understand what it means that our country has to get back to Customer Service, Quality, and controlling the bottom line.
Will it be easy? NO, we are so inflated by our own thoughts that we are worth more than we really are it has blinded us to what will need to be done. What I wish I could do. I said before I see small businesses collapsing daily, and you ask if you are so smart why you don’t lend them a hand. Well in my position if I help out and the business does collapse, in return I would be sued for liability, and in this country I would lose for helping out. Well that sounds pretty selfish, and at first I thought I was protecting my family, but if all these companies continue to flounder will there be a need for my services.

Ok….so after a year of pondering over the “Question” I have decided to stop being so selfish and put myself out there to help. I will NO longer give the advice you need to contact a Consulting firm that could offer you advice. Why, because if you could afford $5,000 to hire a consulting firm for your small business you wouldn’t be seeking HELP, you would use that Capital to jump start the NEW YEAR!

My wife and I own a HOA Management and Lawn Care business in addition to my full time role in the financial industry. We’re in the world of reviewing, critiquing, consulting, and living life in this NEW Economy that we must work with. I am not saying I can solve all your questions, or lead you to a multimillion dollar salary but ask me some questions and I will do my best to help you. Actually if you are looking for a quick, get rich idea, please don’t contact me. I am offering my services, my knowledge, and my time to help those Small Business Owners on how to get through this “Slump”…or how to live with our New Economy.