Over the last 4 – 5 articles I have been challenging you to use your time wisely and given you:
- A business case for why you would outsource LVAs (there it is again …
not sure what it is? Then go back and read the last 4 – 5 articles)
- Practical keys on finding that elusive extra 1.5 to 2 hours per day that you
seem to be always missing.
- An explanation of why your commercial time is worth at least $300 per hour.
- The practical wisdom for why you should invest in training.
- Some practical areas to train your staff in that will generate you a solid ROI.
- Reasons why and how you should stop being a “control freak” (only if you are one)
- Reasons why you (and your staff) need to accept personal responsibility, stop being victims and start making positive choices that will positively impact your relationships with each other, your customers and your businesses profitability.
So let’s do a reality check:
• Have you (at least) begun to apply the information and principles from these articles to your business? If yes then good. If no – why not?
• If you found yourself honestly admitting no and have not really begun to apply the principles and information to your business then you need to go back and examine yourself at a fundamental and potentially confronting level.
Research indicates that only a small percentage of people (let’s not get hung up on the exact number) actually DO what they need to DO to achieve the result they are looking for.
There are many reasons for this and they include:
• Laziness
• Lack of “hunger” or desire to actually have the end result
• Poor self esteem
• Sense of fatalism and hopelessness
• Fear of failure
• Fear of people
• Fear of success
• Poor self-discipline/time management skills
• Inability to stay focused on the main game
• Poor decision making skills – saying “yes” when one should say “no”
• Lack of proper planning and subsequent evaluation and review of implemented plans
• Insufficient expertise in-house to move the vision forward.
• Arrogance, pride, ego
• Unwillingness to learn and be mentored
• Lack of passion for your current business endeavour
… and the list goes on. (Doubtless you could add a few others that I have not mentioned.)
In all likelihood if you are “stuck” at some point of your personal, professional and business development journey then your situation is likely to be a combination of one or more factors.
Identify the blockages and deal with them
A useful exercise for identifying the blockages and dealing with them is
(and thanks to Max Landsberg, The Tao of Coaching 1996, p 49):
Step 1: Ask yourself (or better still, have someone ask you because it keeps you honest) to describe the current problem or issue.
Step 2: Ask yourself (or again have someone ask you) to describe the desired outcome. Be as specific as you can in describing a picture of how things would be if the problem was sorted. Do not try to solve the problem, just note any emerging impressions/ideas.
Step 3: List all the obstacles and blockages that exist between 1 (the problem) and 2 (the picture of the problem now sorted). Categorise the obstacles and blockages in three groups:
Blockages that exist in YOU (lack of skill, knowledge, motivation etc)
Blockages that exist in others (anxious staff or customers; stressed manager/business partner/spouse etc)
Blockages in the situation (inadequate resources; movement in deadlines etc)
Step 4: Brainstorm ways around these blockages, along with possible next steps. Also agree on the approach, timetable, actions and who is responsible for them.
Now for some fun
In ancient times a king had a boulder placed on a roadway. Then he hid himself and watched to see if anyone would remove the huge rock.
Some of the king’s wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by and simply walked around it. Many loudly blamed the king for not keeping the roads clear, but none did anything about getting the stone out of the way.
Then a peasant came along carrying a load of vegetables. Upon approaching the boulder, the peasant laid down his burden and tried to move the stone to the side of the road. After much pushing and straining he finally succeeded.
After the peasant picked up his load of vegetables, he noticed a purse lying in the road where the boulder had been.
The purse contained many gold coins and a note from the king indicating that the gold was for the person who removed the gold from the roadway.
The peasant learnt what many never of us never understand!
“Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve our condition.”
Final comment
Just as we remembered Anzac Day last Friday, let’s not forget to honour those who fought and in many cases paid the ultimate sacrifice so that you and I can enjoy the privileges and freedoms associated with living in our amazing country.
So next time you see your “grands” at the next family get together or that “old bloke” or “old girl” (said with endearment) in the club, pub, church or nursing home, don’t be dismissive of them. Rather, give them honour and perhaps take a few moments to engage them and even do a random act of kindness for them … just because you can. | 
