The Destructive Attitude of Arrogance

One of the biggest destructive forces today that causes countless large companies to fail is an ATTITUDE of ARROGANCE. Bill Gates said, “Success is a lousy teacher. It seduces smart people into thinking they can’t lose.” Couple that statement with one from former Intel Chairman Andy Grove, who said, “Only the paranoid survive. Paranoids believe someone or some force is out to get them,” and now you should have a better perspective on how two enormously successful men remained successful in such competitive, turbulent times.

Fix What Needs Fixing

I see a lot of valuable time being wasted in companies with people trying to improve something that is already working great. It is important to always be looking for ways to improve, but it is more important to be working on things that need improving. I live, work, and operate by what I like to refer to as The Stapler Principle. This principle has helped me immeasurably in being more efficient, which can also equate into being more successful.

Fix, Offer, Change, Improve, Focus on What

I’m doing a program next week on “Embracing Change.” One of my slides asks: Fix What - Offer What - Change What - Improve What - Focus on What? For many companies defining the “WHAT” is a big problem. I have always believed EVERYTHING … decisions, products, services, policies and procedures revolve around the customer. Years ago, I made the statement, “The day we forget we are in business for the customer, is the day we start going out of business.” I believe that statement as strongly today as I did then.

Why Ask … if You’re Not Going to Listen

American television and radio host, Larry King, once stated: "I remind myself every morning: Nothing I say this day will teach me anything. So, if I'm going to learn, I must do it by listening." The problem I see with most people in management these days, is they have forgotten how to listen. It’s as if, now that they have power over people, they’ve decided there is only one way to do things, THEIR WAY. Yes, there is only one way to do things, the RIGHT WAY … and the only way to find that way…is to listen to the people who are involved in doing it every day.

Consequences

Is it easier to make a decision when you are spending other people’s money? Absolutely! You have nothing at risk. Would you have made that decision if you were putting your own money at risk? Our decisions have a great deal to do with how they affect us personally.

The Sophistication of Simplicity

Successful companies today are doing everything they can to simplify operations. Complicated policies, procedures, rules and regulations are being simplified, replaced or deleted. Subtraction is the exercise of genius … addition is the exercise of fools. Let me say that a different way: Simplifying is the exercise of genius… Complicating is the exercise of fools. So, SIMPLIFY your operations and your life every chance you get.