Ally Yourself With Others

Napoleon Hill is a well-known name when it comes to success in business, and in life. He wrote Think and Grow Rich and Law of Success as the result of his interviews and study of successful business people. His mentors were Andrew Carnegie, Henry Ford, and other successful merchants of the time. His principles have been updated by modern authors such as Bob Burg and others.

Yet we find it amazing how few people read - or follow - the valuable advice he shared. It is timeless and of immense value if one is willing to stick to it and not quit.

A recent example from the Law of Success publication struck home with us at Fluidity Business Planning Group because it is pertinent to our philosophy and approach to helping business owners make money.

Hill wrote that success comes when you "Ally yourself with others in a given undertaking without friction or envy." Building a successful business enterprise can rarely be accomplished by one individual. It starts with one person's dream, or vision, but comes to fruition when that dreamer allies themselves with others in achieving that "given undertaking."

Finding professional counsel - whether it is business development experts such as the Fluidity team, your CPA, attorney, banker, insurance agent, or your financial planner - is a smart move for any business person. Getting sound advice on issues makes for easier and smarter decision making.

When Hill wrote about avoiding friction or envy, it was not about surrounding yourself with "Yes" men or women. It meant to find people who believe in you and who will be open and honest with you. They may disagree with you, but they will remain loyal even when you run counter to their advice. They must, however, want you to be successful in making money!

Business Decision Making

Business owners make decisions all the time. Some are as simple as a "Yes" or "No" answer. Others are complicated by employee law, contractual obligations, or cash flow situations.

The method used by business owners to make their decisions varies from what their gut tells them to what their legal counsel advises ... and other variants in between. The "in between" is what this article covers.

Business owners need a business plan, with a strategic marketing component, to help them make their business decisions. It's a critical management tool that defines the scope of the business, such as what the products and/or services are, where the business is positioned in the competitive environment, and who are the likely users or consumers of the products and services. When all of these elements of a business are clearly defined, the business owner has a matrix to use in making decisions about the business.

The best example is when it comes to advertising. If the business plan has identified the potential consumer of the product as women between the ages of 24 and 35, making decisions about advertising has become less complicated. The message is targeted to this demographic profile and is delivered through advertising channels most likely to produce a positive response from the target audience.

In essence, the business plan becomes the trunk of the decision tree. If the roots have a good foundation in viability, the trunk will support a growing, profitable business.

Success should be planned, not left to chance.

Expectations

In today's economic environment, business owners can find it difficult to manage employees without clear expectations. More seasoned workers have the skills but may lack the motivation to be as productive as the employer expects. Newer hires may be eager to learn and make up for a lack of skill, bringing more energy and productivity to the company. Long-term employees may be set in their work habits and less than willing to make changes.

Finding the right balance to keep productivity at its peak while maintaining high employee morale is a challenge for business owners. The market is flooded with people looking for work, but the dilemma is how qualified they are. One client had more than 100 applicants for a sales position, but felt only two were qualified for further consideration.

Delineating expectations can be time well spent for today's business owner. As part of a business plan, the company defines the roles and skills sets of personnel. This is incorporated into the hiring procedure for a variety of reasons: Does the candidate understand what is expected, and can the candidate fulfill those requirements?

If they can, the parameters are now set for the employment of that individual. The business owner has an accountability standard to enforce. The employee knows the performance standard. Ground rules are established.

An example of the importance of expectations is drawn to coaching a younger soccer official. She officiated a match where the parents became unruly and derided her management of the contest. She informed them she would halt the competition if they persisted in the harassment. They continued. She relented and did not stop the match, essentially giving up control and allowing the fans to control her. The advice to her was that you must enforce the guidelines you establish or they are worthless.