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I was sitting down with one of my first clients over 10 years ago and we were working through a few issues. “Jim, we are struggling as of late with our quality and shipping on time,” Tom told me. We took a walk down to the manufacturing floor to watch a few of the guys craft one of the products. We were there only a few minutes when I saw something that didn’t look right. “Tom”, I said, “they are creating the same product, correct?” Tom confirmed my suspicion. “Then, why are they doing it in two completely different ways?” Tom took me back to his quieter office to discuss. As we got back to his desk, he proudly handed me a binder. Looking through it, I see that he had spelled out the steps to the process for creating the product. “Tom, I am a bit confused”, I said, “it would appear from this that neither of them are actually doing it this way”. “Oh, well, they haven’t actually seen this”, said Tom sheepishly.

No one cares what you do. I know this seems a bit harsh but it is a reality all the same. There are many other companies that can fulfill the need your company currently fills or what you do. But there are probably none that can fill that need in the way or HOW you do it. It is not the “What” that your customers care about, it is the “How you do what you do” that makes you special. So, why is it that so few companies truly have their How documented?

So, your company is on target to grow 20% this year. That’s great, but are you also set to grow 20% this year? Is your team? As businesses grow, the people in it have to grow and develop as well. With growth comes new challenges, which means you need to have the know-how to handle them. If you are not continuously developing yourself and your team, then at some point you won’t be able to handle the growth. What if there was an easy way to make sure you are moving up, and into the position your company needs you in, and the whole time, elevating the skills of your company?

We have heard over and over again about how we are only as strong as the weakest link. But, enough time has not been given explaining how each of those links (team members) should be connected. When we have the right connection or meetings with our team, we end up creating a strong bond. One that is difficult to break. However, we know that in some relationships, there is no connection or bond. A disconnected relationship in your team will lead to eventual disaster. Not because the people are bad but because the connection or the bond is bad. Things will just get missed.

Entrepreneurs would make horrible fish, right!? Ok… well maybe this one could use a bit of explanation.

Early this month, I was giving a presentation to a room of business owners about EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System). One of the business owners came up to me after the meeting and was giving me some kudos for the presentation. After he was done, he said, “You know there is one thing you should add to your presentation.” I thought, “Ok, I guess he was just sugar coating his criticism.” He pointed out that many of the businesses in the room had been around for a while and most likely were doing some of the things we talked about. “Parts and pieces,” he said, as in parts and pieces of the Six Key Components of successful businesses. He admitted that they may not be implemented in the most effective way but that some of the pieces were probably there. For him, the value of EOS was how the system pulled everything together.