Coaching Excellence

Measuring Leadership Effectiveness

I subscribe to Audio-Tech Business Book Summaries.  One of the CD's I received in June was a real gem.  It was a summary of the book Measure of a Leader by Aubrey C. Daniels and James E. Daniels.  This book presents a concept that makes so much sense that I'm surprised that it hasn't been universally accepted and practiced for years:

"The ultimate test of leadership is to be found in how results are achieved through the behavior of the people who follow the leader.  Follower behavior, not leader behavior defines leadership."

The authors go on to present Four Criteria of follower behavior that define leadership.

One theme seems to run through all four criteria:  "Followers and leaders respect each other for what each contributes to the cause."

I recommend the audio summary and the book to anyone looking for a fresh new perspective on leadership.

Namaste'

Interview Questions

Since this site is oriented to small business, one thing I would like to incorporate in the content are interviews with small business owners.  I'd be interested in hearing how they got started, what their biggest challenges were and to what they owe their success.  I think we'd all like to get the "inside scoop" on how to run your own business - a topic that doesn't get much attention in the usual business publications.

But, before I go running off to ask questions that interest me, I'd like to get your perspective on what you'd like to hear and learn from business owners.  So, I'm soliciting your input as to what questions you'd like to have me ask.  Just comment to this post or email me with suggestions and I promise I'll incorporate them into future interviews.  Thanks in advance for your input!

And, oh yes - one more thing:  if there are any small business owners out there who would like to share their experiences (as well as get a little publicity!) in an interview - please let me know.

Namaste'

Attention All Vetrepreneurs!

This post is directed to veterans, like myself, who own their own businesses and to all those businesses who do business with, or would like to do business with, veteran-owned businesses (VOB's).  There is a new organization that you need to be aware of that has just recently been created to address the special needs of VOB's.  This new organization is the National Veteran-Owned Business Association (NaVOBA).

There are 3.6 million veteran-owned businesses in the U.S.  The stuff that makes us veterans just happens to be the stuff that makes us great business owners:

• Leadership
• Teamwork
• Work Ethic
• Passion
• Training
• Experience

Here's the Proof:

• 1 in 4 veterans, of working age (21-65), owns a business.
• 1 in 9 non-veterans, of working age (21-65), owns a business.

Veterans are more than twice as likely to own a business as their non-veteran counterparts.

The NaVOBA mission:
To provide corporate and government supplier opportunities for the 3.6 million businesses owned by U.S. military veterans.  NaVOBA creates the marketplace between veteran-owned businesses (VOBs) and corporate and government buyers.

To learn more about NaVOBA and to become a member (Individual memberships are available for those who are not VOB's!) go to the NaVOBA website at www.NaVOBA.com

Request for Content

A friend of mine  has recently asked me to write an article for her website.  She and I both have some experience with small business owners in the Alternative Practice Business arena.  Some of these business owners are conflicted when it comes to commercial issues and making money. Some have the attitude that wealth (however that is defined!)  will actually impede someone's spiritual development.  As a result they fail to accomplish all that they could and fall short of accomplishing all that they can for themselves, their families and communities.

I'd like to get your opinions on this.  Does one have to be poor to be spiritual?  Does making money impede spiritual growth?  Is money inherently good?  inherently bad?  neither?  Why is money such an emotionally charged subject to begin with?  Any and all comments would be appreciated.....

Namaste'

Comments ? ! ? !

As suggested by this Blog's tagline, this should be an interactive experience.  Please post your comments to this Blog.  At the bottom of each post is a link to comments.  Please click on this link to leave any comments you have concerning whatever topic is being discussed.  The more the merrier!  Let's get interactive!  Thanks!  That takes a lot of pressure off of me!

Namaste'

Start Your Own Business 1.5

And last but not least, here are Two Rules For Business Start-ups from Brian Tracy's Blog.

First, he states, Entrepreneurship is the art of finding profitable solutions to problems.  Notice, he says "art" and not "science" - this is a creative process.

His two rules for business start-ups:

1.  Find a Need and Fill It. Look around you and search for needs that people have for products or services that are not being met.  One small idea is enough to start you on the way to business success.

2.  Find a Problem and Solve It. Look around you for problems that you or other people have that are not yet being solved.  Look for solutions that nobody has thought of and give them a try.  One good solution could change the whole direction of your life.

It's as simple (notice, I didn't say "easy") as that.  To read the rest of this blog, click here.

For those who may not know Brian Tracy, he is the Chairman and CEO of Brian Tracy International, a company specializing in the training and development of individuals and organizations.

Brian Tracy has consulted for more than 1,000 companies and addressed more than 4,000,000 people in 4,000 talks and seminars throughout the US, Canada and 40 other countries worldwide. As a Keynote speaker and seminar leader, he addresses more than 250,000 people each year.

He has studied, researched, written and spoken for 30 years in the fields of economics, history, business, philosophy and psychology. He is the top selling author of 40 books that have been translated into dozens of languages.

He has written and produced more than 300 audio and video learning programs, including the worldwide, best-selling Psychology of Achievement, which has been translated into more than 20 languages.

He speaks to corporate and public audiences on the subjects of Personal and Professional Development, including the executives and staff of many of America's largest corporations. His exciting talks and seminars on Leadership, Selling, Self-Esteem, Goals, Strategy, Creativity and Success Psychology bring about immediate changes and long-term results.

Brian has started, built, managed and/or turned around over 20 businesses.  He's "been there, done that".   As a small business owner, I would definitely subscribe to Brian's blog and his weekly newsletters.  There's more to come about Brian Tracy International in future blogs.

Namaste'

Start Your Own Business 1.4

Serendipity!

I've dedicated my last few posts to some of the things you can do if you want to start your own business.  Now, this Sunday I find an article that tells you some of the things NOT to do if you want your business to be successful.

The article appeared in The Wall Street Journal Sunday section of the Denver Post and was entitled, Starting a Business? Don't Do This.  The article was written by Andrea Coombes who writes for MarketWatch.

Andrea states, "Getting a small business off the ground isn't easy.  But more businesses would succeed if entrepreneurs avoided some common pitfalls."

She then goes on to reveal those pitfalls:

• Lacking a detailed plan.
• Failing to talk to experts.
• Assuming control over prices.
• Not connecting with the customer.
• Failing to seek advisers.
• Not reacting to market changes.

There's a lot of good advice in this short piece - click here to read the entire article.

Namaste'

Start Your Own Business 1.3

"to be nobody but yourself in a world that's doing it's best to make you somebody else, is to fight the hardest battle you are ever going to fight."       - ee cummings

Before you decide what business you want to start you need to first ask yourself what do you want your business to say about you.  What do you want your external ( your business ) to reflect about your internal (your values, principles, desires, passions).

The people who are most miserable at work are usually those individuals whose personal values are in opposition to the actual (vs. stated) values of the organization they work in.  When that happens they end up denying the most important part of themselves for 8 to 10 hours every day.  Many of us have denied this part of ourselves for so long that we need a long period of reflection to get back in touch with our selves.

Before you can create a business of your own, you need to achieve Clarity in a number of important areas.  The first and most important area of clarity is in defining who you are and what you stand for.

Namaste'

Memorial Day 2007

LET US NEVER FORGET......


On Memorial Day we honor the men and women who died while defending our country, our freedom and all we consider sacred.

Are you flying your flag this weekend?

Start Your Own Business 1.2

The third way to start your own business is to buy a franchise.  Buying a franchise combines characteristics of buying an existing business and starting from scratch.  In some ways you are starting from scratch since you will have to market yourself and your new business to establish a client base.  However, a franchise has the folowing advantages:

• Unless the franchise is absolutely brand new and unknown, you will probably have a recognizable brand name.  This can be a huge advantage when starting out - think "Subway" vs "Jeff's Sub Shop".
• Your business processes and procedures will already have been developed and tested in the field.  In most cases, if you just follow The System established by the Franchise, your probability of having a successful business will be higher (but, remember, no guarantees!).
• Things like marketing materials and national marketing campaigns will have already been developed for you - you won't have to create your own marketing program from scratch.
• You will receive support from your Home Office.  The level of support varies from franchise to franchise but in most cases you have someone besides yourself with a vested interest in your success who is willing to help.  You're in business FOR yourself but not BY yourself.

As a result of the above advantages, the survival rate for franchise businesses is double that for non-franchise businesses.  Whereas two-thirds of regular small businesses fail in their first five years, only one-third  of franchises fail.

So, how do you find a good franchise that, not only will you enjoy doing, but which will have a better than average chance of being successful and profitable?  The problem is that there are literally thousands of franchises out there that you can pick through, and not all of them will be around a year or two from now.

You want to look at the top-tier, quality franchises.  A good place to start your research is among The Franchise 50.  The Franchise Business Review reviews thousands of franchises every year and these are the top 50.  Unlike some franchise websites that only list franchises that pay for the privilege of being on the site, this is based on an actual survey of franchisees within each franchise.  The listing of the Franchise 50 can be found at  www.franchise50.com  and the actual details behind the survey for each franchise can be found at www.franchisebusinessreview.com  - a ton of good information and a good place to start to learn about franchises.

If you're pretty sure a franchise is for you, you should next contact your local Franchise Broker.   These are people who are intimately familiar with franchises and are able to match you up with a franchise that will be a good fit for you.  They are also a great source of information on financing options and, since many have run their own franchises, they can give you a good idea what it will be like to be your own boss.  One of the best places to find a good franchise broker in your area is an organiztion called FranNet - they only work with the top tier franchises also.

Namaste'