Your Reputation - A Valuable Asset

Your reputation and your good name is one of your most precious assets. Your reputation is how you are known to others. To have your company being viewed as a fair and honest place of business is more valuable than taking advantage of your legal rights when a customer or supplier is in breach. When you appear to do the fair thing you guard your reputation.

Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish

Steve Jobs held a commencement address at Stanford a couple of years ago where he reflected on his life and career. There seems to be a logical progression in life moving us from one step to another when we look backwards at it. It may not always be obvious while we are in the middle of it all. Jobs describes it as connecting the dots. He urges the audience of students to stay hungry and stay foolish. I'd say stay curious and open minded.

Be A Problem Solver

Train the people around you as well as yourself to become problem solvers. When someone in your organization comes to you with a problem, ask them to come up with at least one workable solution to the problem themselves. Ask; "What would you suggest we do?" and better yet; "What do you consider to be our options?" Ask yourself these questions when you run up against a situation. Be a problem solver not a problem finder.

Go As Far As You Can See

You very seldom have access to complete knowledge of a situation. You have to make up your mind as you go based on sketchy information. The 19:th century Scottish historian and essayist Thomas Carlyle said; “Go as far as you can see; when you get there you'll be able to see farther.” There is something about being decisive and launch out even if you don't know exactly where to go next. Usually the course will clear once you get closer to your destination.

Question, Go Deeper

Whenever you are interviewing either to hire, get a reference or a referral always ask follow up questions. Ask them to provide specific examples of what happened, how they interacted in a certain situation. This is a great way to test for truth worthiness. It is very difficult to fabricate lies when you probe and dive in deeper to check for details.

Reciprocity And Obligation

You can use reciprocity and obligation as a strong influencing factor with others. If you give the other party something first, like a free tasting at the supermarket, the gift creates in a sense a moral obligation and we feel like we owe them something in return and often we pay back by purchasing a full container of the same stuff. Figure out what gifts you can provide your business contacts and acquaintances.

Pace Yourself

You need to pace yourself and plan your schedule in such a way that you arrange time for your important relationships and time to relax. It is vitally important in order to sustain your energy and ability to deliver results over the long haul. Pay particular attention to your sleeping pattern and aim for seven to eight hours of uninterrupted sleep every night. For each incremental hour of sleep you get, you reduce your stress levels with more than ten percent.