Well, I never intended to leave a 6 week gap between posts but life has a funny way of getting in the way while we're busy making plans!
It seems that while I was busy thinking about creating value I wasn't spending enough time making it happen! So in the last several weeks several of my colleagues and I have rolled up our sleeves and tried to connect more intimately with our customers as well as our coworkers to learn more about what's happening and specifically what their needs are. The results? Some of the most exciting ideas, plans and strategies that we have done for with our customers and especially end consumers in mind in the history of our business. But I'm not ready to let that cat out of the bag quite yet!
Here's what I can say... looking at yourself honestly, being critical and analytical about who you are, what you do and why you exist in this world and ultimately why you and your business matters is hard work. But like my dad always said, "if it was easy, anybody could do it." I hate it when he's right and the fact that the older I get the wiser my dad is and the more sense he makes! Unfortunately, most people never take or make the time for such an investigative approach to business and life.
So here's some thoughts and some questions for you to ponder this week: why do you exist? What unique qualities were you created with that can best be used for the benefit of others? What is your vision for where you will ultimately wind up? What plans do you need to put in place to get there? Intentions are just ideas that never go much farther than the idea itself. ACTIONS move you towards the directions you need to go which will lead you to the destinations you have set for yourself to reach.
In conclusion, which destinations are you shooting for? What ACTIONS do you need to start taking to lead you in the right direction? Just as importantly, what do you need to STOP doing so that you can more effectively work on what you need to START doing?
I used to have a college professor who I thought was one of the smartest guys I ever met. He used to tell our class all the time "it's not the destination, it's the journey!" At the time I thought there was a lot of wisdom behind that but the only problem is I have wasted a lot of years enjoying the journey only to wake up and realize I don't know where the heck I'm going and while I had fun getting nowhere there are some places I really would like to end up before I get to the end of the road.
Thank goodness, thanks to some hard work, personal sould searching and encouragement from friends and colleagues I have stopped wandering and started working on a road map. What direction are you heading in?
