Ideally, you should conduct your business as a wise specialist and not as a reckless driver. Before executing the most daring trick, a specialist always studies and evaluates all the different parameters involved and all the possible scenarios with their associated risk levels.
Depending on whether the chances of success appear to be high or low, the cheat will be marked as doable or not doable; After all, no one wants to risk losing their life stupidly…
Once the trick has been deemed feasible, the execution is rehearsed many times. First on paper, then mentally. Over and over again, the stuntman will go through the entire event and when he feels ready, he will perform the trick in front of an audience of amazed people. What seemed very daring or even thought impossible to achieve is executed to perfection in front of a crowd of amazed people.
On Thursday, May 20, 1999, Robbie Knievel completed one such stunt: a 231-foot jump over a section of the Grand Canyon. It was certainly one of the most daring stunts. All the parameters must have been studied and evaluated with the utmost precision: location, speed, angle, wind, etc… The success was not by chance.
Let’s keep in mind that such a daring stunt was the result of several weeks, if not months, of careful evaluations, precise simulations, and meticulous preparation based on precise observations and wise decisions: after all, someone’s life was at stake. What a fine example of successful risk management!
It’s pretty much the same if you want to run your business successfully: you have to do some business intelligence and plan thoroughly, you have to carefully evaluate and make decisions based on facts and not just decisions based on emotions.
It may take weeks or months of preparation to make the wisest decision, but the problem is that the market won’t wait that long, your competitors will close the deal before you if you don’t move fast enough.
How is your driving, business-wise? Do you hit the gas pedal as soon as you hear about a potential business opportunity without thorough evaluation and planning? How well do you know your vehicle and all the different options? How well do you know the terrain? How accurately have you studied all the different parameters?
How well do you know the competition and what they are doing? Do you have the right people in place? What is the level of preparation of these people? Are they making noise or are they playing beautiful music?
How well and accurately you can answer these questions will, of course, determine your level of success. These are fundamental questions to ask yourself before starting the engine, putting your hands on the wheel, and stepping on the accelerator.
So everything’s been checked and double-checked, you say you’re packed, and you feel absolutely confident that you’ll be able to lead your company to lasting success, sustained growth, and skyrocketing profits.
So, you think you’re ready, finally, it’s time for a reality check on the battlefield! But before long, it turns out that the road is more bumpy than you thought, you see other competitors pass you and leave you in the dust. Their vehicle is much more powerful and these guys know how to drive much better than you. They drive effectively, efficiently, based on their experience on the road and the many challenges they have overcome many times already. They know how to play the game better than you… Your vehicle suddenly starts puffing, finally stops. You’re out of gas. Out of ammunition, that is. You are stranded in the middle of nowhere. This was supposed to be the fucking ride of your life and you’re stuck.
You think of the term “learning curve” and say, “OK, what I need to learn I’ll learn by doing, so the more I drive the better I get…” Only true if you have an unlimited budget. but who is it?
So you’re going to have to take some driving lessons and go! Don’t even think about getting back on the road before you improve your driving or next time you’ll get burned to the pulp and you’ll probably end up in court like another Chapter 11…
Have experts check your vehicle for missing parts and learn how to drive that thing and stop blaming your vehicle! The only thing is that there are many instructors who have absolutely no clue on how to run a successful business and yet that is another challenge!
If you’re tired of visiting breakdown repair shops and instead want to learn how to precisely and efficiently drive your business to produce results you never thought possible, why not listen to a respected instructor in the field?
If you’re willing to listen, I’m willing to show you how to improve your driving and help you overcome the last few remaining challenges, like Robbie Knievel jumped over the Grand Canyon!
In any case, whatever you do, remember to ask yourself the following questions:
1. Where are we now as a company? have a team?
2. Where do we want to be as a company? have a team?
3. How are we going to get there as a team? What we need to do?
4. How do we measure success? How do we know that we have achieved our objectives?
then use Deming’s approach: Plan-Do-Check-Act,
wash, rinse and repeat slowly!
For your complete success,
Cristobal