Dave Gardner’s “Thank God It’s Monday” 27SEP10

“Thank God It’s Monday” is to help companies thrive!

This week’s focus: business execution

I had the good fortune of spending the weekend at a Kalispell, Montana, hotel that backed up to a very small airport. Just before dinner, my wife and I watched a gentleman in a small, single-engine Cessna practicing take-offs and landings as the sun set behind the mountains.

This reminded me a pilot must maintain proficiency to keep his/her license current or face flying restrictions until issues are cleared.

Business execution is really no different. You can’t assume that a process you put in place is relevant and works well today. To be effective, processes must be tested and validated for efficacy. If necessary, adjustments must be made to ensure the process business goals are achieved and maintained.

Companies that thrive are vigilant about ensuring their business processes and business execution meet high standards.

Thought for the week:

When obstacles arise, change your direction to reach your goal, not the decision to get there.” -Zig Ziglar

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Dave Gardner, Gardner & Associates Consulting http://www.gardnerandassoc.com

© 2010 Gardner & Associates Consulting  All Rights Reserved

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Dave Gardner’s “Thank God It’s Monday” 20SEP10

“Thank God It’s Monday” is to help companies thrive!

This week’s focus: entrepreneurship

I attended DEMO Fall 2010 this past week, a show where aspiring entrepreneurs pay nearly $20,000 in registration fees to get a small booth and time on stage to present their innovation to analysts and firms looking for great ideas to invest in.

Chris O’Brien summed up my reaction to DEMO’s entrepreneurs in his San Jose Mercury News article titled, “What startups should focus on:”

“I am constantly impressed by the crazy amount of energy entrepreneurs spend hatching innovative services, so I have never understood why they seem to spend so little time figuring out their business models. Most end up banking on their ability to sell ads to pay the bills and make money.

Everyone convinces themselves that they will be the one startup to break out of the pack and make this work. But, this ignores the fact that no matter how much advertising shifts to the Web, there isn’t enough to support even a tiny fraction of these startups.”

One would have thought the dot com bust a decade ago would have etched Chris’s insight in every entrepreneur’s mind. If you believe that, you’d be wrong. I concur with his assessment. I asked many firms “how do you make money at this” and most responded “we’re still working on the details.”

Companies that thrive are enamored with their customers, not merely their innovation ideas. If it won’t work for customers, it won’t work for investors who provide the fuel ($) required to launch and sustain a company.

Thought for the week:

“If stupidity got us into this mess, then why can’t it get us out?” – Will Rogers

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Dave Gardner, Gardner & Associates Consulting http://www.gardnerandassoc.com

© 2010 Gardner & Associates Consulting  All Rights Reserved

Note:  To receive an email version of “Thank God It’s Monday” to start your week, please subscribe here.  I would very much appreciate your suggesting to others that they subscribe.

Privacy Statement:  Our subscriber lists are never rented, sold, or loaned to any other parties for any reason.

Dave Gardner’s “Thank God It’s Monday” 13SEP10

“Thank God It’s Monday” is to help companies thrive!

This week’s focus: business execution

Imagine waiting a lifetime for the opportunity to play professional football and having that opportunity end just days before the regular season begins.

22 players were recently cut from the San Francisco 49er’s pre-season roster.  Those who weren’t cut had to breathe a huge sigh of relief: they had made it to the regular season.

In a surprise move a couple of days later, the 49er’s cut their third-string quarterback. Coach Singletary said:

“I really like the kid.  There’s a lot to like about him, but there’s a work ethic that you have in terms of being a quarterback in the NFL.”

Having talent but merely showing up doesn’t cut it in the NFL or in any organization for that matter.

Companies that thrive know it’s not enough to merely show up.

Thought for the week:

“Either you run the day or the day runs you.” -Jim Rohn

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Dave Gardner, Gardner & Associates Consulting http://www.gardnerandassoc.com

© 2010 Gardner & Associates Consulting  All Rights Reserved

Note:  To receive an email version of “Thank God It’s Monday” to start your week, please subscribe here.  I would very much appreciate your suggesting to others that they subscribe.

Privacy Statement:  Our subscriber lists are never rented, sold, or loaned to any other parties for any reason.

Dave Gardner’s “Thank God It’s Monday” 06SEP10

“Thank God It’s Monday” is to help companies thrive!

This week’s focus: leadership

From Sir Richard Branson’s book, Business Stripped Bare, comes this insight:

“…teams: they don’t last for ever. Think of a team as being like the cast in a theatrical play. Actors who work too long together on the same show for too long grow stale. When the business lets you, shake things up a little.”

The status quo represents danger.

Shaking things up a little will allow constant evolution and help your business thrive.

Thought for the week:

Opportunities multiply as they are seized.” - Sun Tzu

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Dave Gardner, Gardner & Associates Consulting http://www.gardnerandassoc.com

© 2010 Gardner & Associates Consulting  All Rights Reserved

Note:  To receive an email version of “Thank God It’s Monday” to start your week, please subscribe here.  I would very much appreciate your suggesting to others that they subscribe.

Privacy Statement:  Our subscriber lists are never rented, sold, or loaned to any other parties for any reason.