Tag Archives: business

September 27, 2012 · 10:35 am

Atonement

Yesterday was Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish year. For those of you unfamiliar with the holiday, it concludes the 10 day period at the start of the Jewish calendar – Rosh Hashanah – head of the year – during which all Jews are supposed to reflect upon the past year and examine how they’re going to change their lives going forward. One also seeks forgiveness from those against whom he has transgressed – both those of this earth and higher powers. There is a lot of other imagery connected with the period – inscription in the Book of Life being a big one – but I think there’s something each of us can take as a business lesson in a non-denominational way.

We all get off track.  Sometimes it’s in little ways like eating badly or drinking too much.  Sometimes it’s in big ways like alienating our families or hurting friends who love us.  The concept in Judaism of repentance is called Teshuva  which means “return”.  I love the notion of coming back to one’s self as well as to the basic human tenets that are common to all religions and peoples.

We can take a period of reflection and “return” in our business lives as well.  The most obvious way is for us as individuals   Whom have we alienated this year?  What client have we taken for granted?  But it a bigger opportunity.  How has the business diverged from the mission?  Why have we stopped getting better and are just marching in place?  What can we be doing to grow our people but are ignoring?

We ask those kinds of questions from time to time but I guess I’m suggesting that it become a more formal process.  Set aside a period every year for “return” thinking.  A period of repentance?  Maybe, in some cases.  But in all cases a chance to change.  A chance to regret past bad actions and to vow not to repeat them.  Most importantly (this is true in the religious sense as well), to correct the transgression.  To apologize.   To make restitution.  Whatever is right and lets everyone move forward with a clear conscious and a vow to do better.

Sound like a plan?

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September 25, 2012 · 10:38 am

I’m Sick

This may be a bit more incoherent than usual today.

Common cold

Common cold (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I have a foggy brain, a stuffy nose, and body aches.  That’s right – a common cold.  Not unusual, you think, but it really is for me.  Since I stopped commuting to work and flying all over the place, I’ve been sick exactly one other time.  That’s right – one cold in five years (until now).

I’m not sure where I got it although I was in a lot more large crowds over the last week than normal.  Maybe the guy with whom I slapped palms at the Springsteen show last week had a cold.  Maybe it was someone I greeted at the wedding we attended.  Maybe it was someone I was near at the market.  Who knows?  However, it’s good business point.

You can’t (and don’t want to) avoid interacting with other people.  I’m not sure how you do business without doing so.  However, it turns out about 80% of contagious diseases are transmitted by touch.  That’s right – the best protection from the common cold and flu is frequent hand washing.

Our businesses run the risk of infection – something that disrupts their normal functioning – if we don’t take the time to make sure they’re “clean” – that we’re not off-track, that the team is all in sync, and that the contact with outsiders hasn’t done something to disrupt that.  Think of staff meetings or check-ins with your team as a good hand scrubbing.  That sort of communication can prevent a lot of  what ails many businesses.

Now I’m going back to bed.  After I wash my hands….

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September 24, 2012 · 10:53 am

Golf Economics And You

Here we are at Monday again and of course I spent a chunk of the weekend playing golf.

United States Golf Association

 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

As you know, I think we can learn an awful lot about business (and life) from the game and I came across an article this morning that’s a perfect example of that. It’s on the USGA website and was written by an agronomist about course care in challenging times.  What caught my eye is that he writes about a new business model for the game and of course that sort of thinking is exactly what we try to do in this space.

If you’re not familiar with what’s going on in the golf business, it’s a mirror of many others.  The number of folks playing (the customer base) is down, those who do play are playing less (consumption), and the costs of maintaining and operating the business are always going up.  Sounds like a lot of other industries.  So let’s see if what he suggests might help some of those businesses.

First, he talks about making a difficult game easier.  The USGA has a “tee it forward” initiative which encourages players to play from tees more appropriate to their skill level (which also speeds up play).  The piece also gets into removing long rough and getting rid of many bunkers (sand traps) that make it hard for less-skilled golfers.  While I have mixed feeling about that as a golfer, I do think that any business needs to take a hard look at barriers to usage.  Playing golf badly is no fun just like spending hours trying to decipher a PC problem or fix an issue with your car can make veins pop out of your neck.  Game manufacturers have long known this – almost every game offer the ability to set the difficulty level.  How can you do that in your business?

Next he talks about controlling costs.  In golf’s case it’s actions such as not cutting grass in some areas – there are out-of-play areas adjacent to tees that are mowed, irrigated and fertilized and acres of turf can be removed from many golf courses without altering the golf experience.  It reminded me of a legendary story about the early days of Capital Cities Communications and how they were so cost-conscious they only painted the sides of the buildings that faced the roads.  Where can you look at costs without impacting your product?  It needs to be a regular evaluation.

Finally, he talks about using alternative grasses which will cut maintenance and stand up better to heat, etc. which provides a better play experience.  This too is a great point for any business.  While the product may not change (the game is the game!) making it a better user experience is a constant.  No one likes to play a burnt-out golf course jut like no one likes any experience that doesn’t meet the brand promise that got them to the product n the first place.  Lt’s put that on our “to do ” list as well.

What else can you come up with?  Do you like what the author is saying?

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