(Time to read this Blog is about 2.5 minutes)
Before we get to the main topic, here are a few things to get you thinking or smiling:
- My Biz Quote of the week:
“Get your priorities right. When we say ‘yes’ to one thing or one person, at that moment we’re saying ‘no’ to all the other things and people in our lives. Are you saying your ‘yeses’ and your ‘nos’ to the right things and the right people?”
…Donald Cooper.
- Social Media in decline. The number of Canadians who use Facebook on a daily basis dropped from 61% to 37% in the last four years.
- Quick Biz Tip: ‘Affordable outsourcing’…the huge value of College and University student interns.
From Community College interns to MBA students doing a strategic analysis of some part of your business, students are one of the most under-utilized resources for small and medium size businesses today. They’re smart, they’re keen and they’re free…or almost free.
Have you built a relationship with the appropriate Departments at a college or university in your area?
Have you a list of projects with which you need help? Start right now by creating a list of at least 3 projects that don’t get done, that an intern or small team of interns could do.
Business School students could help with marketing, customer experience or a Business Plan. Graphic Design students can help with logos, signage, or package design. Web Design students could do a tune-up of your website. Video Media students could work with you to create a 5-minute, ‘Why you should work here!’ video to help you attract and onboard talented staff.
Bonus: Some of these young people can become great full-time employees for you in the future.
- I stand with the Jews! My father used to say, “If you don’t stand for something…you’ll fall for anything!” Antisemitism is on the rise globally and I stand with the Jewish people because they’ve done more for all of humanity than any other race or group.
Jews are probably the most discriminated against and persecuted ethnic group in the history of the human journey. With a current global population of only 15 million (.2 % of the global population), no other race or group has contributed more to uplifting humanity through science, medicine, education, literature, philosophy, business, music, theatre, comedy and philanthropy than the tiny Jewish race.
For this reason, Jews have had a disproportionate impact on the lives, health, enlightenment and elevation of mankind and, for some reason, many people resent that incredible ‘gift’. We should embrace, treasure and thank the Jewish people profusely! But, instead, Jews are disrespected, boycotted, vilified and persecuted. And yet, in spite of this, they keep contributing to, donating to and advancing the human journey. So, I proudly and gratefully stand with them!
Now, to this week’s important topic:
Process ain’t sexy, but your business is in big trouble without it:
Creativity and innovation are ‘hot topics’ right now, and I applaud that. But, in the end, it’s boring, unsexy ‘process’ that actually gets things done. Even ‘creativity’ is often a process. Sometimes it’s just dumb luck or a sudden flash of brilliance…but, often, it’s a process.
Most successful companies have developed a disciplined and consistent process’ that delivers a stream of innovative products, well-trained and highly engaged employees, more efficient operations, consistent quality, employee safety, increased sales and an amazing customer experience.
‘Process’ is what keeps airplanes from falling out of the sky. It’s what makes a Big Mac exactly the same in Montreal as it is in Dubai. Process is what gets cars designed, engineered and produced. Process is what allows a hotel chain to know that you want a non-smoking room on a low floor, near the elevator, with a king size bed, foam pillows and a USA Today at your door each morning.
In fact, everything that happens between ‘intent’ and ‘delivery’ is process. As a business, you can have the best intentions in the world for your customers, your staff, for the environment and for your bottom line. But without clear, effective and well-communicated processes, these wonderful intentions will be just that…‘intentions’.
To quote the late W. E. Deming, the internationally renowned authority on quality and efficiency, “If you can’t describe what you’re doing as a process, you don’t know what you’re doing.”
So, exactly what is a process, anyway? Simply put, a process is…
- An effective and well-communicated sequence of activities,
- Supported by the necessary resources,
- Designed to deliver a consistent, efficient and effective result,
- To a specific standard.
OK, so it’s not so simple. But that’s what a process is…and there are no shortcuts. Re-read the definition above and, while you’re at it, rate your business’ performance, on a scale of 1 to 10, on each of the four elements. Then, using that info, determine what needs to be done to improve the processes in every part of the business.
That’s it for this week…
Stay safe…live brilliantly!
Donald Cooper
Donald Cooper speaks and coaches internationally on management, marketing, and profitability. He can be reached by email at donald@donaldcooper.com in Toronto, Canada.
