10 Commandments for Business Failure by Donald R. Keough is a fantastic book about being flexible and growing a business.
There are many great ways to go out of business, read this book and help yourself avoid them.
My Main takeaways:
Never stop taking calculated risks
Ask employees how they’re doing and what we as a company could be doing better.
Never isolate yourself
Surround yourself with smart people who will argue with you.
All business boils down to matters of trust
If you want to succeed, take lots of time to think.
Thinking is the best investment you’ll ever make in your company, in your career, in your life.
Think twice. Act once.
Think smart. Act Fast.
Every business activity must have someone projecting ahead to the long-term consequences for the welfare and dignity of the company.
Never put all faith into outside consultants.
Every business is mainly about serving present customers effectively and creating new ones.
Every expense, every department, every project must ask: Will this help to create and serve customers?
Smart enterprises value their employees and encourage their contributions and encourage their creative spark
Don’t let layers of bureaucracy smother imagination.
Avoid sending mixed signals to customers and employees
Don’t be afraid of the future, embrace it.
To aspire to any kind of leadership in business you simply have to be an optimist.
Approach the future with optimism and passion.
Nothing great in the world has been accomplished without passion. — George Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel
Consciously work to become interested in the moment and make an emotional connection with the people involved.
Remind yourself every day what the customer is looking for:
- Customer service and Clear communication: set the expectation, explain the process
- Expertise
- A job well done
- It can be different things for different people but cover all of them.
Visualize your audience
Good employees value money, power, and opportunity to be a part of something that kindles enthusiasm
Give your people something to engaged and excited about
Give them a challenge that demands a deep, passionate involvement, requiring the best effort.
Passion is contagious and leads to new ideas and new energy.
