Something Worth Reading

I think the most important thing I can post this week is a link to something well worth your time to read. This link will take you to another blog that discusses issues surrounding some of my favorite topics, including post-secondary education and employee qualification:

http://blogmaverick.com/2012/05/13/the-coming-meltdown-in-college-education-why-the-economy-wont-get-better-any-time-soon/

If we are looking strategically into the future of our workforce, our children, and our success as businesses and a society, there are some important changes coming that we should be ready to respond to. How will you take action to navigate this wave of fundamental change?

The Right Tools



Flickr CC image by skistz

No job is going to be easy without the right tools to complete it. In this way, running a business is no different than building a deck. Having all the right pieces is just the first step - being able to strategically place them, have them fit together, and get the most out of them is where a system of business tools comes into play.

The Measuring Tape - Initial Assessments

Some business tools provide initial evaluations and generalizations. For example, are you even ready to become an entrepreneur? A simple test will help you find out. We encourage other assessment mechanisms, such as using our Business Calculators. Initial assessments are key to moving a business forward - if you don't know where you're at, how will you ever know where you're headed?

The Instructions - Educational Resources

Every great business owner has a collection of educational tools that help keep them at the top of their game. It may be a collection of videos, a series of e-books (or a tangible library), membership in a seminar group, or a routine including mental positive reinforcement or consistent reading of newsletters. Whatever the means or the source, every business owner should seek a constant stream of inspiration. Continual growth on the part of the owner means consistent growth on the part of the business. A collection of educational tools is essential.

The Hammer - The Numbers

No matter what industry you're involved in, the numbers for your business provide the most valuable tool of all. Without a bottom line there is nothing to build, improve, adapt or manipulate. If you don't know your numbers and use them to your advantage, you don't know anything at all about your business.

Endless are the tools used by business owners worldwide. Luckily ActionCOACH also spans the globe. ActionCOACH offers the best line of business tools and strategies of any Business Coaching company in the world - the proof is in the results. The strategies that business owners take away from their relationship with ActionCOACH are invaluable. With hundreds of strategies focusing on every aspect of business, from marketing to pricing, from team building to profit margins, ActionCOACH Business Coaches are skilled and experienced in finding the best method for any company to build their bottom line.

Coach David with ActionCOACH Lethbridge brings an amazing background of franchise knowledge and experience to the home playing field of Southern Alberta. Isn't it time that you took advantage of a wealth of proven business systems and strategies?

Ownership

We all know it: "If you keep doing what you're doing, you'll keep getting what you're getting." We firmly believe this to be true at ActionCOACH. Whether your behavior and attitudes are positive or negative, productive or unproductive, you'll get consistent results for your consistent actions. And while consistency is important, let's shift the focus away from that part of this principle and focus instead on "you."
Let's examine another one of the ActionCOACH 14 Points of Culture:

Ownership

I am truly responsible for my actions and outcomes and own everything that takes place in my work and my life. I am accountable for my results and I know that for things to change, first I must change.

The key to positive action and growth in your life and your work is YOU. Nothing will change for the better until you do. There are several tools that ActionCOACH uses to help business owners establish where they are at and how that relates to where they want to be. Today, make your bucket list - write down 100 things you want to do before you die. Establish what you want.

Brad Sugars says, "In order to have, one must do, ... but in order to do ... one must be!" The next step is to establish a system of learning and growth for yourself. Just like we said before, nothing will change until you do. You won't get what you want until you are willing to become what it takes to achieve your goals. For business owners, this often means a period of accelerated growth and learning that will effectively change them and their corporation. At ActionCOACH we use forms to track processes like these - for example, check out the Personal Learning and Achievement Log. If you don't know what it is that you don't know yet, start by checking out the business books referenced in my library (on the right side of this blog). Check out the Business Tools offered by ActionCOACH, as well as the Business Library. Put yourself on the road to your dreams by expanding your wealth of knowledge and skills, and by setting milestones to map your progress. In time you will be able to look back and see where you have been. And look forward to where you are going to end up. Those dreams are within your reach - begin today by taking ownership and establishing your system of growth to achieve them!