Marching To A New Beat

For our family, the Fall is filled with Friday Night Lights, as our oldest child is a member of her high school marching band. While we certainly enjoy the football team's successes on the field, the process and progress of the marching band really captures our attention. From two-a-day practices in the August heat, to entering the stadium in line to the drummers' beat at each game, to practicing for the always-sold-out Patriotic Game?everything the band director does is designed to build his team into a synchronized unit performing at its highest possible talent level.

A similar approach would be of tremendous value to your small business. Band directors don't show up in September and start figuring out what to do. They work on it all summer long, so they're prepared when students arrive for their first practice. As you and your team work through the daily challenges of running your small business, are you making plans for what you want to accomplish six months from now?

Success Handler Action: After you finish reading this e-newsletter, spend some time thinking about your goals. Consider all aspects of your small business including employees, your products/services, your competition, finances and the economic direction. Here are some questions to help you get started:

~ What do you hope to accomplish in the next year?

~ Where are your biggest opportunities?

~ Who on your team are the key players for getting you there?

~ How will you get your message out to prospects and current customers/clients?

~ What is your competition doing, and what can your learn from them?

Marching bands typically practice in 'sectionals' ? clarinets with clarinets, drum line with drum line, tubas with tubas, etc. ? then come together to blend all of the individual pieces into one cohesive unit. To the casual observer in the stands, everything seems to flow in perfect unison. However, it's the hours of practice leading to each performance that produce musical and marching masterpieces. Similarly, taking the time to develop your team members will pay off tremendously in the results you ultimately achieve.

Success Handler Action: As you begin the process of planning for the next six months, consider what your team needs, individually and as a unit, to take you to a higher level. Here are five ways you can have an immediate impact on their productivity and individual growth:

1. Pay for employees to attend an advanced learning class ? online or in-person.

2. Review the software your team uses regularly and decide if it's time for an update.

3. Reach out to your vendors and ask them to provide educational materials/training.

4. Make this "Employee Idea Month" ? and remember?the quantity of ideas you receive, not the quality, ultimately leads to discovery.

5. Give each employee two tickets to the movies...it will help relieve some of the stress, and not cost you much.

When our daughter began playing the clarinet in sixth grade, many months were filled with incorrect notes and shrill squeaks. However, she practiced every day, took weekly private lessons and began to improve. With ongoing encouragement from her middle school then junior high band directors, and her own self-determination, she eventually gained a skill that now provides her tremendous joy.

The same success is possible for your small business. Figure out what it is you want to accomplish, communicate that vision to your team members, motivate them to achieve their goals and help them overcome their roadblocks along the way. Before you know it, all of you will be cheering loudly for the victories you're enjoying together.

Copyright © 2004 by Success Handler, LLC. All rights reserved.

The Coach, David Handler, is the founder of Success Handler, (http://www.successhandler.com), and specializes in helping small business leaders, franchisees and franchisors find clarity and take action. He understands the challenges of running a business, because he's been there ? as a small business owner, franchisee, franchisor, corporate leader and trainer. Much like sports coaches, his coaching will show you how to compete on a level playing field in your industry.

---

Modelling Your Way to Success

The fastest way to succeeding in anything, be it online... Read More

A Century of Hope

What would one initially think about someone who dropped out... Read More

Practical Nine-Step Guide to Max Productivity

Step 1: List all the business activities that you complete... Read More

Help Yourself To Success

If you help yourself, God and humans will help you... Read More

You Are What You Think You Are

Think out of the box, they say. But what's a... Read More

If NASA Can Launch The Space Shuttle, Then You Can Become A Successnaut

The recent mission of the space shuttle Discovery is NASA's... Read More

Your Success

Success starts in your mind. Positive Thinking creates the advantage.Success... Read More

Identify Your Unique Factor and Succeed

What makes you unique? Answering this question will provide the... Read More

There is a Technique that can Change Your Life, says Author

Do you feel like your stuck?No matter what you do,... Read More

What Does Success Look Like To You?

So many of us want success, but how many of... Read More

Harness Mind Chatter and Make it Work for You!

"When you talk to yourself, you listen. No matter what... Read More

Moving Beyond Self-Sabotage

Self-sabotage is one key factor that keeps our business from... Read More

Success At Any Time?

It goes without saying that we are unlikely to experience... Read More

Falling Up the Stairs

There have been a lot of really good movies made... Read More

NORPS

I thought this was unbelievable, but it's true.On average, security... Read More

Three Key Behaviors That Determine Our Success

Success is a journey and along the way we need... Read More

7 Essential Body Language Tips

The secrets of our body language have been around forever... Read More

3 Keys to Fulfill Your Wildest Dreams

If you'd like to fulfill your long-held dreams, try a... Read More

Self-confidence - How To Develop This Important Key to Success

"One important key to success is self-confidence. An important key... Read More

Nice Guys Really Finish First - Really?

How can anyone with the brain of a cockroach make... Read More

Top 5 Sources of Energy Drain

Along with time and money, energy is one of your... Read More

Sentenced to Success

I once heard a speaker use the statement, "I have... Read More

Can Anyone Become A Successful Business Person?

Can anyone become a successful businessperson? I am asked this... Read More

Success Involves Ignoring Critics

Critics can destroy or inspire you. Your own self critic... Read More

Why Many People Fail to Succeed

You are never a failure until you accept defeat as... Read More

Self Esteem

Self-esteem is very important. It is the way we view... Read More

How to Achieve Massive Success Before Graduating

How do you land your dream job, win... Read More

100 Top 2004 Secrets to Success

After all the things I have shared with you this... Read More

Are You In It - To Win It?

Have you ever heard this? "It isn't whether you win... Read More

Building the Minds Framework for Success

Man is the most advanced being on this earth. We... Read More

Self Improvement and Living in the Present Moment

Having clear goals and desires for our future, and planning... Read More

Reach Your Goals - Get Your Act Together

Get your act together Make sure that you have all... Read More

Self-Confidence Is The Key To Personal And Professional Success

In my audio program Book Yourself Solid, The 7 Keys... Read More