On our journey of business leadership, we are now transitioning from the “Get” stages of business to the “Give” stages of business. We started a couple weeks back by having you look at the foundation of your business – the Culture. We then moved into the life blood of the business which is sales. With sales or revenue, cash on hand then comes moving to a place of stability which is the repeatability of profit. Being able to operate your business with the dollars the business generates after the business has paid a profit to the business asset. We also touched on the operational aspect of the business. Having the right people in the right roles using the best practices to allow for a consistent opportunity to contribute to the marketplace. All these stages of business growth and development lead us to a place where the business is running. Consistent recurring sales, profit, and order. It can now give more back to the community it services.
Do not misinterpret that your business cannot be an active entity in your community until you move through all the prior stages. All along the way you are part of the spheres your business touches. It may give jobs to the local community. It may provide community services to assist those in need. It might very well be the local hangout or watering hole which allows for the town to come and breathe a little after the workday.
The point of focus here is that being a member of your community and active as a corporate citizen is particularly good and needs to be part of your culture. The challenges come in that if the “Give” aspect of the business overrides the “Get” stages of the build model, then you cannot be as giving as maybe you would like. You cannot take you eye off the prize until you have the “Get” stages well refined and working in great synchronicity.
The impact stage is a real opportunity to move the business from transactions to be far more transformative. This is where your clients are selling for you. They are the cheerleaders of your brand. This is where they want others to get in the story with them so everyone can have greater benefits from the relationship rather than just the original product or service you transact in the marketplace. This is actually the stage when your true purpose and mission get energized.
Going back to a statement made a couple weeks back when owners are asked “why are they in business.” Many state to make money. I challenge that as not the why, but it is more of a result or outcome. When pushing owners to dig deeper into why they are in business it always ends up being about the impact they want to make in the world in one way or another. The business is just the vehicle to help get them and others to that same point of impact. Yes, they do need money/cash (air). They need stability from profit (shelter from the storm). They need a recurring operational excellence so that all the people and systems are not just working well but are realizing contribution to the whole. It is here that owner’s transition from Get to Give. As part of this it allows for dreams to be realized for not just business leaders but for all those who contribute in the business and those who realize benefits from the business.
This week, peek into your business and get a glimpse of what the transition from Get to Give might look like. What needs to be in place to move you over the hump to be able to realize not just your dream but the dreams of all of those in your business who are pulling with you in the same direction.
Want to brainstorm about your dreams and how to realize them? Give your Promise Guide a call to open up the conversations at (313) 527-7945 in Michigan or (407) 984-7246 in Florida. Or go onto our calendar below and schedule an initial meeting which works best on your busy schedule. JKL Associates looks forward to continuing to build relationships rooted in “Purpose.”