Caution – Back to School and Back to Work

With Labor Day behind us and the unofficial start of fall, our attention shifts to many in our communities going back to school and to the mindset in the workplace returning to focus on completing the calendar year by achieving the objectives set forth in January.  Some might say that they never took their eye off the target during the summer. For some, that is very true.  The reality is that although they might have kept their eye on the target, did it translate into actionable steps forward to the goals of the business? 

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Labor Day 2026

The unofficial start of the fall season and new school year for many takes place next week. But prior to that event, we pause to acknowledge all who have labored and will labor for this great nation. Labor Day is set aside each year to recognize the importance of those who contribute to our nation by putting forth effort and energy in their chosen work.

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Pursuit of Happiness!

As our nation continues its year-long celebration of 250 years, it is a good time to revisit part of the Declaration of Independence. Specifically, that very important element of pursuing happiness. Our forefathers did not indicate that this freedom experiment called the United States would be without challenges. In fact, they placed their entire lives at stake in the Revolutionary War to uphold their convictions to enable citizens the opportunity to Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.

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Are you prioritizing your best customers?

It is a given in business. We need customers, and they need our products and services. This transactional relationship is the basis of commerce. A situation or need exists, and a vendor provides an answer. It can be a product or a service, depending on the customer’s requirements. In this transaction, the level of the relationship depends on the parties involved in the transfer of goods and/or services.

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Are your staff’s annual review plans out of sync?

A recent discussion with a colleague and some clients has prompted this week’s opportunity to reflect on empowering and engaging your team to assist them and, ultimately, the organization to higher levels of contribution and satisfaction. It is straightforward to correlate your team’s happiness and contentment with greater productivity. When people feel valued and contribute to the greater good, stuff gets done.  Not just timely but on schedule, and everyone feels a strong sense of accomplishment.

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Are you focused on the most important value? – Profitability

For the past few weeks, we have been exploring the value elements of your business – The People, The Culture, The Sustainability, and today we look at The Profitability.  We specifically kept this element for last for a couple of reasons.  The first and possibly the most important one is that the value of your business – its profitability will naturally flow from getting the first three elements in place and done well.  The profit of your business is the result of doing the other elements first.  The second reason is that when a leader is asked why they are in business, a typical response is that they are in business to make money.  Although this is not an incorrect statement, the money only comes when all other parts of the business are operating at their very best. 

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Are you focused on the most important value? – Sustainability

When that magical dream of business leadership arrives, whether it be as an owner or part of the leadership team, your role just got bigger.  Not because you are in charge of a business or a department, but because you are now part of the organization’s sustainability mechanism.  People and culture are now more dependent on you to perform at peak levels. As the saying might go, you have families to feed, clothe, and make prosperous.

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Are you focused on the most important value? – Culture

As we explore the various value elements of your business, this week, we will focus on your culture. Last week, we looked at the people value aspect in your business.  A critical extension of the people is the culture in which they exist within your business.  A vibrant culture stimulates greater contribution.  A lackluster culture drags people down, leading to turnover, mistakes, and stagnation, which in turn lead to a downturn in business success.

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