My last blog was in August and I just came up for air now. Where did September go? Pretty easy to get behind these days. It’s time to put some extra effort into catching up and staying caught up. It’s a better way to operate.

So you had a game plan and you fell off the wagon, like me? Does that mean the plan was flawed or that you just lacked the discipline to follow through? Based on my experience, I would suggest the latter.

I think we are all capable of laying out an achievable plan that could improve our communication, finances, health or relationships. The trick is to try and avoid too much change at once. Start with something you can manage and make it a habit, then take the next step towards where you want to be. After all, life is a marathon not a sprint. It takes time to get off track, so it’s going to take time to get back on top.

5 Tips to get back on your game 

1. Keep the faith baby. Don’t get discouraged. If you’re in a funk, make some baby steps in the right direction. Do what you need to do, first thing in the morning while you have more steam and before your day is fully underway.
2. Keep it positive. If you find yourself saying “I can’t do it”, turn it around. The mind is a powerful thing.
3. Don’t let past failures weigh you down. Reference past successes to move yourself forward. Give yourself a break. Small success can lead to big success, so shoot for a small win to get you going.
4. Is there something on your to do list that you just can’t seem to find time to address? Has that 1 small thing grown so big you are afraid to tackle it? Take a chip off it as it is impacting everything you do. Anything is progress. Getting started is the hard part and once you’re going you’ll be amazed how quick you’ll get through it.
5. Can’t get there yourself? Ask for help. You’re not alone. There are people you can turn to that can assist you. We’ve all been there and most folks are glad to help a friend willing to make steps to help themselves.

 Lee’s Quote for the Day

“It’s simple. If you find yourself 5’ down a 10’ hole, look up. That’s a good start.” 

In November of last year, I wrote a blog about the folks at Zet’s who took over a Derry Road restaurant, just north of the airport. It was a dubious location, where multiple enterprises have failed over the last decade. After my first visit, my thoughts were “I think they did it right and will be a success. It’s well marketed and manned and I believe their attention to detail will make the difference in keeping their doors open and their business prospering. Time will tell.”

It appears, 9 months later, they indeed have made it a success at a location where previous endeavours have closed their doors in short order (no pun intended). Execution, consistency, financial resources and experience in the industry, were able to overcome a long history of failure. As important as the right location is, the right people with the right thinking can overcome hefty obstacles.

It’s something to keep in mind for any of us in the job we do or the business we run. Doing it right can take you a long way. It doesn’t have to be over the top, as long as it is above average…even a little bit and consistently so.

Congrats to Zet’s on Derry Road for turning a sow’s ear into a silk purse. A job well done!

 Lee’s Quote for the Day

“The lead in the TV show ‘The A Team’ used to say ‘I love it when a plan comes together’. In my opinion, there is no better feeling and it’s definitely something we can all aspire to.” 

My last blog of 2011 was about turning over the captain’s chair to my staff while I took a 3 week vacation. A real vacation at that, not glued to my e-mail or solving problems from afar. I let them sail the ship and I relaxed. It was a welcome change.

If you have an experienced team, the captain is only needed when you hit rough water. Steering the ship through a crisis is a learned skill set, sharpened by experience. Whether we have fallen into a leadership position, got forced into taking the helm or arrived at it by design, the short strokes are that every ship needs a captain and every project needs a champion. Why? Because there are always storms to navigate and only one person can make that decision. No two people are likely to approach the same set of circumstances in the same manner. As my older brother likes to say, “There are lots of right answers”.

When I started my business 24 years ago, my older brother’s advice was… don’t do it. He had been in business for a decade already and knew the perils I would face. I believe it was something I was meant to do and as I may have stated before, being overly optimistic and somewhat naive are fundamental qualities of being in business for yourself.

I’ve seen a lot of businesses fail. Solid companies with hard working owners – most spent too much money on the wrong things at the wrong time. Many fell behind with tax remittances. Some coasted when they should have forged ahead. Some forged ahead only to have a dramatic shift in technology or market conditions do them in. I feel very fortunate that my business is solid as we march into 2012.

For anyone thinking of starting their own business or are in business already and questioning their direction, here are 5 tips that people have shared with me and I know to be true:

1. Don’t bog yourself down with things you’re not good at. Hire the right people to fill the gaps.
2. Banks never give you money when you need it. Always increase your credit line when you don’t need it so that it’s there when you need it most.
3. Prepare yourself to work longer hours, take fewer vacations and have more stress than you will ever have working for someone else.
4. Prepare for the worst and expect the best is appropriate advice and trusting your instincts is critical to successful decision making.
5. Last but not least, the right decision is always the hardest until you make it… after you make it, you will wonder why you hadn’t done it sooner.

Lee’s quote for the day

“You’ll know when you’re going in the right direction by the number of hills you climb, obstacles you overcome and forks in the road that require decisions to be made.”