Twice a year, Bill Gates goes to a remote island hide-a-way for a week at a time. No, he's not going for a fishing vacation; instead of rods, reels, and lures he takes market analyses, position reports, engineering reports, and opportunity papers. In solitude he reads and thinks and reads some more, writing notes in the margins then composing questions, thoughts, and his own positions that will impact the future of Microsoft and the entire technology industry for years to come.
Getting away from the daily pressures for an extended period of careful thought and consideration in his "Think Weeks" are the way Bill Gates works on the vision of the company, determines what new projects to pursue, and plans for the future. It is the same rigorous work and thought process that CEO's of every business should pursue. Do you?
Now, I'm not suggesting that you should take a "Think Week" twice a year. Your business is much less complex than Microsoft. But, if your business is to remain competitive in this business environment and grow, you must take some think time. Maybe you need to take a "Think Hour", a "Think Afternoon", a "Think Day", or even a "Think Weekend" with no telephones, no people, and no distractions. Go off onto that remote island (even if it is just behind your closed door with a "do not disturb" sign and a disconnected phone) to put the interruptions of the day-to-day far away. Have an agenda. Ask yourself some hard questions:
"Is the business on track to fulfilling my vision?"
"Is the growth rate or profit rate on target"
"If not ? what can we do to improve it?"
"Where is my industry headed in the next five years and how do I position my business to take advantage of the changes?"
"What changes in our company culture, policies, strategies, and tactics are necessary and how do we implement them?"
If Bill Gates can get away from his multi-billion dollar business for two "Think Weeks" a year, you should be able to do it for two "Think Afternoons." It will make a difference.
Larry Galler, a Coach and Consultant, works with Owners and Managers of small and mid-size businesses to substantially increase sales volume and profitability through creative marketing strategies and streamlining or eliminating "administrivia."
To learn about ways Larry helps businesses acheive their goals visit http://www.larrygaller.com
tidy up service Glenview ..Have you been in a "brainstorming" session where each person... Read More
Many movies have been made about the tragic story of... Read More
The time when a website was just a simple set... Read More
One of the difficulties we face in our industrialized age... Read More
How you finance the expansion of your business is important.... Read More
Anyone who has been watching the Idaho Market Carefully for... Read More
These may sound like no brainers, but you'd be surprised.... Read More
Business seems to drop, slow or even stop during the... Read More
Growth through acquisition should not be considered an option reserved... Read More
Here is an abstract thought on studying nature and the... Read More
Q: A key investor in my business has suggested that... Read More
It is always said "If you Fail to Plan, you... Read More
Succession planning, like any business acumen, is both an art... Read More
I love the excitement of starting up a new home... Read More
Franchised companies often require what some believe to be excessive... Read More
Remember Chux? The disposable diaper that took the market by... Read More
The current state of the available technology at the disposal... Read More
( * - the word 'product' can be substituted to... Read More
In most business plans, no matter how striking the idea,... Read More
Let us look at a few of the big distribution... Read More
Strategic planning is vital while starting a new business or... Read More
The decision to sell, or not to sell your business... Read More
Many of Ohio's downtown areas are in need of upgrading... Read More
So what makes a vision successful? Everyday companies try to... Read More
This week I coached a wonderfully lovely woman I'll call... Read More
full-service cleaning Mundelein ..If you own a pressure washing business one of the... Read More
If you've ever listened to Warren Buffett talk about investing,... Read More
"Did you hear what your competitor is doing?" This question... Read More
It is always said "If you Fail to Plan, you... Read More
Where would your business be without a proper plan? A... Read More
Mobile auto detailing equipment becomes very inexpensive around March each... Read More
One of the key challenges for any business is to... Read More
Writing a Business Plan these days is tough, venture capitalists... Read More
The first step in starting a restaurant is proper planning.... Read More
Creativity is one of the greatest tools for success in... Read More
Many movies have been made about the tragic story of... Read More
Here's a really simple way to make sure your plans... Read More
Strategic planning and consulting is the strategy roadmap to manage... Read More
If ever there were an industry where we want zero... Read More
Scenario OneDuring a recent presentation, a business owner was given... Read More
Making money doesn't make your reputation... your reputation makes you... Read More
Storytelling and writing a business plan actually go hand in... Read More
There is so much small business information available today that... Read More
We have been spending many hours surveying the market for... Read More
All investors greatly desire and are motivated by a clear... Read More
Many business start-up kits or consultants will tell you one... Read More
1. Attempt Succession Planning Without Other Strategic Plans. Succession plans... Read More
People often ask "What makes a good business plan? Or,... Read More
Have you ever done a SWOT analysis? No, it's not... Read More
A significant advantage of some business ideas is that the... Read More
Strategic Planning |