| Entrepreneurial Holiday Wish List | | | | Dumbo ears, strategically positioned |
| Tim Fulton | | | | inour office, will remind us to make |
| I just received Christmas wish lists | | | | better use of our ears and less of |
| from both of my sons and my wife. | | | | ourlips. Steven Covey said it best when |
| Theyall have very lofty expectations for | | | | he suggested that we should "Seek |
| this holiday season. I will doing | | | | firstto understand and than to be |
| morethan my part to stimulate the | | | | understood". |
| nationÆs economy by the time I am | | | | 7. Walking shoes. We are spending way |
| doneshopping and will be deep into | | | | too much time behind our desks |
| government-like deficit spending by | | | | wadingthrough endless streams of |
| year-end. | | | | electronic mail. Tom Peters prescribed |
| I know that many of you have yet to | | | | many yearsago that the best leaders |
| complete your own holiday wish list and | | | | should "MBWA" (manage by walking |
| I would like to provide several | | | | around). Setaside a certain period of |
| suggestions. Here we go: | | | | time each day just to walk around your |
| 1. A portrait of your best customer. | | | | office,sales floor, or factory and see |
| This would hang right behind your deskto | | | | whatÆs going on. This can send a |
| remind you and your followers why you | | | | verypowerful message to the troops that |
| are in business. Having a hard | | | | you are sincerely interested in |
| timemaking a tough business decision? | | | | theirwork and can open up lines of |
| Just turn around and consult the | | | | communication that may never open |
| picture. | | | | bythemselves. |
| WhatÆs in their best interest? Trying | | | | 8. A picture frame. Find a picture that |
| to make a difficult hiring decision? | | | | best illustrates your passionoutside of |
| Would you want this applicant spending | | | | work, insert it into this frame, and |
| considerable time with this customer? | | | | place this picture in a veryconspicuous |
| 2. A Greyhound Bus miniature. My wife | | | | position in your office. This is a |
| gave me a little red sports carminiature | | | | reminder that there is lifeoutside of |
| several years ago because she said she | | | | this office. It may be a picture of your |
| could not afford to give methe real | | | | family, or the 18th holeat your favorite |
| thing. Why a bus? Just a reminder of | | | | golf course, or your Harley. |
| author Jim CollinÆs (Good To | | | | 9. Personal note cards. When was the |
| Great) suggestion of your role as the | | | | last time you send a personal thank |
| bus driver in your company. As the | | | | younote to a customer? An employee? A |
| busdriver you must make very important | | | | supplier? We have become much |
| personnel decisions. It is your job | | | | toocomfortable with electronic messaging |
| todecide who gets on your bus and where | | | | and have forgotten the power of |
| they are to sit. You must also decidewho | | | | apersonal touch. I know some CEOs that |
| doesnÆt get on the bus. | | | | make a habit of sending at least |
| 3. The book "Good To Great" by Jim | | | | onepersonal note a week to a key |
| Collins. I believe that this was the | | | | business stakeholder. |
| bestread of the year. Keep it close to | | | | 10. I have saved the best gift idea for |
| your desk for frequent reference. | | | | last. ItÆs a gift certificate |
| Consider how you measure up as a Level 5 | | | | toyourself in fact. You fill in the |
| Leader. | | | | amount and the store of choice. Why? |
| 4. A mirror. Every once in a while we | | | | Youhave worked very hard this year under |
| need to remind ourselves who is | | | | very difficult economic conditions. |
| incharge. We forget and allow the | | | | While recognizing all of your |
| patients to run the asylum. When things | | | | employeeÆs efforts this year, you may |
| aregoing well look into that mirror and | | | | haveoverlooked the highest performer of |
| take credit. Likewise, when | | | | allàyourself. Hence, treat yourself |
| businesstakes a turn for the worse, pose | | | | tosomething nice. YouÆve earned it. |
| for a brief time in front of that | | | | FYIànext year will be no easier. |
| mirrorand take responsibility for | | | | Happy Holidays. |
| strategic action. | | | | Tim Fulton is a nationally recognized |
| 5. A subscription to Inc Magazine. I | | | | small business consultant andmanagement |
| consider this Inc to be consistentlythe | | | | trainer. He is also a very popular |
| best reading for small business owners. | | | | public speaker. Tim can bereached at |
| Dare you plan on joining the Inc | | | | timfulton@.... |
| 500 this year? | | | | _______________________________________ |
| 6. A set of Dumbo elephant ears. It | | | | _________________________ |
| pains me to suggest that as a rule | | | | Tired of slow downloads? Compare online |
| smallbusiness owners in general are not | | | | deals from your local |
| good listeners. We tend to listen | | | | high-speedproviders now. |
| withour mouths open and lips moving. The | | | | |