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