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