The Big Picture is Colored Outside the Lines

During our elementary school years we were taught to color in between the lines. If we went outside the lines it was a mistake. We were to conform to a set pattern that had been proven to work and deliver an end result. So why rock the boat. Ironically, it seems we tend to look at many things in life from the same perspective even how we operate our businesses.

We attend various coaching and training seminars with the newest great way to achieve quick success. Each telling us how so and so made it and now if we do just what they did we will get just what they got. Success!

Is there any point in time we stop and evaluate our business to see what factors are equivalent? What things are different? Many times we are led to believe we are doing everything wrong or otherwise we would be holding the training sessions. Therefore, we must saturate our entire organization with their methodology and then we shall see success.

In reality no two business entities are alike; therefore we can’t just stay within the colored lines of dictated methods. Let’s try to go outside the lines in some situations. Let’s start evaluating some of these programs and see what really fits and toss out the rest. Something that works for one organization may cause disaster in another. Be brave! Go outside the lines! Mix and match colors. Try crazy patterns because this may actually work for your market. Have fun and enjoy coloring your organization outside the lines.

Failure can be added up

Isn't it interesting that many of the company failures somehow get tide back to financials.

So what's my point.

Financials are perhaps the least interesting document for most management teams. Most view with as much interest as visiting the dentist. But this lack of interest may have cost millions.

Think of it this way. What is the least exciting amoung the two? An invoice from your lawyer handling a case of embezzled funds by your previous employee or reviewing your current cash flow statement.

Have a great time with the financials.

Denise D Johnson
EDALS Consulting
Business Strategist