ktoddstorch @ business thoughts

Word of the Week (the last one)

This will be the last Word of the Week entry.  I am changing my weekly feature to more accurately reflect the "Thoughts" premise of the blog.  The new weekly feature will debut next week with the start of 2005.

Knowing that, I thought I would quickly review the Words listed and close with this word:

Review
Most of you have had your 2005 Strategic Plans done for months.  Maybe your tweaked them, maybe made big changes based on new events in 4Q.  Now, do you have your game-plan in your head?  Do you have your to do list set?  If not, time to review!

Word of the Week review (New to Old):
Reinvent
Commitment
Relevant
Change
Thankful
Purpose
Passion
W.I.F.M.
Bells
No
Accountability
Wow!
Thank you
Why

Word of the Week

Reinvent

The best always find a way to make positive change; stay ahead of the curve and stay top of mind.  Companies (Nike, ESPN, MTV...heck, even Enron), individuals (Tom Peters, my brother), artists (Madonna, Aerosmith, Rolling Stones)...the list could go on and on.

As you put your finishing touches on your plans for next year, what processes, what programs, what products, what about YOU needs to be reinvented?

Spend time reflecting on this or you will be left behind...

None of us have time to be a One Hit Wonder.

Word of the Week

Commitment

What are you giving your all to?  Have you fully committed to your job?  The latest project?

How about at home?  What are you giving your all to?

Look yourself in the mirror and answer the questions?  If you don't like the answer, make a plan, write it down and get after it!

Word of the Week

Relevant

We all work on great projects, but are they relevant?  Is the end product that you are trying to create really what your customer wants?  Really?  How do you know?

Think about your own lifestyle and daily habits.  What is relevant to you?  What new product or service really got your excited?  Why?

So many companies put out products and services only to "beat the competition", but don't focus on why the customer wants/needs it.  Most companies are trying to get back marketshare from Apple's iPod with less expensive or smaller .mp3 players, but do they know "why" people use them?  They better make sure it is easy to get music on and off of the player or it will be useless and the consumer will tell everyone how bad the product is.

Word of the Week

Change
No one likes it, especially those that report to you.  However, nothing stays the same.  In fact, what are you doing the same this month (insert day, week, year...)  that you were last?

What should be different?  Your meetings?  A system?  A product?  A relationship?

When exercising, your body gets used to the training and won't respond like it used to.  This is why top athletes and those committed to results change up their training.

Get moving.  Get going.  Change it up.

Word of the Week

Thankful

I know; its Thanksgiving week and I took the easy way out.  However, I've had some time to really reflect on this word the last few weeks with some trials that good friends of mine have had to face.

Are you truly thankful for your customers, employees, job, issues you face and opportunites in front of you?

Take inventory of what is important and feed it.  Nurture it.   Grow it.  Develop it.  Love it.

Word of the Week

Purpose

What is the reason you are doing what you are doing?  Ask yourself this with every task, meeting, conversation you have this week.

It will take you back to your Covey reading days...Begin with the end in mind. 

Word of the Week

Passion

This is a tough word to recreate in the business world because it is an emotion.  However, some of the best company's have found a way to tap into their consumer's passion to sell them products (or better yet, convinced them that they MUST have the product).

Also, are you passionate about what you do?  Do others feed off of your passion?  Do you have passionate customers?

TiVo, Nike, liveSTRONG bands, the best radio stations and so many other examples, all have passion driving them.

Get passionate, or better yet...find out what your customers are passionate about and feed the passion.

Word of the Week

W.I.F.M.

You know this word! Say it with me...whiffem. You know, What's In It For Me? I joke that this is the radio station that all of us work for everyday.

To your clients; do your presentations really address what they need? Do they feel that you are working on behalf and with them or are you in it just for you?

To your employees; they judge everything that you do with this filter. How will your new procedure affect them? How will your new "initiative" change their life, lifestyle, expense account?

Whatever your audience, remember the radio station they work for...W.I.F.M.

Word of the Week

Bells

If you are in Management, what "bells" are you ringing? Are you sending a consistant message to your employees of what is important?

If you asked your employees what were the most important items to accomplish, would their answers match yours?

Be selective and careful with your focus and words. Bells make a difference.

Which ones are you ringing?