Who's In Your Pool?

The Olympics ended on Sunday. It’s nice to get back to a full night’s sleep. The one event from this Olympics that will most likely be talked about for years to come is Michael Phelps’ eight gold medals. Phelps now holds the record for the most gold medals won at a single Olympics, and in doing so broke seven world records. Phelps is now among one of the most decorated Olympic athletes of all time.

How did Phelps do this? Well, first of all he got the right people “on the bus”, or in his case “in the pool”. First he had mom. She recognized something special in her son, and she recognized the need for him to have a venue to channel his energy and develop focusing skills. She took him to swimming lessons, and had him join a swim club. There, Phelps met up with two types of coaches. The first taught him how to swim. They provided him with technical know how. The second group of coaches saw Phelps’ natural talent. They taught him how to win. They helped provide him with goals and a plan and a strategy to reach those goals. The final group of people in the pool were Phelps’ team mates who helped him win two gold medals in the relays. With preparation in place, Phelps had created a goal worth believing in and a plan to achieve it. He was able to inspire his team mates to swim beyond themselves and achieve what some had said would be impossible.

Jim Collins author of Good to Great found that companies that achieved greatness first got the right people “on the bus”. (see chapter 3) Your business already has some people “on your bus” or as with Phelps “in your pool”. Your business has a “mom”. That would be you. The one person who recognizes what’s special about your business and what it can become. Your business has the first type of coaches. They were the ones who helped you in the past as teachers to teach you your technical skills. Currently, your business has an attorney to help you’re the legal technical issues of being in business. And, your CPA help you other technical matter by preparing your tax returns. However, who’s in your pool helping you set your goals and design a strategy to achieve those goals? Who’s helping you create a vision that your team members can believe in? Who’s giving you the support you need to inspire your team to achieve what some would say is impossible?

A CPA who is a member of the Principa Alliance can be the coach that helps provide your business with goals and a strategy to achieve them. In addition, these CPAs have the financial knowledge to assist with establishing the budget that aligns with those goals. They also work with you and your team to provide systems to measure and monitor your progress.

Brenda Richter, CPA is a member of the Principa Alliance.