Happy Thanksgiving!
Ronald Reagan once said, “There are no great limits to growth because there are no limits to human intelligence, imagination and wonder.”
As we continue to experience times of financial uncertainty, this Thanksgiving in addition to being thankful for friends, family and good health, we can be thankful for our intelligence, imagination and wonder. For these are the things that will bring our businesses growth and prosperity during the next year.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Monday, November 24, 2008
Keeping Strong
The last few months have certainly been certainly been volatile financial times, leaving business owners and managers with a heightened sense of uncertainty.
This does not have to be bad news. Uncertain economic times create opportunities.
Traditionally recessions are times when the weak get sorted out and the complacent get pushed aside. They are therefore times of great opportunity for companies that see and seek the opportunity to break away and experience unprecedented growth. When times are good, virtually anybody can make a profit. But, in tough times true strengths and weaknesses are revealed.
Strong companies will continue to do what strong companies have always done. They will stick to their mission and vision.
In order to be strong, stick to my mission and vision, and to enhance my existing Delta4 advisory services and skill base, I recently attended the Principa Alliance Annual 2020 Conference. The conference was great, and provided me with new tools to help my customers in the uncertain financial times ahead. My firm is stronger as a result of attending the conference.
Strong companies continually ask themselves these crucial burning questions about their business:
This does not have to be bad news. Uncertain economic times create opportunities.
Traditionally recessions are times when the weak get sorted out and the complacent get pushed aside. They are therefore times of great opportunity for companies that see and seek the opportunity to break away and experience unprecedented growth. When times are good, virtually anybody can make a profit. But, in tough times true strengths and weaknesses are revealed.
Strong companies will continue to do what strong companies have always done. They will stick to their mission and vision.
In order to be strong, stick to my mission and vision, and to enhance my existing Delta4 advisory services and skill base, I recently attended the Principa Alliance Annual 2020 Conference. The conference was great, and provided me with new tools to help my customers in the uncertain financial times ahead. My firm is stronger as a result of attending the conference.
Strong companies continually ask themselves these crucial burning questions about their business:
- How can I offer better service than anyone else?
- How do I build better systems & controls?
- How can I make my team more productive?
- How can I compete on something other than price?
- How can I make my business stand out?
- How can I keep track of everything without burning out?
- How can I improve my profits, my lifestyle and realize the value of my business as an asset?
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
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.
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.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Write It Down
Congratulations to Team USA in winning the Olympic gold medal in women's basketball.
Congratulations to Lisa Leslie for her record fourth Olympic gold medal in women's basketball.
In a post game interview, Ms. Leslie said:
The same is true for business. Studies have shown that those with clear, written goals, accomplish far more in a shorter period of time than those wothout them could ever imagine.
So, write down your goals.
A business needs more than just goal alone. Businesses need a strategy for achieving their goals and a process for measuring and monitoring their progress. Business owners can get a jump start on defining their goals, creating a strategy and establishing a monitoring system by holding a strategic planning session with a Principa CPA.
Brenda Richter, CPA is a member of the Principa Alliance.
Congratulations to Lisa Leslie for her record fourth Olympic gold medal in women's basketball.
In a post game interview, Ms. Leslie said:
"I always say to all those kids out there, Just write down your goals. You
can do what ever you want to achieve."
The same is true for business. Studies have shown that those with clear, written goals, accomplish far more in a shorter period of time than those wothout them could ever imagine.
So, write down your goals.
A business needs more than just goal alone. Businesses need a strategy for achieving their goals and a process for measuring and monitoring their progress. Business owners can get a jump start on defining their goals, creating a strategy and establishing a monitoring system by holding a strategic planning session with a Principa CPA.
Brenda Richter, CPA is a member of the Principa Alliance.
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