29/08/2010 by Geoff.

So you’ve got a business idea and you think it will work - make you money and/or give you satisfaction.

We could write many pages on what’s important in setting a business up - the does and don’ts.

More succinctly, from our reading, you may find the following useful to ensure success:

• Be single minded - make a list of what’s important now and what can be put off for 5 years
• Be prepared to make sacrifices - they’ll put you at an advantage against others
• Don’t exclude those close to you - share information and maybe even get them involved
• Beware of getting sidetracked - you may come up with other ideas but you need an evaluation method to check if its going to be more successful than the one your working on before you divert your valuable resource - don’t forget you’re probably the constraint!
• Make a plan - review it regularly and be prepared to make changes if required to ensure success
• Make your commitment to the business known to your customers
• Don’t sacrifice your values/standards - its what sets you apart from others

 Good luck.

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29/08/2010 by Geoff.

I’ve just finished reading a short but valuable book dealing with a problem we’ve all experienced at some stage of our careers “trying to handle problems that really belong to our subordinates”

You must read:

The One Minute Manager Meets The Monkey

By:

Ken Blanchard, William Oncken Jr, Hal Burrows

ISBN: 978-0-00-711698-0

The results of the problem described in the first paragraph is a reduction in your productivity and an increasing aptitude of your subordinates not to deal with the problems they should. They get used to throwing difficult things in your direction. You procrastinate and your personal performance suffers.

By the way “A monkey” is the next move in solving a problem.

Oncken’s rules of monkey management are:

1. Descriptions - the next moves are specified
2. Owners - the monkey is assigned to a person
3. Insurance policies - the risk is covered
4. Monkey feeding and check up appointments - the time and place for follow-up is specified

EMS recommends you read the book, apply it and prepare for improved performance. 

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