5/17/08

Why Should We Change

Q: I have been reading your newsletters with interest and my employees are pushing me to “make change.” But we are a 15 year old manufacturing company and we gross about 8 ½ million, year in and year out and we are profitable. Why would I want to consider making changes?
M.R., a CEO in Davenport, Iowa

A: First off if your revenues have been the same year in and year out, your growth is not only flat but most analysis would agree that you are going backwards by not going forward! Allow me to share a true story with you about the Golden Eagle and maybe this will help make some sense of “why change.”

The Eagle has the longest life span of its species. It can live up to 70 Years

But to reach this age, the eagle must make several very hard decisions.

In its 40’s its long and flexible talons can no longer grab prey which serves as food.

It’s long and sharp beak becomes bent and difficult to use.

Its’ old-aged and heavy wings, due to their thick feathers, become stuck to its’ chest and make it difficult to fly.

Then, the eagle is left with only two options: DIE or go through a painful process of CHANGE which lasts 150 DAYS!

The process requires that the eagle fly to a mountain top and sit on its nest.

There the eagle knocks its beak against a rock until it plucks it out.

After plucking out its beak, the eagle will wait for a new beak to grow back and then it will pluck but its talons.

When its new talons grow back, the eagle starts plucking its old-aged feathers.

And after FIVE PAINFUL AND UNCERTAIN MONTHS, the eagle takes its’ famous flight of REBIRTH and lives for 30 MORE YEARS!

Why is changed needed you ask?

Many times, in order to survive we have to start a change process.

We sometimes need to get rid of old memories, habits and other past traditions.

Only freed from past burdens, can we take advantage of the present!

Re-birthing or reinventing yourself and your organization has never arrived at a more critical time.

The Eagle is a wise, powerful and magnificent bird of prey. Truly an imposing force to be dealt with in the wild.

Perhaps a lesson from the Eagle is a great lesson to be learned about change in 2008! What option would you choose?


Make this week a week to remember.

I get many Emails every week when one of our readers truly identifies with the message. You are welcome to utilize our newsletter as a tool. Forward it with a personal message and say you thought they might enjoy this newsletter as well and that signing up is easy. All they have to do is go to our Home page and on the left side put in their first name and Email address. If you’d like me to address an issue or question, please Email me at George@GmanSearch.com .

Regards,

George F. Mancuso

George F. Mancuso, CPC

Making Bold Statements

Q: I have been told that making a BOLD statement or meaningful prediction might help grow my business and enable me to gain some free publicity for my firm. I have made some interesting observations regarding emerging trends in my field and I would like to share and publicize my unique views with others in the industry. My concern is that I want to be perceived as credible. What can I do?
DR, Harrisburg, PA

A: Back up your points with established research and analysis. Look for papers, studies and surveys that support your points. Don't forget to also familiarize yourself with the research that is contrary to your view. Also, make sure to properly credit the sources you have cited.

Another way to support your unique views is to prepare and distribute your own survey to key people in your industry. Some points to consider if you decide to administer a survey:

  1. Creating an effective survey can be a complicated job and requires great care if you want to obtain meaningful and actionable results. There are many good books on the subject of effective survey creation and administration. If you are interested in building your credibility and not seeing it quickly erode, you might even want to consider getting help from someone who specializes in survey creation.
  2. One way to stimulate participation is to promise those who participate that they will get the results or summary for free.
  3. Make sure to perform adequate testing/piloting prior to sending out the survey to the entire intended audience.

Tip: Coming up with "big ideas" or a possessing a unique point of view are not the exclusive domain of experienced practitioners; sometimes it takes someone with a "fresh" view to see the forest through the trees. Remember, though, that BOLD thoughts from someone viewed as inexperienced can open one to questions and criticism. Do your homework. Anticipate the questions and the opposing points of view and prepare your responses in advance. Responses supported by established research, thought leaders or analysis carry significantly more weight and help you to build credibility.

PPS: Another great way to make a bold statement or two is on your corporate website. For example, on our Home page (www.GmanSearch.com) near the bottom we have two particular topics that we continually “drive” prospects to read. One is “Why Employers Should Hire Gman Business Resources and the other is “WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT GMAN”. Granted these are self serving but it’s important that we continually make BOLD statements that we can back up! The testimonials are 3rd party BOLD statements that substantiate our credibility.

I get many Emails every week when one of our readers truly identifies with the message. You are welcome to utilize our newsletter as a tool. Forward it with a personal message and say you thought they might enjoy this newsletter as well and that signing up is easy. All they have to do is go to our Home page and on the left side put in their first name and Email address.

I hope you have a wonderful and prosperous week.

Regards,

George F. Mancuso

George F. Mancuso, CPC