How Much Should You Expect From A... Change?

Many business owners might improve their performance if they adopted these same attitudes.

Too often I hear decision makers objecting that the projected ROI on a new project is too small, or that the time frame to see a difference is too long. Some times these comments are valid. If the risk is great and the outcome is too uncertain, or the framework for the activity is too volatile, maybe the project should not be undertaken.

But how many times are small payoff changes rejected because the payoff is too small, just not worth it?

I think this happens more often than it should. We are accustomed to thinking in terms of big results. The value of our house should go up 25% a year. The new marketing campaign should improve sales 10% per month. A diet is only worth doing if I drop five pounds a week. This stock should do twice as well as the S & P 500.

As soon as I graduate I want to get on the “fast track” so my income will go up 50% a year.

To my way of thinking little good can come of total focus on such thoughts and the bad results can be very bad.

If one takes pride in and encourages small changes which produce small successes, he or she will develop an eye for details which will become second nature as they look at bigger, more complex projects. As the individual develops more appreciation for the process they will find that those around them will become more involved, will offer more suggestions, and will become supportive of all the projects.

Look at this approach as practice. The athlete trains and looks for incremental improvement. He or she takes pride in improving their time or their output according to their timetable leading up to the day of the event. They know that that they have to “build” to reach maximum performance and they have to peak on the date of the competition.

The individuals you employee are in training. They want to be ready when it’s their turn to perform. How will they get there without practice? What’s their training?

As the owner you not only have to develop the business’ strategy and make it happen, you have to get the people in place to handle the growth and expansion. How will you do it?

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Art Consoli's unique background and skills allow him to speak and write about how someone with limited experience can do a self-evaluation which will let him decide which business opportunity is best, how to evaluate opportunities and gain control over the one which offers the greatest potential and then manage that business to success. Readers of his book call and write to tell him how much his book has helped their lives and improved their business. The author can be reached at www.businessstrategyartconsoli.com.