Bruce Outridge

Are You Spending Too Much Time Alone?

Posted on May 31, 2012 by Bruce

Entrepreneur or Manager, Which One Are You?

Posted on May 24, 2012 by Bruce

There are a few people in this world that I admire and if I had to list them all it would go on for a very long time. I’m not talking movie stars or music heroes although I admire some of those as well, I am talking about people who have stepped up to the plate in one form or the other and created their success. Now there are people we don’t even know that have attained that status and there are people who are well known that have achieved success in many areas of their life. I applaud all of you whether you are known or not. My look of success is not that of fame, fame is fine if you get it, but in my mind that shouldn’t be what defines you. Success in my mind is your own vision of success, whether that means you have the family life you want, or you have achieved the business success you hoped to attain, or you are still climbing the ladder and doing life your way, you are all successful. One person that I look up to is Sir Richard Branson. I admire him because he has played the game under his own rules, success or not.

The other night Richard Branson was being interviewed on the news about his success and the space program he is involved with. The interview was only five minutes long, but during the interview he did say something that really struck me. He said, “Some people are managers and some people are entrepreneurs.” Now that may not sound like a profound statement, but it got me thinking about why some people are good at what they do and others aren’t. Recently I was in talks with a company about being hired to do some work with an executive team. They wanted a creative approach to things but all the questions focused on managing the team. Needless to say I am not the managerial type, I like the creativity of the entrepreneur. In the Branson interview he went on to explain that he is a true entrepreneur and that his success has come due to having great people in key positions to handle his businesses. He went on to state that if it was he managing things they would have failed miserably. His success is due to coming up with great ideas, getting them started, and then finding good people to move them forward on a day to day basis.

So if you are having trouble running your operation, you may be more entrepreneurial than managerial. You may need to get some good people into your organization to move it forward leaving you the time needed to create and formulate new ideas. Take a look inside yourself to see where you fit in to your success program.

About the Author

Bruce Outridge is a business and leadership consultant. He helps entrepreneurs have successful careers. Form more information on Bruce and his programs visit his website at www.outridge.ca or www.bruceoutridge.com

Taking the Time to Reorganize

Posted on May 17, 2012 by Bruce

How Far Will You Go For Business Connection?

Posted on May 10, 2012 by Bruce

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As many of you know these days the world of business is largely who your connected with. That is why platforms like Linkedln have become so popular. Many times just getting to know someone is half the battle in getting the sale or project. This can happen in an impromptu meeting someplace and turn into a great working relationship. This has happened to me many times. Recently I was at an event where Dragon’s Den star Kevin O’Leary was giving a talk on investing. He told a story of how he was asked to go on a television show called Dancing with the Stars not to dance but introduce someone. Kevin refused the invitation explaining it would take him six hours flying one way for a two minute line. The producer got him to think about it by relaying he would be sitting next to Steve Wozniak, the other half of the Apple Company and someone that Kevin had always wanted to meet. Kevin accepted the invitation and the end result was a large business deal that never would have happened if Kevin hadn’t accepted the invitation.

So how far will you go for a connection? My wife sometimes doesn’t understand why I go to this meeting and that meeting sometimes with no result coming out of it. I explain things work in mysterious ways and many times months later the phone will ring and someone will have seen me at an event or read my articles in the magazines I write for. In business many times the payback comes at a much later date. We may not always drive or go far to make a connection but I am sure there are many of us that go to functions, get stood up for meetings, and generally think sometimes that being an entrepreneur is just a big waste of time. Then other days when there seem to be no business in sight the phone will ring with a large order. The secret is to accept every invitation within reason whether you see the potential for business or not because meeting people is half the battle.

In this world who you know and the connections you have are the first earmark of a successful entrepreneur. Take the opportunities and have faith down the road they will lead somewhere.

About the Author

Bruce Outridge is a business and leadership consultant. He helps entrepreneurs start successful businesses. Form more information visit his website at www.outridge.ca

Kevin O'Leary Telling his story — Kevin O’Leary Telling his story

What Would You Do?

Posted on May 3, 2012 by Bruce

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Just when I think the world is becoming a little better I hear or read a story that blows my mind. Recently in the news was the story of a boy drifting at sea waiting to be rescued with his friends for days on end. Unfortunately the friends of this boy passed away waiting to be rescued but the story in the paper tells of a cruise liner passing by and people watching the boys in peril floating at sea. The passengers said they informed the crew of the sighting but nothing happened. The cruise liner kept its course and went by leaving the boys at sea. Now the reports say the Captain did not receive the communications about the boat in distress and others say he chose to stay his course. How that debate works out is yet to be seen. The reason I bring this up is that many people working for companies have specific policies in place about stopping or going off course, etc to help someone. As a professional truck driver in my career I have helped many people at the side of the road. A company I worked for gave me an award for helping an elderly couple stuck at the side of the road with a flat tire. That same company after a corporate merger years later put a policy in place against stopping to help people at the side of the road. So even if you want to help maybe you can’t. This topic has even prompted the television show, “What Would You Do?” showing how people react in certain situations.

You probably think I am going to tell you what you should do in these situations, but not only can I not tell you, but I don’t want to. This article is to get you to think about the person you are or the person you would like to become. I can’t even ask that question of myself, every situation is different so I really don’t know what I would do until an incident actually happens. I want you to put yourself in the shoes of the ship Captain.

If you were at the helm of the ship and assume that you did receive the message from your crew that a boat was in distress, but you have a strict policy not to change course. Would you have changed course anyway and rescued that boys in the boat or would stay the course and go on by? I believe even if you were to stay the course there are things you could have done to help, whether it be making a call, sending out a life raft, etc. I myself think I would have taken a chance to save a life, but then again that’s me.I ask you however, what would you do?

About the Author

Bruce Outridge is a business and leadership consultant. More information can be found on his website at www.outridge.ca