Bruce Outridge
Artist | Author | Radio & Podcast Producer | Television Host
Is the Way You Operate Your Business Killing Your Business?
So you’ve completed your education, you’ve put in years of experience, and you’ve built a name of someone who has the knowledge that can really help others be successful in their lives. I know because at every moment they will tell me how successful they are, how many boards they sit on and how busy they are. On the outside this looks inviting and something we all would like to attain. Some people are good at connecting with other people and that’s why they are so active in the community. Once you get past that part of the process however, once you start working with someone you see how they truly work, and if that doesn’t match the integrity shown during the meeting phase, it could be hurting you more than helping you.
You’ve met with people, established a connection, and begun the actual work process. This is when integrity really hits the road. You now have to produce as you promised you would, and to be honest this is where I find many business owners fall off track. They promise the client information, or work details, and then never get back to them. When asked they talk about how busy they are, and how many things are going on in their lives. That is very understandable, we all have very busy lives, but the integrity of your business is riding on how you perform when you get the contract. Many times I am blown away by people attending events and going out of their way to meet people trying to bring in clients for their business, but when they get the business they don’t take care of the clients. I don’t know about you but that seems backwards to me. Working in that manner shows you are more interested in quantity than quality. Maybe that’s why they need so many clients. What’s better, having twenty clients that that will not recommend you or ten clients that shout your name from the rooftops? I will go with the latter number. So how do you make sure you are not killing your business with lack of integrity?
Do what you say you will do! If your time management skills need improving then improve them through a course or self improvement program. Prioritize so that clients already on board come first, with finding new clients in second place. Your first part of your marketing plan should be having happy clients so you can get solid testimonials and recommendations. By focusing on producing quality workflow for your customers you won’t have to attend so many functions to meet new ones, your existing ones will be sending people to your door.
About the Author
Bruce Outridge is a business and leadership consultant. For more information on his services please visit his website at www.outridge.ca
Are You Causing Safety Issues Because of Poor Time Management?
Everyday our lives seem to get busier, filled with more duties, and linked to the point there seems to be no breathing room. Not too often do I have to venture out in traffic at peak periods. My former life in trucking started the day at 3 am most mornings and traffic was a regular part of my life. Now that I am self employed I can arrange my hours to better suit my schedule. However once in a while for a meeting or event I have to leave the same time as everyone else in my city. I always leave earlier than most to the point of extreme so I don’t have to rush. There is nothing worse than arriving at a meeting at the last minute rushing in all out of breath and unfocused, not a good first impression.
The other day however I was amazed at the people driving that seems to be in such a hurry to get to work. Some were tying their ties, on the phone, or half a sleep. The point was that I must have got cut off half a dozen times because they are running late. Time management is essential and keeping your cool is equally important. It may be in your best interest to leave earlier and go to the office and get some work done or do like I do and go early in the morning and find a coffee shop and do some writing or work. If you slow yourself down you will see how much rushed the rest of the world is. Don’t be part of the problem, be part of the solution.
About the Author
Bruce Outridge is a business and leadership consultant. You can learn more about his products and services at www.outridge.ca
Are You Spending Too Much Time Alone?
As much as I like social media and use it myself it can trap you into feeling you don’t need to leave your office or home and meet new people. Any marketing plan must be balanced and an online social media plan is no different. I caution people about staying where life is comfortable, get out meet people, stretch your skills, you will find your business becoming more successful and will be building an off line network in addition to your online program. Human interaction can never give you the same success as dealing with people face to face.
Enjoy the cartoon
Entrepreneur or Manager, Which One Are You?
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
Most entrepreneurs I know are so busy that life seems to fly by at the speed of sound. The days start to flow into each other and before you know it another year has gone by. That happens to all of us and not just with work, but with kids, life and so on. As they say you should stop and smell the roses once in a while, you should also do the same with work. Stop, take a look back at what you’ve accomplished, look forward down the road to see what you would like to accomplish. Reorganizing is like spring cleaning, it rejuvenates you, creates a new space, and adds new vitality.
When’s the best time to do this reorganization? The best time for me is when you’re reviewing your profit and loss statement which I suggest at least annually, but semi-annually or quarterly is better. Look at the numbers, look at the products or services, which ones are moving, which ones are stale? Don’t go down the road for a whole year to find out you’ve been going in the wrong direction. My business has been successful because I have been able to change direction in a short period of time when I have come across an opportunity. As entrepreneurs our best plan for success is being able to change at rapid pace. Larger companies can’t change directions as fast as we can.
Remaining successful is about change, and change is about knowing the direction that is best for you. Don’t get caught behind the eight ball because you didn’t look at flow of your business. Stop, evaluate, and reorganize!
About the Author
Bruce Outridge is a business and leadership consultant for entrepreneurs. More information can be found on his websites at www.outridge.ca or www.bruceoutridge.com
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