Abraham Lincoln prophetically wrote in his journal as a young lawyer, "I will prepare myself and my opportunity will come." The tidal wave of change that has washed over our business lives in the past decade has left most managers scrambling to keep up. There has been little time for preparation.
That has to change. U.S. growth has slowed, China is moving into the front seat of economic leadership, and competition is coming from unseen places. You can't wait to prepare for tomorrow. First, get connected online to a reliable source that is keeping score in your industry. Don't rely on anecdotes alone, get the facts, and get them everyday.
Second, hard-wire the voice of your customer into your daily thinking and decisions. Encourage everyone on your team to do the same and if they have multiple customers inside and out, hard-wire one of each. Your customers will be the first to guide you with the kind of preparation you will have to do if you are going to have any opportunity for tomorrow.
Third, keep improving yourself. Spend so much time on yourself that you have little time to criticize anyone else. I would like to help you do that.
My new weekly blog on personal leadership launches on Monday, May 5th - be on lookout for that email next week. It is based on my new book, A Leader's Gift - How to Earn the Right to Be Followed.
I am very grateful to all of you who helped us launch the book last week and I am pleased to tell you that it reached #1 Best Seller Status on Amazon! I will do my best to help you prepare so your opportunity will arrive right on time!
Be encouraged,
Barry
