??? Three Dog Night, once the most popular band in America, told us that ?One is the loneliest number.? But in business, it may be the most dangerous number. It?s one number that can put you out of business fast!
?Fact: You have one supplier for a product or service that?s critical to your customers. If something happens to that supplier, what happens to your business? Will your customers wait until you find another supplier?
Fact: You have one piece of equipment. It breaks down. What now? Your customers won?t mind that you can?t help them today, and maybe not for a month?
?Fact: You have one contact who can send more business your way whenever you need it. He falls out of grace and gets replaced. What now?
?? ?Fact: You have one star sales person. She gets a better job. What now?
?? ?Fact: The one politician you backed just lost re-election. What now?
Fact: Your one employee in Accounting knows who owes you money. He just got run over by a bus. What now?
How many ones you got?
You get the idea.
One of anything in business is almost always a wreck waiting to happen. Start looking for the ones that exist in your business now.
And just in case you?re thinking that two is better, remember that Three Dog Night also told us, ?Two can be as bad as one.?
How many systems you got?
It?s often said that people are a business?s greatest asset. Sounds good, doesn?t it? But it?s not true. Not even employees believe it?s true. Product, service, location may all out-score the importance of employees, especially if they?re not well trained.
Systems also come before employees.
??? ?How many systems operate your business?
Systems (not people) make businesses work efficiently, effectively, and happily. The most valuable businesses are operated by a series of systems that people follow. There are systems for operations, marketing, sales, training, customer relationships, etc. Each system may be propelled by several more systems. In Operations, for example, there may be systems for HR, IT, Finance, etc.
Systemization is one of the reasons why franchised businesses are successful. You may not own a franchised business, or care to, but you?d be extremely happy if your business ran like a well-oiled franchise operation. Who wouldn?t want a business like McDonald?s or Starbucks or Holiday Inn or Sign-A-Rama? These businesses never stop generating revenue for their owners, and that?s without the owners ever stepping foot into most of the locations.
?? ?How does that happen?
Systems. But you need more than one.
Systems that tell people what to do, when to do it, and how to do it. And that includes what to do if the boss doesn?t show up. After all, there?s only one of you, too! Watch out for those buses and reckless drivers.
How can you improve your business? Dr. John Hayes will help you discover points of opportunity. Free analysis for qualifying businesses. Send a paragraph describing your business; selected businesses may be featured in Kuwait?s My Business. Dr. Hayes has worked with an impressive international list of independent and franchised businesses. He is a professor in the College of Business at GUST. Contact him at questions@hayesworldwide.com, or via Twitter @drjohnhayes.
By Dr. John P. Hayes
local@kuwaittimes.net
Read by 92
?
Source: http://news.kuwaittimes.net/2012/10/25/one-number-can-put-you-out-of-business-fast/
goog 49ers Sylvia Kristel st louis cardinals Steelers Schedule tory burch Al Smith Dinner
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.