Just Did It...

Well, there you have it, pouring rain and 11,000 of my closest friends, and I did it. I ran this town. So, start today, set your corporate goal, and do it.

I remember reading in Joe Calloway's Becoming a Category of One about the scene in Apollo 13 where Tom Hanks' character is talking to his wife about the mission that landed on the moon and he states "It's not a miracle. We just decided to go."

Just go...

Does the left hand know?

Ok, just call me Imelda Marcos, but there I was.. buying shoes.. alright.. to be fair, they were for my wife. So, the educated consumer I am.. I check out all of the usual suspects online, to check prices, availability and so on..

Along my travels, I come across a great pair.. but whoa.. they're expensive..

Later that day, I head off to buy myself some shoes (in that particular store..) and lo and behold, there are the same shoes, for considerably less..

Ok, back to reality.. I'm in the middle of building a communication workshop for a client, and in it I plan to discuss the causes of inter-department communication breakdown.. you know why the left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing..

So I buy the shoes (for the lower in-store price).. lucky for them, I happened to walk into the store..

Too often organizations have disconnects in their logistics, marketing, sales, operations.. (have I missed anything..?) that cause the customer to have a poor experience with your organization... Come on... Communication is not optional! Effective communication is so vital.. heck it's one of the Obsessions of an Extraordinary Executive...

So, let this be a lesson to you.. make sure that communication flows freely within your organization.. there is not tolerance for error...

If you already have effective communication in your organization... give yourself a hand.. if not, don't be afraid to raise your hand.. and ask.. Don't get left behind...

I think I can...

Growing up, my mother used to read to me all the time.. apparently my favourite book was The Little Engine That Could. Hmm... high expectations? I guess.. whoops..

Anyway, this coming Sunday, I'm off to do the RunTO. Yes, me lumbering along for 10k. The fact that I am not a 'runner' is a slight issue.. but I'm working through it. I've now done the distance, and even exceeded it..

My point? I'm happy and refuse to rant on this blog from now on.. hardly...

My point is that I did it. I can now run 10 kilometers.

Sure, sure.. talking about it, and having the mental mindset (to embrace change) is all fine and dandy... but action speaks louder than words.

When I conduct employee surveys, I often tell the employees at the company being surveyed that the survey is great, but it is only part of the solution. It tells you what to fix. There is work to be done to actually fix the problems.

Do me a favour, ok, a couple of favours 1) on Sunday afternoon, wish me luck (hey post a comment below...) and 2) actually act on some of the things that will help your business... don't think.. Just Do It....

Kodak CEO Steps Down - Film @ 11

If for a second you think this whole change game is easy.. let's go back to my favourite case study of a company whose strategic plan should have been 3 words long:

Change or Die.

Burdened with a 12 Billion dollar company, where 70% percent of the business was rapidly becoming obsolete, Kodak CEO Daniel A. Carp stepped down because he couldn't turn the ship around fast enough.

From the Washington Post:



I always find it concerning when an organization finds itself in a situation where it is fighting for its life, and they refer to it as 'painful' not invigorating, motivating, or revitalizing...



The point is - change now, while you can, while it can be 'fun' and while you have the chance.

I don't care how big/popular/successful you are, get the wrecking ball out now..