It’s relatively easy to change a flat tire.
On the other hand, it’s very difficult (if not impossible) to change a flat tire on a car moving 60 miles per hour.
When planning a project, event, program etc keep this in mind. Prepare for all contingencies in advance (or as many as you can) so that you aren’t making major changes when things are going full speed ahead.
Just something to think about.
Have a great day!
Lawrence
Do you ever look at a situation, see the rules and agree with them for others but think “but I’m different”?
Salaries should be capped due to the economy for all except for me because “I’m different”
People should have to work certain hours but it’s ok for you to come in late and leave early because “I’m different”.
First of all, even though we are all different, why shouldn’t the rules apply to us as well?
Secondly, just because you are different doesn’t make you better or worse than others.
Thirdly, if you want the rules to apply to all, than they should apply to you, if you don’t feel they should apply to you maybe they shouldn’t apply to anyone.
Yes you are different, but so is everyone else
Have a great day!
Lawrence
We all know someone who only contacts people when they need something.
We all know someone who when you see their number on your caller ID you think “what do they want from me now?”
We all know someone who when they invite you to go somewhere with them you think “uh oh, they must want something big this time”.
The question is, when you contact someone, are they thinking that about you?
Are you “that” person?
It’s easy to read this and think “no, not me” but really give it some thought. You might be surprised
Have a great day!
Lawrence
Are you a product of your environment or do you help shape your environment?
The first type are reactive and the second type are proactive.
Which are you?
Have a great day!
Lawrence
How many times have you had an attorney, doctor, computer tech, engineer or someone similar explain things to you in a way that you could never understand what they were talking about?
In many cases, this is a result of one of two things.
They are trying to impress you with their “immense knowledge” (and if this works, shame on you)
They don’t understand the subject enough to simplify it for the layman.
There is a great quote by Albert Einstein:
“If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough”
The next time you are explaining a technical issue to someone and see that blank stare on their face don’t assume it’s their fault, most likely it’s one of the two issues listed above
Have a great day!
Lawrence
When your business is busy it’s easy to be slow to return calls to future new clients.
When your business is busy it’s easy to quote high prices.
When your business is busy it’s easy to miss a deadline or two.
When your business is slow you WILL PAY for making the mistakes above when your business was busy.
Remember, in good times and bad, what you do today will affect what happens in the future
Have a great day!
Lawrence
Yesterday I read Seth Godin’s newest book titled “We Are All Weird”. It’s a thought provoking book which discusses, among other things, how targeting the masses now as it was at one point.
This book made me think about how much we assume there is an “average person”. We think “the average person wants X” or “the average person does Y”.
Before you think too much about the “average person” keep in mind the average person has one breast and one testicle, The average person doesn’t exist. Each person is quite different and quite special.
Instead of targeting the average, target the individuals. You will be more successful (and it’s a whole lot more fun)
Have a great day!
Lawrence
When given a deadline many people take that to mean this is when they should TRY to get the project done.
First of all, deadlines should be looked at as the last possible time a project should be finished. Rather than planning on finishing by the deadline, plan on finishing as soon as possible. Then, if things take a bit longer than expected, you will still be within the time allotted
For some, the best method is to create an artificial deadline. If something is due on the 30th, set an official deadline on the 15th. Work toward that deadline as opposed to the one later on.
Whichever way you choose to handle your deadlines, take them seriously, plan on finishing ahead of schedule and look at the deadline as a worst case scenario instead of a hoped for scenario
Have a great day!
Lawrence
You schedule a meeting or phone call. In many people’s minds, your job is complete until the meeting begins.
If you want to do it right, you would send out an agenda, in advance, so people can prepare for the meeting. You would confirm each person’s attendance and if you aren’t able to confirm someone who is vital to attend, cancel the meeting.
Once everyone is notified, in advance, of the agenda and knows what is expected of them and then once everyone has confirmed the time, you are almost ready.
If the meeting is for 1PM, be there prior to 1PM. Make sure the room (or phone line) is available and is set up properly and all tools needed are ready. If this means making sure a projector and screen is available, do so and test it before hand. At 1PM start.
Too often, rooms aren’t ready, phone bridges aren’t reserved, attendance isn’t confirmed and it ends up wasting many peoples time.
Respect the time of others as you would like them to respect yours.
Have a great day!
Lawrence
Someone gets admitted to a hospital with pneumonia. The doctors order a battery of tests and also have them stay one extra day. How many people might suspect the hospital was ordering these extra tests and the extra day in order to make more money? Deep down, in the back of a LOT of peoples minds this is suspected.
The reality is, with most patients the longer they stay in the hospital and the more tests are run, the LESS money the hospital makes. They end up getting paid a set fee for certain ailments so the longer they keep a patient and the more tests that are run, the less profit per patient.
When this was explained to me recently I was surprised and it dawned on me how important it is for hospitals to educate their customers/clients to have a better understanding.
If this is true, isn’t it true in other fields?
A general contractor typically charges by the job so it’s not in their best interests to slow things down (but how often do we suspect they are “stalling”).
A restaurant wants to serve the best food they can (for the price) but if you order a well done steak it might not be very juicy.
There are many other examples but what it comes down to is sometimes we do need to educate our customers/clients. It will make your job easier and make them happier
Have a great day!
Lawrence
If there is one thing Lawrence Fine is most passionate about it's teaching. From sharing his knowledge about soccer as a soccer coach, he now shares his expertise in the field of human resources and the Internet. (More...)