Wendy’s Coach You To Success Blog

When we are praised for work well done, we take credit for it, but when our work is criticized, we often pass the blame. That’s the way of the world and this exists in families, corporate sectors, governments of civilized countries, and even in home businesses that involve the entrepreneur and staff. While everyone likes to take credit, none wants to take the blame when things go wrong.

It takes great courage to admit that we have erred if we really have. It’s easy to blame staff and menial workers, but if conscientiously we examine our role in messing up, we will realize in what way we have erred. And when ultimately we’re done with blame game, we blame God for making something wrong happen. In his book, ‘Believe in God Who Believes in You’, author Robert. H. Schuller talks of human tendency to blame God for road accidents and bridge collapses, when all we should blame is ourselves for driving recklessly, or the builders for using inferior quality building materials.

When a cosmetologist Dona launched her organic cosmetics, even society women thronged at her boutique. She hired and trained staff who were able and competent at their job and who rendered excellent service. Their competency made Dona complacent and she’d often go partying leaving the shop that spanned one single floor in her home at the hand of her able staff. However, when a client’s skin reacted adversely and she threatened to sue Dona, all Dona was to fire the staff responsible. Wasn’t it Dona’s responsibility to supervise every product and prescribe treatment according to a client’s needs?

When a business grows in leaps and bounds, it’s natural to get complacent, especially when you have able staff around. However, when you are on the top, the only way is back to the bottom onto square 1! If you want to remain at the top, you cannot just exist, but be in constant flux to recreate, to innovate and strategize.

Susan loved packaging and packing gifts with beautiful gift wrappers. In the 80’s she started a small boutique where she’d make gift wrappers and personally wrap them. She packed gifts to resemble wine and perfume bottles, pillows, chocolates etc. Her unique gift of wrapping presents brought many clients to her door-step. She soon recruited other gifted women like her to assist her. Nancy a young university student had a brilliant idea-why not paste hand-crafted cards bearing the presenter’s name, instead of using ready made complimentary cards?

Initially Susan was wary of Nancy’s idea, as it would involve additional expenditure, but when Nancy was given a ‘go-ahead’, she was amazed to see Nancy creating cards out of eco-friendly cards, fresh leaves, twigs and all! Susan later held an exhibition selling Nancy’s idea in a separate counter. Although Nancy worked only part time for fun, she decided she’d give this business her full attention. Susan and Nancy soon became business partners!

It is imperative that you don’t leave everything to your staff, however able they may be. You have your name etched in your company’s letter pad and any credit or criticism will reflect on you, not your staff. When your staff renders quality service most likely they will be appreciated for the extra effort, but when they goof up, you will have to bear the brunt.

When your staff is open to your ideas, you should be open to theirs as well. Nelson converted a part of his porch into a space selling plants, seeds, gardening equipments etc. When his business blossomed, he began recruiting staff to arrange flowers, mix compost and prepare manure. One staff Keith however, would be busy chipping away twigs and logs, while others slogged. In a fortnight, he created several name plates made of twigs, and containers out of logs to accommodate plants!

Nelson noticed Keith’s creativity and rewarded him handsomely, simultaneously exhibiting his creative products as well. Nelson had his porch exhibiting pretty wood work like name plates, candle-stand, photo frames, picture frames where dead flowers and leaves were stuck after being preserved and even polished wooden ornaments. From one thing, Nelson proceeded to a related field, making his porch resemble a creative eco-friendly shop!

Appreciate talent and be a guide to those faltering. You will learn a lot by appreciating other’s potential. Everyone makes mistakes. In life, there are no mistakes, only lessons to be learned, but ensure that your mistakes are not costly ones. By being tolerant, you will only retain staff and assure their loyalty. However, ensure mistakes aren’t repeated and be there to personally supervise staff. If you do need to take a break, ensure you have some partner to assist you in your job and impart all the necessary training and knowledge to this staff. Mentor someone who is interested in your job, so that tomorrow your memories will linger in the world! Take responsibility when things go wrong and give credit where it’s due!

Wendy Stevens, Nashville, TN, as a single mom vaulted to the top of the Direct Sales Industry in 8 months. Wendy is a former 3-time Division I All American Lacrosse Player, NCAA Division I National Champion and Division 1 NCAA Head Coach. Wendy is one of the top 1% earners in the entire direct sales industry. As Marketer, Trainer and Speaker, Wendy is in demand nationally. She earned 7 figures in networking marketing. For information on Wendy, visit www.coachyoutosuccess.com

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We are living in exciting times. There are immense opportunities and avenues to make our lives a success. Creativity and innovation are back in fashion. Or were they ever out of fashion, in the first place?

If we do things in the same old way, we will get the same old result. We have to break the mold and chase new dreams. We have to think of new ways to do things and to be creative. Creativity is not restricted. There is a fallacy that creativity is restricted to the arts alone. Or creativity means some great and monumental achievement or change. Business success is as much a result of creative thinking as music or sculpture. After all you are an artist carving out your business ideas. Everyday work environment can be a wonderful place to spawn creativity and innovation. It is an accepted fact that more decisions are taken near the water cooler than in the office cabins. The informal atmosphere plays an important role in such decision making. There is an opportunity to be creative in an open, interactive and informal work environment. This eventually impacts positively on productivity.

There are hundreds of ways of doing things. Some enhance our output whereas some simple act as speed breakers. Business acumen rests in separating chaff from the Bran. I have often observed that in many instances, creativity is associated with expensive and lavish expenditure. In one of the offices, a beautiful office with antique furniture, which cost a bomb, was articulated as creativity. Yes, it may have been creative but how did it contribute to the success of the organization? Business creativity means those endeavors which enhance productivity, profitability and success of the organization. They are not mere eye candy or artistic pursuits. Not art for arts sake.

Creativity need not be a lonely activity which individuals indulge in for pleasure and personal satisfaction. It is a wonderful idea to get all your personnel together for a brainstorming session, from time to time. You would be surprised as to the number of creative solutions people come up with. It is also easier to develop on an original idea and give it shape and identity. Most of the business fails to harness the latent creativity of their workforce. If managed effectively, it can save thousands of pounds for the company and also enhance productivity.

One needs to think differently to survive in the globally competitive environment. A good blend of creativity and innovation are essential to push growth and productivity. Thinking out of the box is no longer a management mantra; it is an essential part of business success.

Collaboration and collective thinking are the new buzzword of an interconnected world. The social networks of the Web 2.0 era have made interactivity and shared vision universally applicable. People from different walks of life, with diverse and varied background can now contribute to collaborative venture. The opportunities thrown up by the internet must be creatively used to propel ones business to higher level of productivity.

There is no place for complacence in the modern world of competitiveness. Either businesses embrace new technology wholeheartedly and use it for enhancing profitability or face extinction due to the fierce competition from adversaries. Continuous improvement in processes, an innovative problem solving approach and creative solutions to old world problems are the only ways ahead for successful companies. For those who are willing to learn, the rewards are an enduring success. For those who don’t, it is an uphill task ahead. The businesses of the future have no other option.

Wendy Stevens, Nashville, TN, as a single mom vaulted to the top of the Direct Sales Industry in 8 months. Wendy is a former 3-time Division I All American Lacrosse Player, NCAA Division I National Champion and Division 1 NCAA Head Coach. Wendy is one of the top 1% earners in the entire direct sales industry. As Marketer, Trainer and Speaker, Wendy is in demand nationally. She earned 7 figures in networking marketing. For information on Wendy, visit www.coachyoutosuccess.com.

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