The unexamined business isn’t worth owning!

Recently, I was reminded of this powerful quote by Roy H. Williams, author of The Wizard of Ads. He said, “Socrates was right, ‘The unexamined life is not worth living’… He could just as easily have said, ‘The unexamined business isn’t worth owning.””

With the fast pace of business, it’s so easy to get caught up in the day to day routine. There’s so much to get done in such a short period of time! Trust me, I understand the feeling!

But as leaders we really need to step back every now and then and take a look at our businesses. I’m not talking every day—maybe once a week or once a month is right for you. However you decide to go about examining your business, I find it helps most to get a fresh perspective. Talk to customers and associates for their feedback. They can help you determine what areas are water-tight and what areas may have a leak.

But most importantly, take action when you find those leaks! Don’t let them get worse, but instead decide on a course of action right away.

You’ll find that a frequently examined business is a healthy one, because even small maintenance here and there makes a big difference in the overall health of your company.

Well, the same goes for the unexamined leader!

As Servant Leaders, we owe it to our associates, our businesses, and ourselves to continuously ask: “How am I doing as a leader?” We need to face our challenges and find out how we can be better at what we do. What are our strengths and weaknesses? What changes need to be made?

But most importantly, what small, attainable steps can be taken to make sure these changes are successful? It seems like this is where most folks fall off track. Be realistic with yourself here! You can’t go from being a non-runner to doing a marathon in one week—it takes lots of short, slow sessions to build your endurance.

The same goes for goal setting. Don’t set yourself up for disappointment; set yourself up for success!

Joe

Action Plan: Are you willing to evaluate yourself honestly and take some small steps this week?