(Time to read this Blog is about 2.5 minutes)
Before we get to the main topic, here are a few things to get you thinking or smiling:
- My Biz Quote of the week:
“The world doesn’t need one more mediocre anything! What are you doing to be extraordinary, to stand out, get noticed and be the clear and compelling ‘wise choice’ for your target customers? Do the work!”
…Donald Cooper.
- The hypocrisy and sheer stupidity of this boggles the mind.
My brother-in-law just sent me this note and photo from Bali, Indonesia, where the latest G20 Global Leaders’ Summit is taking place on November 15 & 16.
‘I took this photo this morning while bicycling here in Bali. Charging Stations for electric vehicles, powered by huge diesel generators are everywhere. They’ve been recently installed, at great expense, to impress the G20 Summit
delegates who are here in Bali by the thousands. ‘Clean’ electric vehicles powered by dirty diesel fuel. How stupid and hypocritical is that?
- Quick Biz Tip: ‘You can’t grow your business without growing your people.’
This is a great ‘catch phrase’, but what does it really mean? Like most other things in business and life, we need to get into the details. To ‘grow our people’ we need to help them:
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- Grow their skills, abilities, knowledge and insight.
- Grow their judgement.
- Grow their self-confidence.
- Grow their dreams (help them see and embrace BIGGER possibilities).
- Grow their character.
- Grow their value to your business…and to the world at large.
- Grow their career.
As leaders and managers, this is one of our most important jobs. You can’t grow your business without growing your people…and without growing yourself. How are you doing on this one?
- Live Conferences are back…and attendees are loving it! 😊 I spoke at 2 big Conferences recently. The energy and camaraderie were fabulous! It’s also wonderful to get comments like, “Cooper, your session was the best management program we’ve had in 30 years.”
If your company or Association is currently planning a 2023 Management Conference that’s committed to delivering extraordinary bottom-line outcomes, I’m easy to find at donald@donaldcooper.com.
Our most asked-for topics are:
a) Accelerate Your Business…the ‘straight goods’ on how to sell more, manage smarter, grow your bottom line…and have a life.
b) Winning the Talent Wars…8 essential steps to attracting, leading & engaging a top-performing team.
c) Vision Critical…how to manage, innovate and thrive in a very different tomorrow!
d) Succession Planning & Exit Strategies…preparing your business and yourself for the most important financial transaction of your life!
Most clients have me deliver 2 or more sessions, or one extended ‘Super Session’ at their event. This makes me very cost-effective in both speaking fee and travel cost, as I take the place of 2 presenters.
Added value: While not ‘on stage’ I commit to delivering a series of 20 minute 1-on-1 mini Business Coaching Sessions that are always a huge hit with attendees. They love the individual attention! It’s my belief and experience that some of the most important value is delivered ‘off the platform’ in these quiet and confidential 1-on-1 conversations.
Now, to this week’s important topic:
The incredible power of joy!
Whatever you sell, people come to you for that…plus joy. Especially in these stressful times. They want groceries…plus joy. Accounting or legal services…plus joy. Financial services …plus joy. Auto parts…plus joy! As goofy as it may sound, when you have so many competitors all selling about the same thing, at about the same price, ‘joy’ could be your sustainable competitive advantage.
- First off, joy begins with you. You are the source of joy and energy in your business, or your department. If the lights are out on the front porch of your life, it’s highly unlikely that you’ll brighten the way for anyone else. So, get with the program and up your personal ‘joy factor’.
- Next, hire joyful people. Bless you if you think you can take sad, small-hearted people and somehow transform them into joyful team members. That happens in Disney movies, but rarely in real life. So, hire people who are joyful by nature, and create a culture that keeps them that way.
Sandra Wilson, founder and former owner of children’s footwear manufacturer Robeez Footwear in British Columbia, used to tell prospective employees, “If you’re not prepared to do the chicken dance, you can’t work here.” In other words, she didn’t want staff who couldn’t or wouldn’t be joyful. Each day at mid-morning, the Chicken Dance’ music was cranked up and everyone in the office and factory got up and did the chicken dance. It created joy, laughter and some energizing physical movement. By creating this culture of joy, Sandra reduced staff turnover by 50% while growing the business to the point where she sold it for over $30 million.
- Finally, create rituals of joy. Encourage joyfulness. Create celebrations, rewards, events, contests and activities throughout the year that acknowledge, energize, uplift, engage and encourage. Take a calendar and mark on it each day of the year that you can do something joyful for your customers, your team and yourself…and then do it!
In these difficult times we need joy more than ever. So, what will you do to make your business more joyful for your team, for your customers…and for yourself?
That’s it for this week…
Stay safe…live brilliantly!
Donald Cooper
Donald Cooper speaks and coaches internationally on management, marketing, and profitability. He can be reached by email at donald@donaldcooper.com in Toronto, Canada.
