Simul Corporation Inc. - Articles of Interest

Wouldn’t it be great if all new year’s resolutions came true? Wouldn’t it be fabulous if we could stick to every resolution we made? A couple of quotes come to mind, "If you don’t know where you are going, any road will get you there." (Anonymous) and, "If a person has no goals, he or she is certain to achieve them" (Karen Kuffner). I suspect that many of you would agree with these two statements and, you would endorse the notion that we should take some time every year to validate or refine our basic direction in life, and establish some goals and objectives.

Most of us do make New Year’s resolutions, and at times we encourage loved ones to do so as well. Particularly if the resolution involves improving one’s health. If new years’ is a great time for personal reflection, it too is a great time to think about the direction that our business is going. It is an opportune time to establish some concrete goals and objectives (but write them down!).

Reviewing your business over the last year, needn’t be a sophisticated or complicated chore. You don’t need models, or theories, or a background in planning, or a special educational degree. What is needed is your ability to ask yourself some basic questions. Before you revise your business plan, I encourage you to ask yourself questions as they relate to your four key areas: the current business situation, problems the business faces, implications of not fixing some of the problems and, what are the real needs.

Business situation questions help you take a look at your Customer base, and the community which you serve, from an economic perspective. Business problem questions help to establish, specifically, the kinds of issues that are being encountered. For example, "What are causing the delays in serving the Customer?" or, "How did your competition manage to take a couple of your Customers away from you?". Implication questions are those that will help you identify the impact on your business. Often these are financial in nature. For example, "What will it cost the business if I can’t overcome the delays?" or, "What is the danger of not understanding cash flow?". The fourth series of questions, are asked after the first three. The key to this series of questions is to uncover actual needs. For example,
"Do you need a better work scheduling tool or a more reliable supplier in order to speed up serve to Customers? Or both?" or, " If losing Customers is an issue, which would be more effective? An advertising campaign or a Customer retention program?"

These questions are illustrative of the types of questions that should be asked. You’ll find as you develop your own list that there are others that are more important to ask, my advice, ask them!. Of course, an easier way to get at some of the questions, is to attend one of the IT’S YOUR BUSINESS workshops being held at various locations across Ontario.

I am an advocate for setting goals, even though many will not be achieved! The key to successful goal setting is to set goals that are specific, measurable and realistic. At least when there is a goal, there is a better than even chance that at least part of the goal will be accomplished. For those of us who employ a number of people, goal setting also helps us to communicate more effectively. Just imagine what the impact on your business could be if you and your people knew what the 5-6 key objectives were for 1997.

The truth is, whether you make any resolutions, refine your vision, establish some concrete goals in your decision; after all IT’S YOUR LIFE, and IT’S YOUR BUSINESS.

Feel free to use this article, just give credit where credit is due!
Copyright 1997 Š Sid Ridgley