What is a Company & How Does it Work?

The care and nurturing of the goose that lays the golden

eggs.

Healthy Company

The company is the goose that lays the golden eggs …. Retire

ment Opportunity

Stewardship

Leadership

Risk Community

Freedom Purpose

Unhealthy Company

…or it is the vehicle of your demise.

The goose will produce according to what it is fed.

Positive environment with planning and clear direction leading to raving customers that become long term clients and employees that become dedicated to the growth of the company.

Negative environment from waffling on decisions, unclear policy, faulty procedures leading to a lack of confidence by employees and one time customers which drive up advertising/marketing costs eventually making your goose unable to compete in the market place of healthy geese.

Unhealthy Vs Healthy Company

Unhealthy:• Takes time away from

life.• Stressed owner.• Stressed employees.• Financial pressure.• Bickering & pointless

blame game.• Lack of team spirit and

effort.• Constant training due to

a high turnover rate.

Healthy:• Clear Processes -

leads to smoother operation.

• Clear Consistent Policy - reduces employee anxiety.

• Consistent Results - ecstatic clients promote business

• Owner free time increases.

• Secure retirement.• Employees enjoy

working

Unhealthy Goose

The wrong diet for your Goose• Negative talk is a cancer

that will spread through a company lowering:– Sales - drop since a poor

attitude is picked up by the prospective client.

– Customer Satisfaction - drops your reputation / lowering on line ratings

– Production - suffers lowering cash flow.

Owners • Lack of Leadership

skills Lowers employee / vendor confidence:– Yelling – Complaining – Changing policy or

procedure daily– Money focus– Lack of showing

appreciation– Lack of compliments– Inconsistent process

No Golden Eggs coming from this goose

Geese Do not Like:

• Employees with poor or no training• Owners and employees poor planning• Owners poor hiring• Complaining / whining

• Unclear expectation / job description. • Improper tools to do the job: technology, office

supplies, samples, displays, office space, • Disorganization in surroundings (clutter) or

execution of procedure.• Decisions being changed too often. Improvement

vs lack of research for the original decision.

Poor Management skills

Demanding doesn’t work

• The art of friendly persuasion does.

• Clear communication of tasks should include:– Time expectation– Expected results– Tools to use or needed– Supply source– Verify the

communication is understood.

“We are ladies and gentlemen serving ladies and gentlemen”

Something is Wrong…

• Incoming Prospects slow down or stop.

• Customer complaining is high.

• Employee murmuring is negative.

• The check book is below comfort levels

• Measured items are lower than last year comparisons.

You can tell something is not right

• Stress is up: inner company or family arguing, yelling on the phone, vendor relations change.

• Employee turnover. Key people leave.

Are you sure it is time to close?

Vital Signs of Your Goose• Cash flow• Credit usage• Payables• Receivables• Future orders

anticipated• Market place or

economic changes• Product quality• Service quality• Debt terms

Re-invest in Your Goose

The care and feeding of your goose is so important. Do not confuse profit monies with money needed to perpetuate the enterprise. A farmer growing corn sends some of the corn to market for sale but he/she must reserve some of the corn to be next year’s seed. Money is the simple measure of the health of your business. Too little – find the cause quickly and accurately, too much - find the balance of re-investment, expansion, market share and profits.

Who stands out in your industry?

Barrowing Success…

Chances are there are companies doing something better than you are. Choke back your ego and adopt or adapt a different method that has been proven successful.

Success Leaves

Clues• Happy Employees

• Absent Owner

• Great Reputation

• Internet reviews

• Long term employees

• Happy Vendors

• Repeat Clients

Competition or a Changing Market Place

Fending Off New Competition

• Keep your goose in shape• New technology makes

things faster or easier• Keep your eye on the

new geese in the market.• Measure the market for

market share• Continuing education will

keep your goose fresh

• Cash is strength: The number 1 reason geese die is undercapitalization.

• Planning and Projecting: Budget plan, sales, marketing, advertising, equipment etc

Advice is Everywhere……who should you listen to?

Protect your eggs but do seek help for a sick goose.• Accountants / CPA: Conducts

autopsies after the goose has died. Their information is a measurement of the past activity. You need them to chip off a piece of the golden egg and send it to the government.

• Lawyers: Either bayonet the wounded or help in preventative care setting up the correct goose for your market or defending the goose from a buzzard after your golden egg.

• Clients / Customers: They point out weak spots quickly in your processes or people.

• Consultants: Only if they have direct successful experience in your industry. Over educated consultants with initials after their name is admirable but theory is not to be tested on your goose. Tried and proven success only please.

Vendors

Goose Supports: • Family• Retireme

nt• Fun• Travel• Educatio

n• Health

care

Employee

Goose Supports: • Self

Interests• Purpose• Challenging

Tasks• Creativity• Self Esteem• Social

Interaction

The Goose CommunityWork is more than a job… it is our lives.

30 to 50 hours each week with our co-workers – our

second family if the environment is healthy. People fall in love, get married, make friends.

Everyone Contributes to the Care and Feeding of the Goose!

Feeders• Customers• Owners• Employees• Vendors

Beneficiaries• Owners• Employees• Vendors• Customers

You get back what you put in.