Tag Archives for " Business "

Mistakes, we all make them!

Mistakes, we all make them!

There are some mistakes you can make and sometimes get by with, but there are others that are less forgiving. My experience over the years in the world of business and ministry has taught me three mistakes you just do not want to make.

1.) Do not underestimate people

(and by the way you, are a people).
One of the biggest mistakes you can make is to underestimate the value of a person based on appearance, first impressions or even performance on a given task. Given the right opportunity most people, including you, can achieve amazing things. Don’t underestimate what a little encouragement, extra training or the right incentive will do to reveal true potential in people. Get rid of your small thinking and think bigger of yourself and others.

2.) Do not try to move every rock.

Every problem that pops up in life is not there for you to dig up and move out of the way! You do not need to move every rock that gets in the way! Distractions and non-essentials will rob your productivity and resources. Some rocks have to be moved, but not every single one! Choose wisely and don’t wear yourself out moving rocks you can just go around!

3.) Do not forget to be thankful and generous.

There is a flow that is healthy. A pond has to have water coming in and water going out, otherwise, it will dry up or stagnate. The great mistake many people and businesses make is to neglect one end or the other of that essential life flow. Be thankful for the fresh intake and be generous to release an outflow to others. In the buzz of work and life, it is easy to forget to check on both ends of the life flow in your relationships, family, and business.

Blessings!

Fred Hughes, M. Photog.

Read this and other blog posts on our websites.
www.byfredhughes.com ~ www.decision1.org

3 Basic Principals

Almost all business ventures have 3 basic components that cannot be ignored.

1. Identity

• Who are you? If you do not know, you will have a hard time convincing anyone else. Branding is part of it…. not all of it!
• What goods or services do you provide? Why are you providing them?
• What quality level can be expected at what investment level?
• What availability and timely deliverables or completion rates will be provided?
• What do you give back to the community? Are you an asset to the public or simply a partaker?
• Identity for your employees may be the single most important part of your success and future strength. Never under-estimate the power of unity with-in your company or organization.

2. People

• Who is your Avatar, Tribe, Target Group? Whom are you trying to reach and serve? Who exactly is your audience, you need to know more than simple demographics.
• Who are your team members, both in-house and resources?
• Who are your supply and support affiliations and who are your second choices?
• What are our people saying? (employee testimonials)
• How are you helping people discover the value you are offering?

3. Integrity

• How do you stand behind your products and services?
• What makes you trustworthy?
• Why should anyone do business with you more than once?
• Do you have current, customer/client testimonials, and industry testimonials/awards?
• How you honor people, community, and your industry reveals your intentionality and integrity.

If you regularly check on these three key elements, your business will have a much greater chance of succeeding. Success, especially in the world we live in today, is elusive, to say the least, but not impossible. These three business components are worthy of your attention and can be factors that affect your bottom line much more than branding, SEO, credit scores, marketing style, and funnel design. Sometimes you just have to get back to a little common sense, my friend!

Proverbs 3:13 Happy is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gains understanding;

Proverbs 4:7 Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom, and in all your getting, get understanding.

Fred Hughes, M. Photog.

Read this and other blog posts on our websites.

www.byfredhughes.com ~ www.decision1.org

What Color Are Your Doors?

What Color Are Your Doors?

How do people perceive your entry points?

Honestly, how do you think people see your accessibility? Can they enter at all? Is there a sign out front of your face, business, or brand that says: CLOSED!

We have to start at the top because critical ownership has to be taken. Personal, Corporate, and even in the Brand someone has to own it! So, let me point out a few things that top leadership must look at.

Number 1) “What color are your doors?”

“To enter or not to enter?” that is the question every client/buyer/student/investor/parishioner/family member/friend/social contact are asking themselves. Is this place painted fun or drab? Is it an institution or a home? Am I about to experience something Joyful or Intimidating? What is the color of the atmosphere, bright and open, or secretive and dark? Leadership sets the color scheme, and everything else has to function within that environment. McDonald’s and Subway spend a lot of money establishing the color, texture, style, and font in the signage; they must match the design scheme. Even the landscaping on the outside of the building must match the overall color… branding. The face the public will first encounter, the door they will enter into, must carry the specific branding message you want to convey.

The atmosphere of leadership sets the tone in the workplace, in the community, in the family and in every leader personally! There must be a leader that will set the color of the doorway! This establishes and affirms the mood and character of the staff, workmen, employees, volunteers, and family members. Finally, the color of the brand is the basic building block of the direction and destiny of the business, organization, family unit, church or group. I hope by now you are understanding that leadership in every facet of life sets the color of the doors! The identity of the business, organization, or family is established by leadership.

Number 2) Where do your doors lead?

The brand and leadership are vital, but there has to be some substance and integrity behind the colorful doors and clever enticements!

Is there real value behind the doors? When they pull the curtain and show, what is behind door #3? Will it be a worthless deception or a valuable prize?  Does the value match or exceed the perceived expectations?

Over deliver and under promise or over promise and under deliver! You have to watch this constantly! Things shift and change continually and can not be ignored. It is vital to every level of relationship. Trust is earned slowly and lost quickly. Set a guard and a guide at this door!

The guard at the door is set there to watch for outside influences that want to come in and change the dynamics and alter the course. Guard against vision-destructive outsiders who have an agenda of their own. The guide at the door is there to help people capture the vision and find a place at the table, a friend they can trust.

Number 3) What opportunities will your doors open?

It is great to discover good products and dependable friendly people, but is there more? Are there other opportunities available to people, if they are looking for more? Job opportunities? Affiliate programs? Professional relationships? Will they find more beyond that door? Leaders develop “More;” it never happens by accident. Someone always chooses the color and decides what the atmosphere will be. The color of your doors should complement what is found inside and more!

The Bible story of Joseph tells of a coat of many colors given in love by his father. Joseph was despised by his brothers, and his coat was used to identify the tragedy. But it was not the coat that mattered, it was the person to whom the coat belonged that was important. Leaders are like Joseph: their character and endurance produce the true color of their integrity. What color are your doors?

by Fred Hughes

Find other posts by Fred at our websites.

www.byfredhughes.com ~ www.decision1.org