“No man (or woman) is an island.” I’m sure you’re familiar with that famous saying. Essentially it means that no one learns, grows, and achieves in a vacuum – although sometimes we would like to think we can. 🙂
Coming together and working together is essential in today’s marketplace. There’s a special kind of magic that is created when a community of support and wise sage is formed. To steal a concept from a famous title — it takes a village to run a successful business.
Let’s take a look at your village….
Picture your “road to success”. It’s the one leading to your destination. (You do have a destination, don’t you? Hopefully, you’re not wandering aimlessly through the hills and valleys of life.) What does your road look like? Is it a superhighway? A cobblestone street? What are your beliefs about your “road to success”? Has your road been completed or is it still under construction? What do you need to do to finish the construction process?
Now, visualize the residents of your village. Or, to put it more aptly, who do you WANT to reside in your village? Do you want a baker, a candlestick maker, a town jester? (That would be me!) Seriously, who do you want and need to make your business come together in the way that you want. There’s nothing more disappointing than to be skipping down the yellow brick road only to discover that you’re on the
wrong road and you’re never going to see Kansas again. Do you need/want a CPA, banker, communications specialist, marketing consultant, graphic designer, attorney, business coach, executive assistant, a trusted, loyal friend? You’re the master of your craft so who is it that you need to surround yourself with that have the “other” skills to make your business a success and your dream a reality? What qualities do you want them to possess? (Hey, if you get to pick, why not be choosy?) What kind of expectations do you have of each one of your village people? Have you clearly communicated those expectations to them?
Let’s move on to the village environment. What is the climate like? Is it optimistic, energetic, chaotic, and creative with a free-flow of ideas? Or is it structured, organized, and calm? What kind of climate fosters your peak performance? If the current culture of your business doesn’t support the forward movement of you, your staff, or your business, change it. You are the meteorologist.
What other elements does your village need to succeed? How about a gym, a spa, a weekend get-a-way, a library? No one succeeds very easily without ongoing learning and a good dose of self-care.
To succeed in business today takes the collective genius of everyone in and everything around the village. Your business will move forward much more quickly when you tap into and leverage the power of interdependence.
What changes have you made to your village that have amplified your success?
