If you want to be successful in business, take time to watch a kayak race. They have to go through gates, shoot the rapids, and turn around poles.

Five Lessons from a Kayak Race

• Anticipate the Current

A couple of years ago, when taking a white water raft trip, in Montana, there were several experienced kayakers on the river.  The water was tumbling over boulders, twisting, racing past in the narrows, and drawing boats in unexpected directions.  The kayakers especially had to anticipate the changes in the river current.

Sometimes, inexperienced business leaders underestimate the force of the business currents.  Veteran leaders don’t make those mistakes.  They respect the force of competition and the pace of business.

• Identify the Gates

In kayaking competition, the paddlers navigate a series of gates, turn against the current, and paddle upstream back through the gates.  Inexperienced competitors get swept past their gate and are penalized.

In every business there are gates that must be navigated.  Each gate requires skills, agility, and fortitude.

• Avoid Crashing

Skilled kayakers avoid crashing on rocks, getting trapped underwater, and know how to get out of trouble.  They maintain a healthy respect for the dangers.

Any business can die. Disaster can roll over a company, demolish decades of wealth, and destroy future opportunities.  Those that succeed look down stream, identify potential danger, and work to avoid disaster.

• Train to Endure

The things experienced kayakers do are amazing.  The answer of how they are able to do what they do is the kayakers have trained for years.

Those that don’t prepare for business are like the inexperienced kayaker.  The end up in the river, broken, bloodied, battered, or worse.  If a leader doesn’t train that leader won’t endure.

• Race and Repeat

Those that compete in kayaking know that their lives are a series of races. They race, improve, and race again. The courses are different but they are the same types of challenges.

In business every day is different.  However, it is also the same.  Problems come, problems require work, and solutions are found.  The next day a new problem is presented. That is the thrill of business, solving the new problem.

Those who thrive in business leadership show up every day, fully prepare, are proactive, yet can alter plans as required. Just like the kayaker that trains for hours, great leaders train to lead.

Question of the Week:  What are you doing to fully prepare for the next decade?

Quote of the Week:   “Time is a sort of river of passing events, and strong is its current; no sooner is a thing brought to sight than it is swept by and another takes its place.” – Marcus Aurelius

If you are leading today, or are preparing to lead at some point, you will experience “Underwater Leadership”.   The feeling that the waves of the demands of the job are breaking over you and you can’t catch your breath. Don’t panic.  Prepare to work through the situation.

Five Steps to Live Through “Underwater Leadership”

• Why asking for help increases your leadership credibility.

Don’t be afraid to ask for others for help. Avoid the attitude of arrogance. By asking for assistance creates the environment that no one person has all the answers.  Yes you are the leader, but the first rule of leadership is to know that you don’t know everything.  It also allows your other team members be creative.

• What to tell people that ask “How is it Going”.

When you start something new, people will often ask “How is it Going”?  You can respond like you have it all under control or you can be honest.  At the beginning, you will have a lot to learn.  Don’t be afraid to admit that your new organization has a lot going on and you have some thing’s to learn. Also reassure them that you will learn what is going on quickly.

• How to avoid the feeling of panic when things come quickly.

When you are in a new environment problem or opportunities can come quickly. You have to remember that each time you always have, to some extent, those feelings of anxiety.  With experience those feeling are managed and directed to the situation. Those feelings isn’t unexpected.  It’s like breaking out of a wave and finally getting your breath even if you go underwater again.

• What to do when you are called on to make tough leadership decisions.

Don’t tell yourself a lie. Don’t tell yourself that you may not be able to figure it out.  Don’t let that voice from the dark side of your brain win out. You will figure out the right decision.  You are in place as a leader because either you or the hiring team has confidence in you.

Always remember a spineless leader is an oxymoron. A strong leader makes a decision and communicates the why often.

• How you can use those “Underwater Experiences” to develop leaders on your team.

Your experience with those times when the waves pull you under and it is hard to catch your breath is exactly why you can develop others.  You have been to the valley and faced the mountain. You have road the wave, crashed, and lived to fight another day.  Because you have the experience of feeling panic, being unsure, and still made the right decision is why you can develop others.

You may start your first day and not even know where your office is. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. When those underwater feelings creep in, know that you have the tools because of experience to make good decisions.

Question of the Week: What underwater experience have you had at work?

Quote of the Week:  “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.” – John Quincy Adams

If you want to be wealthy and pass on wealth to the next generation, that is a noble goal.  Building wealth and passing it on is a biblical concept.  Tom Corley has studied the rich and has found that they do several things differently.

1. Eat better.  70 % of people that are wealthy eat less than 300 junk food calories per day.  97% of poor eat more than 300 junk food calories per day.
2. Gamble less.  This includes state lotto tickets.  23% of wealthy gamble.  52% of poor gamble.
3. Focus on one goal.  80% of wealthy are focused on accomplishing some since goal.  12% of the poor do this.
4. Exercise more.  76% of wealthy exercise 4 days a week.  23% of poor do this.
5. Listen and read to more books.  63% of wealthy listen to audio books during their morning commute to work.  5% of poor do this.
6. Keep a do-to-list 81% of wealthy maintain a do-to-list.  19% of the poor do.
7. Require their children to read non-fiction. 63% of wealthy parents require children to read 2 or more books a month.  3% of the poor require this.
8. 70% of wealthy parents require the children to volunteer 10 hrs or more per month.  3% of parents that are poor do this.
9. 67% of wealthy write down their goals.  17% for the poor.
10. 88% of wealthy read 30 minutes or more each day for education or career reasons.  2% of the poor do.
11. 6% of wealthy say what’s on their mind vs. 69% for poor.
12. 67% of wealthy watch 1hr or less of TV every day vs. 23% of poor.
13. 6% of wealthy watch reality TV vs. 78% for the poor.
14. Early to rise.  44% of wealthy wake up 3 hrs before work.  3% for the poor.
15. 74% of wealthy teach good daily success habits to their children vs. 1% for the poor.
16. 84% of wealthy believe good habits create opportunity luck vs. 4% for the poor.
17. 86% of wealthy believe in life-long educational self-improvement vs 5% for poor.
18. 86% of wealthy love to read vs. 26% for poor.

If you want to be wealthy, do what rich people do.

Question:  How would it change your life now if you if you make a few changes?

Quote of the Week:   “All wealth is the product of labor” – John Locke

According to US Bureau of Labor Statistics 25% of Small Businesses fail in the first 24 months, less than 50% survive past five years, and only 35% are still in business after ten years.  There are many reasons given as to why small businesses fail. Some blame the economic conditions, changing competition, or government policies.

I get fired up when discussing business success.  The real reason businesses fail isn’t economic conditions, competition, government policies or most any other excuse.  The real reason is that business owners make mistakes in several key areas.

There are always challenges in running a business. I believe that if you want to be a successful entrepreneur, find out what successful businesses do and follow their example.

In the past 35 years, I have made mistakes and learned crucial lessons about business and how to grow profits. You too can improve your success and have the numbers up and to the right.

Increase Your Success

1)Passion, Profitability, Proficiency

The first key to a successful business is having all three P’s.  If you run a business and don’t have passion for what you do, boredom will set in.  With boredom, the quality of your work will decrease and so will profits.

Malcolm Gladwell’s research shows that it takes 10,000 hours to become proficient at anything we do. If you aren’t willing to put in the time to be great at what you do, you are limiting your business.

If you have passion and proficiency but have a limited market, you don’t have a business.  You have a hobby.  Your idea has to be scalable.

2)  Become Debt Free

One of my favorite business books is “Common Sense in Business Matters” published in 1892.  The cost for this book was $1.00 and included shipping to any address in the United States. The first paragraph has the following advice: “Be self-reliant, punctual and strict in keeping engagements. Do not “Put Things Off”…. Prefer cash to credit at all times, either in buying or selling.

If you borrow to grow your business it greatly increases the risk of failure.  Borrowing can amplify mistakes to the point of being fatal to the business. To build a great business, be patient, and let it grow organically over time.

Personal debt is just as destructive.  If you are making payments to the bank, you aren’t building wealth for yourself.  My personal rule is not to borrow for anything that is consumable or depreciates.  This includes equipment and vehicles.

3)  Have a Clear Vision About Your Business

As a business leader, you have to ask the hard questions. What is your business strategy? What will your business be like next year? What will your business be like in 5 years?  What are you doing today to reach your vision of your business?

A great leader will be able to communicate their vision to build their company. A leader that has great vision will attract motivated people to help achieve that vision.

4)  Marketing Strategy

What is your marketing strategy?  Marketing has changed dramatically in the last 30 years.  Seth Godin in his book We Are All Weird, makes the case for niche markets.  With the new connected economy, choices are the rule. Depending upon your interest, everything from shaving cream brushes using badger hair to exotic cholates can be purchased.

Mass media advertising is no longer effective, so new methods have to be employed. Content is the new marketing.

5)  Know Your Numbers

Accounting is the language of business. Paradoxically many small business entrepreneurs hate the details of doing accounting.  Many enjoy analyzing the numbers but not the number crunching. Nevertheless if you are just getting started take the time to develop the discipline of accounting because knowing where and why you are making profits it critical for success.

After you achieve a level of success and grow, then you can outsource the bookkeeping. This will free you up to continue improving your business.

6) Have Trusted Advisors

The ability to surround yourself with trusted advisors is an absolute if you plan to scale your business.  If you have advisors that will tell you that your ideas are terrible, when they are, and not just tell you how great you are, will be invaluable.

The people you choose to spend time with will greatly influence what you are.  Jim Rohn made the observation that you are the average of the five people you choose to spend the most time with.

As a leader you will make difficult decisions about your business.  When you implement these six areas those decisions become easier.  So grow your business and enjoy your success.

Quote of the Week:  “Success is not to be pursued; it is to be attracted by the person you become.” – Jim Rohn

For more information about Radon Mitigation in homes, schools and commercial buildings visit us at www.nelsonradon.com.

Reading fundamentally changes how we process information. Listening to books on tape or a podcast is better than nothing, but reading generates higher levels of creativity and unleashes ideas. If you talk to any leader very long, they will invariably share how a particular book changed their lives.  Books can change your world view and inspire you to greatness.

I personally place a high priority on reading.  I have a goal of reading 12-16 non-fiction books each year on business related topics. The books on my reading list will give you a great start to unlock your creativity.

Some of my favorite books are:

Business

• E-Myth Revisited, Michael Gerber
• Great by Choice, Jim Collins
• Entreleadership, Dave Ramsey
• David and Goliath, Malcolm Gladwell
• 7 Habits, Steven Covey
• The Go Getter, Peter B. Kyne
• Who Moved my Cheese, Spencer Johnson and Kenneth Blanchard
• Common Sense in Business Matters, Published in 1892
• We are all Weird, Seth Godin

Marketing

• Tribes, Seth Godin
• Permission Marketing, Seth Godin
• Platform, Michael Hyatt
• Selling with Noble Purpose, Lisa Earl McCleod
• To Sell is Human, Daniel Pink
• Save the Cat, Blake Snyder

Forward Thought on Economy and Society

• Second Machine Age, Erik Brynjolfsson and Andrew McAfee
• Icarus Deception, Seth Godin
• Socialnomics, Eric Qualman
• Freakenomics, Steven D. Levitt and Stephan J. Dubner

Personal Development

• Though Shall Prosper, Daniel Lappin
• Rich Habits, Tom Corley
• The Legend of the Monk and the Merchant, Terry Felber
• The War of Art, Steven Pressfield
• QBQ, John Miller
• Essentialism, Greg McKeown

Question: What books would you add to my list?  You can leave a commit by clicking here.

Quote of the Week: “The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who cannot read.” – Mark Twain

For more information about Radon Mitigation in homes, schools and commercial buildings visit us at www.nelsonradon.com.

Personality types can be broken down into four basic types: Dominance (High D), Influence (High I), Steadiness (High S) and Conscientious (High C).  None of the personality types are better; they all have strengths and weaknesses.  To improve our ability to communicate let’s take a look at these four personality types.

1)       Dominance.  This person is results driven. They like to get right to the bottom line and place value on confidence.  They see the big picture and accept challenges willingly.  When selling to a High D, get to the point and provide them with only the information they need to make a decision.  When you make a sale, stop talking and wrap up the meeting. Many sales have been lost because the sales person talked their way out the door after the sale was made.

2)       Influence.  This person is relationship driven. They are open and like persuading others.  They are enthusiastic, tend to be optimistic, and like to work in groups.  They also dislike being ignored.  When selling to a High I, develop an atmosphere of being inclusive and be relational with them. Don’t expect to get too involved in a lot of details.  Follow up later by email to review the details.

3)      Steadiness.  This person places a high value on being dependable. They are sincere and like cooperation.  Conflict is seen as a problem to be avoided.  They don’t like to be rushed.  When selling to a High S, have a calm manner and calm approach. Give them time to make decisions. If they are pushed they will react negatively. Many sales people give up on this personality type before a sale can be made.

4)      Conscientious.  This person places a high value on accuracy and details.  This person has abilities to look at situations objectively and have analytical skills.  High C’s fear being wrong, but don’t like conflict.  When selling to a High C, provide lots of detail and give them only a couple of choices. Let them use their analytical skills with the details of the offer.

Everybody has a mix of these personality traits with one or two being prominent.  The test that determines these traits has been used since 1958. This test is referred to as the DISC profile test and provides an understanding of how we see the world.  The first time I took this test was in 1986 and found it very helpful.  Recently I’ve been reading a new book on personality psychology How the World Sees You: Discover Your Highest Value Through the Science of Fascination.  It takes a different perspective by looking at how the world sees us.

Question: How can you apply understanding the four personality types to improve your business or improve relationships?  You can leave a commit below.

For more information about Radon Mitigation in homes, schools and commercial buildings visit us at www.nelsonradon.com.

*Note:  This information is based on the research work of William Marston and later by Walter V. Clark.