Name some of your favourite business philosophies...

[benjoys02]

Originally Posted by Baz

Michael - thanks - very well done. All good. But that last one really resonates....

Resolve to be tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving and tolerant with the weak and wrong. Sometime in your life, you will have been all of these.

It's quite humbling, isn't it?

"7) People that make no errors generally accomplish nothing" reminds me of someone in the white house!

[Baz]

Originally Posted by LWJ

"Make money and have fun." The motto of WL Gore. Now, the motto of LWJ.

Yes...if you're not having fun...you're doing it wrong!

Originally Posted by fanaudical

Some great stuff here. A couple of mine:

Put the right people in the right places. Give people the opportunity to excel at what they want to do; don't set them up for failure by giving them responsibilities they can't handle.

Set clear expectations and track them. Reward performance. Don't tolerate incompetence.

Yes...get good people and DON'T SIT ON THEM!

[campbellcj]

My latest fave is "hire attitude, train skills".

[BE911SC]

Originally Posted by Drbraunsr

There's a time in the history of every project when you need to shoot the engineers and begin production....

Said the NASA administrators to the Shuttle engineers on the morning of January 28, 1986.

[BE911SC]

Only show your conscience when you are certain that you can't be fired or replaced by the people around you who don't have one*.

*Beware of the psychopaths coming up through the ranks. Identify them early and either groom them or get rid of them.

[Laneco]

At a certain point in their career, people no longer quit jobs, they quit bosses...

Not really a "business" philosophy but more of a working relationship philosophy. The last three jobs I have left have kept me in the same career, but I have moved on to due to a change in leadership or managerial philosophy. If you want to keep good people, take careful note of why good people leave.

angela

[Baz]

Originally Posted by Laneco

At a certain point in their career, people no longer quit jobs, they quit bosses...

Not really a "business" philosophy but more of a working relationship philosophy. The last three jobs I have left have kept me in the same career, but I have moved on to due to a change in leadership or managerial philosophy. If you want to keep good people, take careful note of why good people leave.

angela

Great point, Angela.....speaks volumes! Thanks for your post.

[Baz]

Another of my favourite philosophies......you can basically divide people into two camps.....

Those who are COLLABORATORS and those who are COMPETITORS.

Ideally you want to align yourself with the former. More importantly is understanding the concept as it pertains to your world.

It applies to your personal as well as business relationships.

[krichard]

My personal favorite and one I lead my Brewery by:

"People first, products and profits will follow"

[pavulon]

This is a good point but it is worth noting that managers, directors, team leaders... can sink an employee relationship from an interpersonal standpoint, the administrative philosophy can kill it just as fast. Bottom line mentality is pervasive and insidious in business today and is put upon middle managers without their realizing it or ever understanding how it plays out.

Originally Posted by Laneco

At a certain point in their career, people no longer quit jobs, they quit bosses...

Not really a "business" philosophy but more of a working relationship philosophy. The last three jobs I have left have kept me in the same career, but I have moved on to due to a change in leadership or managerial philosophy. If you want to keep good people, take careful note of why good people leave.

angela

[Brian in VA]

"In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities. In the exper's mind there are few" - Shunryu Suzuki

"Who dares teach must never cease to learn" - John Cotton Dana

"do it or don't do it but get on with it.." - Jiddu Krishnamurti

[BeyGon]

Hobie Alter's business motto when he started his surf shop.
It worked great for him. He stuck to it until he died last year.

"We won't wear suits and ties. We won't undersell and give tings away. We will remain focused on making the best quality product for people who will pay full price."

I bought my first NEW surfboard from him in his then new shop in Dana Point and was very happy with it.

[Don Ro]

Honor and heed the relationship with your clients.
It's all about the relationship - so always be honest...the money will follow.
.
I landed a contract that was renewed each year for the previous 6 years with a new contractor each year.
I kept that contract for 15 years...until I retired in '08.
The client wants and needs to trust their service provider...if they do, they'll likely keep you and reward you.
.
Some good philosophies in this thread.

[widgeon13]

If it hasn't been posted..........


Lead by example!

[Baz]

Originally Posted by Don Ro

Honor and heed the relationship with your clients.
It's all about the relationship - so always be honest...the money will follow.
.
I landed a contract that was renewed each year for the previous 6 years with a new contractor each year.
I kept that contract for 15 years...until I retired in '08.
The client wants and needs to trust their service provider...if they do, they'll likely keep you and reward you.
.
Some good philosophies in this thread.

Thanks Don. Those who are successful are fully aware of this important aspect of business.

Another way of putting it: "Customers for life!"

Originally Posted by widgeon13

If it hasn't been posted..........


Lead by example!

It has but worth posting again!

[Baz]

Well no one replied to my question about the difference between features and benefits.

Here it is....

Your product has many characteristics.....and these are it's features. But the benefits are how these features translate into an advantage for the client.

For every feature you can find the benefit by answering by the question...."What's that to me?"

Feature: This shovel has a forged handle.
Benefit: It can withstand a great deal of force without breaking thus providing a longer life.

I only mention this because it's a common mistake to confuse features with benefits and when you are marketing your product it's essential to understand the difference.

This is business 101 - I suspect everyone here already knows this but thought I would post it anyway.

[Brando]

Originally Posted by widgeon13

If it hasn't been posted..........

Lead by example!

Worth repeating another 100 times.

I have a new 'director' coming in next year. Her first time in the role - wants to lead by dictation. We'll see how well she does

[David]

Some really great ideas folks, thanks!

One concept that I unfortunately have to tell vendors sometimes, "everyone makes mistakes, it's what you do after the mistake that determines whether or not we keep doing business with you"

It's a pleasure doing business with vendors I don't have to tell this too and it quickly changes the attitude of the ones who don't.

[wrpeterson]

"Be polite, be professional, but have a plan to kill everybody you meet."

"I come in peace. I didn’t bring artillery. But I’m pleading with you, with tears in my eyes: If you f**k with me, I’ll kill you all."

"There is only one ‘retirement plan’ for terrorists."

-- GEN James Mattis, USMC (Ret.)

[Icemaster]

Originally Posted by Baz

Well no one replied to my question about the difference between features and benefits...

A benefit is a bug that can be marketed and sold. A feature is one that can't.