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My Business On Purpose

The Business On Purpose Podcast is a weekly podcast dedicated to equipping, inspiring, and mobilizing you to live out your skill set to serve others and glorify God. My goal is to help small business owners and organizational leaders unlock the things you cannot see, and develop actionable strategies and systems that will help you live out your business on purpose.
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Now displaying: November, 2019
Nov 26, 2019

An article from Gettysburg College tells us we will spend roughly 90,000 hours of our life at work.

That is one third of every day of our life...working.

Owners have a responsibility for creating businesses that produce value for customers, profit for the business, and jobs for millions of people.

As you build your business in whatever stage you are in (typically five different stages from “Survival” to “Legacy”), people are going to be a part of it.  

If you are a solopreneur, a gig-er, or a freelancer, at some point you will outsource bookkeeping, taxes, graphic design, marketing, or some other service that will dramatically help you focus on your narrow brilliance.

Surveying heroic business owners for the past five years we have found that outside of managing time, their biggest headache is found in one simple word; employees.

It does not have to be that way.

Life is loaded with concrete reality and fluid emotion.  

Employees and owners alike both bring that dualistic reality with them at home and to work, it is why the sentiment “it’s just business” cannot be right.

Owners have an opportunity to create a powerful human experience for employees within the platform of their business if they will only slow down.

I received this email from a co-owner (Matt) at Modern Door in Maryland.  They began intentionally following the methodical hiring process that we built together and this was a result...

Another owner “caught” a key leader in the act of using their printed Hiring Process to bring on a new team member.

THIS IS HUMAN!

Why?

Following a hiring and onboarding process does three things for you, your business, your new team members, your existing team members, and the families at home.

First, a hiring and onboarding process gives you and your team clarity on who fits what role in the business.  Too many times we bring someone into the business because we are desperate and conclude that this person can be the ibuprofen to our headache.

When we bring them in without a process, without a clear role, and without a 90 day onboarding plan, instead of ibuprofen, it feels more like another knife in the back.

We then blame our frustration on the new person when in reality, we are the problem.  We were too caught up in “needing help” that we forgot (or neglected) to “help the need”.  

Second, a hiring process intentionally slows down the entire process.  Historical wisdom has prioritized slown-ness verses speed. Rarely have solid, decisions with great longevity been made in haste.  Proverbs 19:2 minces no words in saying, “it is not good to have zeal without knowledge, nor to be hasty and miss the way.”

Hiring has been notoriously hasty.  Currently Amazon is needing to hire over 50,000 people.  Wow. Haste may have to be an option for Amazon but it certainly does not for you.  

Write the process down, communicate it with your team and your potential hires, and follow the process...every jot and tittle. 

Third, a clear process puts the potential hire on alert declaring “this is the type of company you are dealing with.”  It has been overwhelming to hear the number of times a potential hire will tell an owner or key leader, “wow, you all really have your stuff together” or “I’ve never interviewed with a company like this.”

The truth is you made the hiring up from scratch, you didn’t consult an HR manual or a professional hiring service, you just thought through, what are the key elements we need to know and what are the key elements they need to know before we join up for a long term relationship.

Rarely will you find a good talent fit, instead choose to make a good talent fit for your business. 

What is the next step?  Go grab a sheet of paper, lose the distractions for 30 minutes and write down everything you want to be a part of your hiring process.  Share it with your existing team (or just with yourself if you are solo), and follow the process!

When you follow the process, you create a human experience.

Scott Beebe is the founder of Business On Purpose, author of Let Your Business Burn: Stop Putting Out Fires, Discover Purpose, And Build A Business That Matters.  Scott also hosts The Business On Purpose Podcast and can be found at mybusinessonpurpose.com.

Nov 26, 2019

Recently I received an email from a client who is a part of our Architects coaching program which is known as the Architecture Firm Freedom Formula (Dream Practice Accelerator) serving Architects, Engineers, and Interior Designers..

It is a program that Enoch Sears and I have run jointly for four years and we’ve had the privilege of seeing more than 100 Architects through the program around the world from Namibia, to Croatia, China, to Scotland, Canada, and the United States.

We hear regular feedback from our heroic firm owners about real life challenges they are facing, and struggles of running a successful firm.

This is an honest peek into the life of one such firm owner who was literally about to throw in the towel, but has been refreshed and recommitted after seeing the simple power of serving her widowed mother.  

Dear Scott and Enoch,

This is just an email to touch base and let you know I'm still alive:))  But more importantly, that I had a break through recently, thanks to the influence of you guys, that has me super excited and pumped to press forward with our company and renew/refresh....again! 

I had hit a bad place of uncertainty mid-year that derailed intentions initiated at the start of this year when I signed up for AFF.   I may have shared snippets between Thursday calls and the one time chat with Enoch (which was meant to discuss technical road block i have with trello), that indicated the turmoil & overwhelming state I'd arrived at with so much changing so fast in our company/structure/culture/vision, which left David and I very unsure what we wanted out of the business anymore. Vision temporarily lost!  Confusion was compounded by us both turning 50/51 and re-evaluating goals and means to accomplish them. We called into question if it made sense to keep Fusion going or take our experience/skills/knowledge to alt career paths as employees elsewhere.  

Meanwhile, we continued to be busier than expected this year, but unfortunately not all due to new revenue generating business, but rather, a considerable amount devoted to trouble-shooting and fixing unacceptable/inaccurate work performed by our ex-young team who had since moved on (we had taken time to train, or so we thought, but they didn't care enough apparently), but left us plenty of potentially liable mess ups to follow up and deal with.  Needless to say, the motivation to keep the business going waned even further as I evaluated our numbers, implementing AFF lessons, etc.  

Then October rolled around and suddenly it was time for my almost 3 week solo trip to India (booked months ago) to visit and help my mom.  Now a widow, she has relocated to her birthplace in a beautiful but remote town and I was there to help her finish out a construction project she stubbornly started at age 85, with the desire to reside on the small lakeside lot of land she inherited, next to the chapel she had built over 20 years ago for her community, from her retirement savings.  The place is fairly remote, natural, with no internet connection at her place (attaching a pic taken from roof terrace of her new final home).  So I'd hoped I'd have plenty of quiet blocks of time to really catch up on AFF modules, plus some reading, in this potentially peaceful setting.  I took both books you guys sent us (Profit First and E-Myth)...had only half finished the former in January, implemented immediately, but never finished the book.  This was going to be my time to read both! Well, turned out to be wishful thinking!!

My 3 weeks flew at a very busy pace, as I found myself having to manage union/communist mentality labor taking advantage of a single old lady; having to communicate strictly in a foreign language that I only have basic conversational skills with, amidst heavy rain storms, etc.  Kept me so fully busy every day, with no energy to read or think beyond what my mom needed. But i was there for her primarily, so it was cool. Accomplished a lot to settle her. Left her happy and comfortable, and excited that I will be back next month with David and the girls.  Something for her to look forward to this Christmas:)  

But...as I boarded the plane on Nov 11th to head back, I recognized I was still hungry to gain some clarity and sense of thoughtful professional gameplan before returning to USA, but had exhausted time, and quite frankly, my energy.  Not quite ready to give up, I decided to try something I've never succeeded at doing in the past....to stay awake in flight and read!  

I deliberately slept my first 4.5 hours flight from Kochi to Doha.  That refreshed me from immense fatigue I had felt from intense pace through day of departure.  Then on 2nd leg of journey, 14.5 hours to go before touchdown in Atlanta, I buckled down with Michael Gerber.  I thought I'd at least get the book started before I returned to David.  

Simply put....Wow!  What a great read. Just a couple of chapters in, I was hooked.  I could relate to so much, and every page resonated with sense. I devoured the book cover to cover without inflight movies or sleep for 14 hours straight -- much to the annoyance of my fellow passengers who probably wanted my light turned off.  But selfishly I wasn't about to turn it off when so many mini lightbulbs were mentally being triggered as I read on. 

The book helped me better understand the systematic modules you have organized for us to implement.  I feel stupid for waiting this long to read it! It even inspired me to crack open my notepad and think through a different ORG chart with fresh perspective (I've attached my sloppy inflight sketch here for your amusement -- lots to still iron out -- have some questions I hope AFF team can help clarify before finalizing).  I realized, the Entrepreneur in me wasn't ready to give up. Not just like that after more than 16 years of a fairly profitable business -- messy and sloppy as it has been. So much room for improvement, and with some clarity gained, I know Fusion can be so much better and stronger, even if maintaining our desire not to get much bigger!  I am convinced we've just experienced really painful adolescence as a company, and I am so ready to grow up/mature, but recognize the need to reset bad childhood habits and practices first. So...I am ready to implement from basics again.  

The most exciting result of this trip for me is that i've returned EXCITED and believing in the purpose of my business in our life's goals again. This trip gave me time to recognize in deep gratitude the many luxuries our small business has provided us as a family.  Not just the financial means and freedom to travel internationally as a family every other year, but especially for the blessing to allow me personally the freedom to take as many trips across the seas to reach my parents to help whenever needed.  

When in 2015 my dad was diagnosed with ALS, he and my mom needed my help and I ended up making 5 trips to India over the next 12 months, 2-3 weeks each; the last of which was to bury dad.  Had I been an employee anywhere, I would have been fired or had to have quit. Which employer would allow for that kind of time? Or which small company, unsystematic as we are in many ways, could tolerate a COO in absent minded/depression/anger/grief for the next 12-18 months and still generate adequate returns to keep all staff compensated while finishing several big projects to full client satisfaction?  Somehow that's what my business has afforded and provided us. 

The recent years seem a blur so I don't know how we did it, but we did.  No doubt being blessed with a handful of key people on my team is definitely part of the 'how'; but boy, thinking back to the intense stress and toll we've experienced through these last 4 adolescent years, while it's been a decent business it could've been so much better had I known and implemented then what I am learning now.  I recognize that while the business hasn't been a lucrative one unfortunately, it has been a blessing in disguise that has afforded us significant and priceless life experiences. And I believe it still has purpose for at least a few more years.  

So I want to re-commit to my initial intent at the start of 2019, to renew and refresh Fusion A.I. Design.  Really thankful to have discovered AFF to help guide me to accomplish that intent. Now it is time.  I aim to IMPLEMENT!

Thank you both for sharing what you know and doing what you do!

What role does your business play in serving others?  Alice is working to build a business on purpose...and we hope you’ll do the same!  

Three things Alice did that I challenge you to do…

  1. OWN Where You Are At (Good or Bad)
  2. Surround Yourself With Truth AND Inspiration
  3. Recommit To Your Vision, Mission, and Values!
Nov 20, 2019

Last week NFL players Miles Garret and Mason Rudolph were locked in a nasty tussle that left one with a bruised head and ego, and the other with an indefinite suspension without pay (his contract is said to be worth roughly $34mm over four years).

Last week Ambassador William Taylor (acting Ambassador to the Ukraine) read prepared testimony giving insight into questionable practices from high ranking members of the United States government.  While the testimony was thoroughly prepared it spawned a news cycle reaction that was swift, biased and opinionated. 

I’ll never forget watching a cable news network anchor standing outside of the United States Supreme Court after a judgement was written as to the opinion of the court regarding the infamous “hanging chad” ordeal in the election results of the contest between George W. Bush and Al Gore on December 13th, 2000.  

The on-site reporter was literally trying to interpret the written Supreme Court decision while on air.  No preparation. No moments of sobriety...just get it out and be the first to arrive.

We are obsessed with being first.  

Yours truly has been known to anticipate the ticket agent who picks up the handheld microphone just prior to welcoming “Group 9” to board creating a mob-rush to the gate door in preparation for boarding so we can grab the coveted overhead space.

In sports we are losing our joy for the game in favor of coming in first.  It used to be that we would sell out stadiums even when a team had a .500 season.  Now, if one college team loses even just one game, they are “out”.

I went back and looked at the U of S. Carolina Gamecock football team I played for from 1994 through 1997 and found we were a combined record of 22 wins, 22 losses, and 1 tie (against LSU in 1995). I am not under the illusion that fans were not unsatisfied.  Our attendance was still pretty incredible through those years.

Just this weekend , Baylor University after having a monumental run being undefeated through nine college football games (an incredible feat in itself) lost in the last minute to Oklahoma and the college football powers TROUNCED them bumping them down in the rankings.   

Why are we obsessed with first?

We assume that first equals easy, recognized, and having the satisfaction of “having arrived”.

We really believe that “first” is going to fix things.  Once we hit “first”, we’ll get the respect, we’ll get the credibility.

It is all empty.  

Of course there are comforts that come with first.  Possibly big pay days, awards, recognition. If you sat with everyone who has ever come in first, you will probably find a theme.  

The “before coming first” was a lot more meaningful than the “after coming first”.  

Many men and women who have successfully sold their businesses (aka coming in first), felt more significance while leading their business than they did upon selling their business with the contracted payout.  

How can we appreciate life without having to have the constant need to come in first?

First, pause.

Start asking yourself realistically, what is the purpose?  Pause, remove yourself from the emotion of the moment and and ask that question.  Currently that same University of South Carolina football team, with different coaches and team members of course, are sitting at a record of 4 wins and 7 losses.  

 

They have been calling for the head coach (Will Muschamp) to be fired for weeks.  But what if we paused.  

 

What if we thought, “who else is out there?”  “What would that do to recruiting?” “Is Coach Muschamp doing a bad job?”  

Turns out, last year the University of South Carolina had the highest graduation success rate in college football behind four Ivy Leagues schools and Northwestern University.  Not first, but pretty impressive.

When we pause, we can think with greater clarity as to the full scope of information.

 

Second, pause before each transition.

 

The current research and literature sings in unison, multi-tasking is a lie.  Time blocking is clearly a better way. Multi-tasking does not work both in research and in my own experience.

 

Of course time blocking does not make us feel like we are coming in first, multi-tasking does.  As the day goes on today, I am committed to pausing and at least taking a deep breath before transitioning into the next action or opportunity on my Monday checklist (yes, I do have a Monday checklist.)

 

Third, realize that being first comes with responsibility and burden...not just opportunity.

 

A friend of mine is a professional musician and sometimes I think he has the life, it seems like he came in first.  Until I realize that he wakes up in a different city multiple days of the week sometimes forgetting where he is because the crowds all look the same.  

 

Then realizing that even amidst all of the lauding of fans, he has zero flexibility in his schedule.  A road manager guides his every time slot.

 

A friend of mine has a cousin who is a  NASCAR driver and is still young in his thirties.  My friend got us passess and access to spend the afternoon with his cousin leading up to a famous race that evening.  This driver is a multi-millionaire with major access. He spent his entire afternoon, and most of each week out of eleven months each year beholden to sponsors and crew chiefs.  His time is not his own even though he came in first.

 

It almost seemed as if he was bound by his freedom.  There are about 43 drivers on the planet that have the access he has.  He came in first, and yet he’s walking away from full time racing this year.

 

As you grow and as your business grows, make sure to pause, breath deep, find places of respite, and spend time learning how to navigate your new responsibilities, burden, and opportunity of coming in first.  Not the first of winning, but the first of having the opportunity to play the game.

 

Scott Beebe is the founder of Business On Purpose, author of Let Your Business Burn: Stop Putting Out Fires, Discover Purpose, And Build A Business That Matters.  Scott also hosts The Business On Purpose Podcast and can be found at mybusinessonpurpose.com.

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