Do you have Business 20/20 Vision?

The year 2020 is 5 years away. How do you see yourself and your company in 5 years? Do you have a clear goal in mind that you can share with your team? If we don’t know what new product or service will come out in 6 month, some may say: Why bother?

What do newspapers, Albert Einstein and Miley Cyrus have in common?

Nope…Albert never “twerked”!

Newspapers

At one time, everyone read the paper. It was the main way to find out:

• What was going on in the world?
• Did your favorite sports team win?
• What movies are playing?
• What sales are being offered?
• What is for sale in the classifieds…need a new job, new car or pet?

At one point, Rupert Murdoch referred to the newspaper classified advertising revenue as: “Rivers of Gold.”

This was eventually followed by: “Sometimes rivers dry up.”

Here are two examples. In 1993, the New York Times Co. buys New England Media Group (Boston Globe) for $1.1 billion. In 2013, a mere 10 years later, it sells for $70 million. In 2006, the Philadelphia Inquirer & Philadelphia Daily was purchased for $515 million. Six years later, it sold for $55 million. Ouch.

THE LESSON

Failure to adapt to the market changes can see your rivers of money dry up!

Albert Einstein

 

Albert Einstein once said: The definition of insanity: Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.

THE LESSON

Be willing to change, to adapt to shifts in the marketplace. Don’t keep your head in the sand and think that status quo is good enough!

Miley Cyrus

How does Miley Cyrus fit in all of this? Love her or hate her, Miley re-invented herself from a child TV star to a POP icon.

The Lesson 

Don’t be afraid to re-invent yourself or your company. Be ready to evolve with the changing market conditions.

Where I went wrong

I was a technician who eventually ran the company. I was too busy to work ON my company. The whole identity of the company was tied to me. I had no monitoring or automation. I was putting out fires rather than working on prevention. I didn’t have a company…I had a job…with no market value.

How I solved it

I left the country! Yes, my family and I moved to a small town just outside Puerto Vallarta called Bucerias. I could no longer do the work myself; I had to learn how to delegate. I implemented an RMM and began to attract larger customers. I started offering Office 365 implementations. I gradually transformed my job into a company and sold it!

What I needed

I had to work ON my business, rather than IN it. I had to get out of my comfort zone. I had to develop mindsets to success. I needed to create a vision, which would bring alignment. All decisions I would subsequently take would have to align with my vision. This in turn activated my Reticular Activator. Reticular what?

Reticular Activator 

Have you ever gone to the dealership buy a new vehicle, let’s say a BMW X3. You sign the papers and return home to await delivery in a couple of days. What do you now notice all over the road? There is one there! There is another one! I never knew there were so many X3s all over the place. Never noticed them before.

Once you create your vision, you will notice opportunities stand out, whereas you might never had noticed them before. It’s as if the universe is conspiring to help you. This is just one of the powerful tools that are given to you when you have a clear vision.

Why do you need a vision?

It helps you visualize success. It gives your business momentum. If you can clearly communicate your vision to your staff, it empowers them to work in the direction you give them. It creates alignment, another great tool that make decisions about your business easier. Lastly, you don’t waste time on work that takes you away from your vision.

2020 Business Vision

The year 2020 is 5 years away. How big will your company be in 2020? How do you want your personal life to be? What will your company be worth? Who do you want to work with? What do you want to contribute to the world? What do you consider success? What do you NOT want to do?

Unplug, close the door and really take some time to think about these questions. Pick a time frame (such as 5 years). Do NOT reject any ideas. In fact, the gold nuggets usually come at the end of a brainstorming exercise when you tap into your sub-conscious. Be specific and precise yet concise and clear. Paint a clear picture of what you want to become. Find your BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goal), the difference between having goals and being committed to a daunting challenge. Don’t be afraid to think big. Big ideas inspire. Get feedback from your group, re-write and share.

TIP: Write in the present tense as if it has already happened and use simple language.

What do you think of this vision from Dell:

“To be the most successful computer company in the world and delivery the best customer experience in markets we serve.”

In one room where I showed this, I heard: “What does that even mean?” It’s too vague, boring and uninspiring.

What do you think of this vision from John F. Kennedy (1961):

“To land a man on the moon and return him safely to earth before the end of the decade.”

Some of the things that came to my mind:

• Paints a clear picture
• Easy to communicate
• Inspiring
• Desirable
• Unique
• Focused
• Feasible
• That is one BHAG!

Reality sets in

You are now ready to work on your vision and find your BHAG. Only problem…once at the office, the whirlwind of activities will come and BE HONEST…you just won’t have the time. I’ve been there. I’ve been you (still am in many respects)…

IT Revolution 2020 Vision Action Plan 

The good news is that you can get the help that you need. You do NOT have to figure this out alone. We can help you do a deep dive into your business & personal goals. Create an action plan that is right for you. Help you identify the right partners that align with your vision. We can even help you to onboard the solution, bring it to market and create a new income stream for you. In combination with the tools and services of VAR Office Suite with some hands-on execution help from my team, we can find you the time to get the job done right.

Do not decide yet… Take our free 30-minute strategy session.

Let’s start working on your vision together. Let’s see if we are a right fit. Simply request your free 30-minute strategy session today at randal@itrevolution.ca and we can start working ON your business. We are part of the VAR Office Suite mission to help the channel to become bigger, better and stronger before 2020.

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