How 2016 will turn out is anyone’s guess. There is a proven recipe for success and every business discovers it through skillful preparation and planning, decision-making, execution and follow-up. I decided to shorten your learning curve by sharing the components of the recipe for success with you.
* You must closely monitor and then make any required changes to the ingredients as the year unfolds, to achieve the desired results.
Business Recipe for Success Ingredients
- 2 pounds of great employees, divided into equal parts
- 1 pound of great partners and suppliers, divided into equal parts
- 1 regular package of 2016 business/financial plan & budget
- 1 medium marketing road map & calendar, divided into 12 pieces
- 8 cups of existing customers
- 2 cups of new customers
- 4 cups of business referrals
- 1 teaspoon employee training & development
- 1 teaspoon employee recognition program
- 3/4 cup monthly performance reviews
- 3/4 cup quarterly business & financial reports
- 1 cup customer satisfaction surveys
- Shredded new products and services
- Fried special promotional offers
- Chopped quarterly clearance sales
Preparation Directions
In a large pot, place great employees, great partners and suppliers, business, financial plan & budget and let simmer, stirring occasionally. Remove the excess “fat” from business/financial plan & budget, and continue to let mixture simmer. Add the marketing road map & calendar, stirring often until tender.
In a large pan, add existing customers and cook over medium-high heat until very hot. Add in new customers and business referrals and cook over medium-high heat until mixture bubbles. Do not let mixture boil.
In a small, heavy saucepan melt employee training & development. Add employee recognition program and mix well.
Combine all ingredients in the large pot and cook over medium-low heat until mixture bubbles, stirring frequently. Add monthly performance reviews, quarterly business & financial reports, and customer satisfaction surveys, stirring slowly until the “soup” is thick and creamy.
Garnish with shredded new products and services, fried special promotional offers, and chopped quarterly clearance sales.
Serve hot and enjoy! You can add a can of good fortune for additional flavor and season to taste.
Keep your business’s recipe for success in perspective. And remember, recipes are not absolutes, they’re just guidelines. As a business owner you should realize that the final product will rarely turn out as advertised. So be flexible, stay open to the possibilities ahead, and enjoy the soup!
What ingredients do you add to your business’s recipe for success? Please share them with us below!
