I’ve been immersed in business all my life. I grew up within a farming business and I watched my Dad work hard to rear livestock which achieved best prices at auction. I saw him prepare his fields meticulously, sow crops and harvest high quality barley, oats and wheat.
I watched my Grandad tend the large vegetable garden and orchard. With great care he dug, sowed, planted, pricked out, fertilized, pruned and eventually harvested the gorgeous fresh fruit and vegetables which sustained us. There was no such concept as organic back then but that was indeed how we naturally ate.
There was really only one thing which would prevent them reaching their goals. The weather. Pretty much everything else was in their power to fix, correct, change and implement. And looking back I see that their business success was built on their rock solid belief and confidence that they would win through.
Some years high winds, drought, flooding or excessive snow and frost would thwart their attempts of reaching business success. They could do little about those events but stand by, take off their flat caps, scratch their heads and tut.
But everything else was in their power to change. I would hear them mull over their options at breakfast. Being men of few words, their opinions were considered and based on experience. Once a plan was conceived, they would head off out and implement it. The family’s survival depended upon it.
Learning from the masters
I’ve observed many businesses since my childhood and always I have been fascinated by what I see. I have noticed how different people behave and what traits lead to business success. My bookshelves are full of biographical stories of successful businessmen and women. From Sir John Harvey-Jones to Karren Brady, I devour their wisdom, business acumen and advice.
And I have watched or worked within a great many businesses where it is obvious to me where change needs to happen or where indeed the recipe is about right. Interestingly, over the years, I have never been wrong about a business I have looked at and expected to fail.
I’ve seen a large firm of London lawyers who were too timid to ask their Clients for money on account and who instead were in hock to the bank for millions. Ultimately, they were swallowed up by a competitor and disappeared. Then there was the recruitment agency run by a woman who no longer contributed to its income, preferring instead to pretend she was a business success, swanning around in taxis and taking long liquid lunches every day. She very quickly folded.
So what does constitute business success?
My observations over the years have led me to believe that there are the same ingredients in the mix. The first is having a plan, or business vision. Without a destination in mind, how can we map out our route? We need to believe in it, smell it, taste it and pursue it.
Determination is also a key element. Turning up every day and working hard in a focused manner is the only way to lasting success. Overnight success is a myth.
I believe that unfettered confidence is of critical importance too. Self belief and courage will bring business success. Those who doubt their abilities, who use negative rather than positive words will never bask in the success they say they want. We must always be congruent in our thinking, behaviour, actions and objectives.
Currently I am watching a business, whose owner is more arrogant than confident. He hires and fires on a whim, not caring about his team or bothering to nurture them. There is an atmosphere of negativity, blame, fear and bitchiness. The boss is a scrooge when it comes to investing in his people and his business. His competitors however are savvy and confident and circling…
