It is very common in the business world to talk about Return on Investment (ROI), which simply provides some percentage on capital investment (money) measured usually over the course of one year’s time .
I would like to introduce to you a new thought created by our changing world call Return on Energy (ROE). This return speaks to the amount of energy you put forth to accomplish your goals both at work and at home, by measuring your personal and professional satisfaction.
In a world where work and play are linked and woven together, it’s critical that we step back a few times a month to measure our ROE and relate our thoughts back to what our dreams and goals are at work and home.
Without ROE, our vision and mission may get blurred and cause us to lose focus on what really is important to living a healthy, successful and purposeful life.
When I reflect back over the changes we have seen these past three years, it has become evident that our customers and families require more attention than ever; and both deservingly so. However, with the technology we have at our finger tips (e-mails, texting, Twitter, Linkdin, Facebook, etc.), it is sometimes difficult to deliver.
What do we really have to show for our ROE? - Frustration, lack of sleep, exhaustion and perhaps less time to enjoy what we earn for a living each day. I believe it’s time to improve our ROE, because we deserve it.
I hope that you will reflect and take some time to measure your ROE and discover the true values you want to give and receive from the time you spend at work and home. Once you have determined these values, I hope you find a new found passion and commitment to “deliver excellence” to yourself and your family.
Friday, February 10, 2012
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Porch Views
In the morning on a clear day, as I stand on my front porch, I have a view that allows me to see a beautiful sunrise. In the evening, as I sit back relaxing on my back porch, on the right day and at the right time, I can enjoy a breathtaking view of an awesome sunset. Two very different views.
Over the years, great leaders have run their perspective businesses or departments from many different viewpoints. In fact, you could argue that in order to be successful, it is imperative for a leader to manage from many different views.
I have talked to many different leaders over the past thirty months and most of them have had to redefine their game plan just to remain profitable. A couple of the viewpoints or thought processes are below.
The president of a manufacturing business was forced to change his view when sales dropped over 75%. In this particular case, after laying off valuable people, he thought he had solved his problem. Unfortunately, it got even tougher. The next decision was made to have everyone that was left take an unpaid week off each month for almost a year. During this period, they were forced to discover new processes that allowed them to run the business with this skeleton staff. Today, their sales are up. But the biggest surprise to the president and his staff was during their lean time, with the newly discovered processes, they not only ran the business, but ran it successfully with the smaller staff, without hiring additional personnel.
Another leader made the decision to offer a million dollars to his branch leaders for the best innovative idea to grow sales internally. This bold decision came on the heels of declining sales and gross profit.
These are managing from different perspectives or views. Laying off personnel and taking a 25% pay cut is my definition of "leading through survival". I would define the second leadership viewpoint as "strategic risk taking" - believing in your team while planning for strategic growth.
Neither was is right or wrong. As a good friend told me, "Any time your business is never on idle, it is either moving forward or falling behind."
To sum it all up, whether the leader is sitting on the back porch, watching a sunset, or on the front porch enjoying the sunrise, the views may be different, but ultimately it's about leadership and believing in yourself and the team that believes in you.
Which porch do you lead from?
Over the years, great leaders have run their perspective businesses or departments from many different viewpoints. In fact, you could argue that in order to be successful, it is imperative for a leader to manage from many different views.
I have talked to many different leaders over the past thirty months and most of them have had to redefine their game plan just to remain profitable. A couple of the viewpoints or thought processes are below.
The president of a manufacturing business was forced to change his view when sales dropped over 75%. In this particular case, after laying off valuable people, he thought he had solved his problem. Unfortunately, it got even tougher. The next decision was made to have everyone that was left take an unpaid week off each month for almost a year. During this period, they were forced to discover new processes that allowed them to run the business with this skeleton staff. Today, their sales are up. But the biggest surprise to the president and his staff was during their lean time, with the newly discovered processes, they not only ran the business, but ran it successfully with the smaller staff, without hiring additional personnel.
Another leader made the decision to offer a million dollars to his branch leaders for the best innovative idea to grow sales internally. This bold decision came on the heels of declining sales and gross profit.
These are managing from different perspectives or views. Laying off personnel and taking a 25% pay cut is my definition of "leading through survival". I would define the second leadership viewpoint as "strategic risk taking" - believing in your team while planning for strategic growth.
Neither was is right or wrong. As a good friend told me, "Any time your business is never on idle, it is either moving forward or falling behind."
To sum it all up, whether the leader is sitting on the back porch, watching a sunset, or on the front porch enjoying the sunrise, the views may be different, but ultimately it's about leadership and believing in yourself and the team that believes in you.
Which porch do you lead from?
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Where Do You Want To Be? On the Sidelines or In the Game?
Let's Walk Into the Stadium
If you are a sports fan, then this is the time of year that offers you many options to satisfy your hobby. We are right in the midst of the baseball playoffs, in full swing of the NFL and college football seasons, and right around the corner, hockey season begins, along with college and NBA basketball.
Now, Let's Step Into Your Workplace
As a child, most of us growing up were on the sidelines and someone was assigned captain to pick the teams before the start of the game.
After high school, we had the choice of our careers and what arena we wanted to play in.
The question is, are you on the sidelines, following the leaders, movers and shakers of the profession you've chosen, or are you participating in the game?
Your Defining Moment
The truth is, we are in the game. We all participate and add value to our organization with our own unique skills and expertise. The challenge is whether or not you add value every day.
Do you look at different ways of adding value to your organization? When was the last time you added significant value that made a real difference to the bottom line?
As you look back over your career, write down three (3) accomplishments that were defining moments in your life and then start planning for the next one.
You're a winner - just keep proving it!
If you are a sports fan, then this is the time of year that offers you many options to satisfy your hobby. We are right in the midst of the baseball playoffs, in full swing of the NFL and college football seasons, and right around the corner, hockey season begins, along with college and NBA basketball.
Now, Let's Step Into Your Workplace
As a child, most of us growing up were on the sidelines and someone was assigned captain to pick the teams before the start of the game.
After high school, we had the choice of our careers and what arena we wanted to play in.
The question is, are you on the sidelines, following the leaders, movers and shakers of the profession you've chosen, or are you participating in the game?
Your Defining Moment
The truth is, we are in the game. We all participate and add value to our organization with our own unique skills and expertise. The challenge is whether or not you add value every day.
Do you look at different ways of adding value to your organization? When was the last time you added significant value that made a real difference to the bottom line?
As you look back over your career, write down three (3) accomplishments that were defining moments in your life and then start planning for the next one.
You're a winner - just keep proving it!
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