“In calm seas, everyone’s a captain.”

Ernest Hemingway

No doubt about it . . .  you have a story to tell about surviving the storm.  You and others have been pushed to your limits physically, mentally, spiritually, financially, and relationally.  The challenges have been immense.  The odds are against you and you’ve been cornered; forced into a fight.  Strong winds are blowing and there’s no stopping them.  And no matter if you’ve trained or not, it’s time to respond.  

Sound familiar?  

I’m not talking about Hurricane Ike (necessarily).  If you’ll pardon the linguistic trickery, a powerful storm is a perfect metaphor for the current condition of small business. 

If you’re running a business, there are huge storms right now which need no description.  Beyond the current economic conditions, I am sure you’ve experienced multiple confounding factors this year that have tainted your 2008 plan; the dreaded “torpedoes” that have knocked you and your ship well off course. 

Do you race to course corrections?  I do, too.  But asking the right questions is a necessary precursor to implementing solutions.  When considering either a business challenge or even a hurricane’s impact, a great question is, “What did this storm reveal about me?”  Have you asked that one?  I did (about Hurricane Ike); and the answers made me feel slightly vulnerable, slightly inefficient, and even a bit squirrelly.  Yet, along with it, there was also a desire to respond with right action.

One main revelation was how weak I can be without creature comforts.  Even amid very little actual danger, my ability to cope without electricity, internet, and ice was iffy at best.  I was short on patience and grace; and harbored a tiny, irrational fear of the unknown.  All in all, it was a struggle to keep my cool, both physically and emotionally.  I’m thankful for my wife, who helped us to keep the ship in one piece amid 10 days of playing Nomadic Family.  

As most displaced families probably experienced, we enjoyed the generous hospitality from family and friends during this time.  My wife and I also enjoyed (at times) the ‘Time Warp’ dynamic of pretending we were in a pre-electricity era. Before leaving town for three days, we did the flashlight & candle thing as we huddled up at home with no power.  The little ones loved playing flashlight tag and rediscovering exciting, ominous destinations like the pantry and the guest room closet.  We had to get a bit creative at mealtime but we managed to survive with our gas grill & stovetop.  

Also during this time we visited with our neighbors - the ones about whom we always say “we never spend enough time with each other!”.  That night we spoke about everything A to Z, truly enjoying each other’s company.  It’s not like we’d never visited with them; but it was notable that there were no distractions of TV, internet, or anything.  All we had was each other, our hearts, thoughts, and words . . . and that was more than enough.  Even the dim lighting added a special aura to the evening.  Most of all, we were in no rush at all because we had nowhere to go and nowhere to be.  

It was a perfect example of how we should always be when we say we are available:  meaning, totally “there,” 100% focused, and completely relaxed.

There was something else that surfaced from this experience that was genuinely rewarding.  In the past several weeks I’d been mentally parked on the subject of hurrying.  This is a common issue for many of us who grew up with the token “American Microwave” mentality.  Over and over I have been pondering ideas like: “Unless Godzilla is chasing you down the street, there is never any wisdom in hurrying.”  This paid off handsomely while waiting in long lines, enduring jerks in traffic, and having to deal with 10 days of displacement from our home.

The focus on patience also paid off in dealing with business issues during the storm, because, quite simply, I was NOT ready for a 10 day interruption of phone and internet service.  While I was eventually able to reconnect with clients after 2 days by cell phone, my entire workflow was instantly placed on the planet Zeebo as I struggled to maintain timelines.  Even now . . still without electricity . . . I’m finding it difficult to get back into a groove.  But, in addition to a moment-to-moment practicing of patience, a great reminder is to approach “behinded-ness” with simplicity:  (1) figure out what needs to be done, and (2) put it into time (calendar).  This very easy step helps to alleviate much of the stress that comes with such a situation.  

Maybe the biggest gem that arose from the storm situation was a desire to continue training, both in a personal sense (spiritual growth, physical fitness, and serving key relationships) and on business items business (financial goals, leadership goals, consistency of service).  If nothing else, the sheer, naked squirreliness pointed to the need to continue training, so that the NEXT TIME the storm comes, I’ll be ready; or at least more prepared to minimize damage.  It’s just like a fighter training to block certain punches.  Cuts and bruises are great motivators for training!

Someone once said, “Power is guarded by problems”  Such a great tenet should be embraced everyday, and in particular remembered in times of struggle.  Take it to heart and respond!  

Timpanaro and Oberata Consulting are based in Kingwood, TX. Oberata is a consulting firm founded on the principles of strategy, process, and transformation, and utilizes the Total Integration^TM system of business consulting. This system has helped business owners and professionals in the Fortune 100 with definitive, measurable operating strategies that produce unprecedented growth and profitability. For more information about Oberata Consulting call 281.570.4676 or visit www.Oberata.com

“Where there is no vision, the people perish . . .” Old Testament Proverb

What an eloquent snapshot of today’s troubled business owner. If I had a nickel for every time I hear, “All I do is put out fires” or “We’re running ourselves ragged” I could almost fill up my car’s gas tank.

I don’t know exactly when everyone in business started running around crazy, as if life depended on perfect performance. But I do know this: chaotic busyness is an epidemic in small business, and it is hurting a lot of people in a lot of ways.

Most people will admit they need some time management training. But in most cases what they actually need is something else: clarity. Read the rest of this entry »

ARE YOU LIVING IN BUSINESS UNREALITY?

Some of you may have seen the movie, The Matrix. If you did, you might remember the main theme of being “unplugged from unreality” and introduced to amazing new levels of truth and life. Neo, the main character, meets a faithful mentor, Morpheus, who offers him a distinct choice: either take the red pill, representing the suppression of truth, blindness, and, ultimately, failure, or the blue pill, representing a choice of process, training, and, ultimately, victory. Neo chooses the blue pill, and follows a difficult but glorious path to his destiny as the dynamic savior of the planet.

Despite the inescapable Hollywood tint, we have found this to be a useful allegory for business owners. Indeed, running a business has many surreal aspects. Among them:

• Incessant fear of people discovering the true you
• Wondering how you’re going to make ends meet
• Knowing in your heart that your people care more about their paychecks than your vision
• Working 16 hour days with a non-stop onslaught of priorities
• Ignoring what’s most important in your life for the sake of your business
• Having more tasks to accomplish than time will allow
• Doing everything it takes to stay ahead of the competition

Do you identify with some of these? If you answered no, stop reading. This isn’t for you. Read the rest of this entry »

This article will help you to:

(1) nurture your personnel over the short and long term,

(2) mature them to their highest potential, both as team members and as individuals, and

(3) increase the meaningfulness, value, and productivity of every job function in your organization.

SUMMARY

If you are in business, your success invariably depends upon the actions of other people. While the business owner’s pipe dream is to have everyone’s heart and mind “100% on board” with the company’s vision, the stark reality is that apathy is among the most common - and severe - challenges business owners face. Read the rest of this entry »

It’s time to tell you the whole truth.

As a consultant since 2005, I have dealt with more than 100 business owners & professionals on strategic matters. My clients have come to me for problems with time, money, people, leadership, and more. Among the many discoveries I have had, there is one of grand significance I’d like to share with you here.

Business Consulting is NOT about solving problems (anymore)

Whether they can admit it or not, many prospects come to me seeking a quick fix. Indeed, there is a wide range of business ailments: hiring woes, turnover, sales underperformance, customer “disservice”, apathy, chaos, shoddy marketing, poor planning, etc. - all of which require correction, execution, and maintenance. Truly, I enjoy helping clients with these issues.

But this is only about 2% of the whole story. In my opinion, true business consulting isn’t just for fixing symptoms anymore, or “aligning misalignments” in your organization. Read the rest of this entry »

While speaking at a Florida business conference on Feb. 29th, I got to attend a sales workshop presented by Blain Wease, founder of Provincial Development in Nashville. In anticipation of the event, I had hoped to get some help tweaking my sales approach for my own business.

What I got was the removal of an 800 lb. gorilla from my back. I hope that this written synopsis of that experience will help you as well!

During this session, Blain gave us a refreshing perspective on sales I had never considered. The main point is this: sales conversations should be delivered in the same spirit as telling someone about your great vacation to Hawaii. If you can do that, the token fear & loathing that sometimes comes with sales can be completely spun around with the right perspective & delivery. Read the rest of this entry »

Jeff Timpanaro, President of Oberata Consulting, will join a panel of national experts at Power ‘08, Winning In the New Economy on February 29th, 2008, in Ft. Myers, FL.  He has been slated as one of several key speakers at the event.  His topic will be LEVERAGE 101 - Time Training for the Next Generation. 

Power ‘08 - Winning In The New Economy is headed up by Eric Beck, founder of the Total Integration Executive Program.  The event is being hosted by the Southwest Florida Christian Chamber of Commerce, the largest organization of its type in the country. 

Hundreds of participants - mainly entrepreneurs and professionals - are expected to attend the event, which will deal with the critical issues facing business owners in the “new economy”.  The current economy, according to Beck, owes its troubles to greed.  ”We are so riddled with debt . . . it seems the age-old “buying & selling” model - one that has been largely founded on debt-spending, fear, and scarcity - is bringing a whole laundry list of undesirable consequences.”

And ideal economy, according to Beck, is based on “giving & receiving”; yet it will require a significant shift in concept, implementation, and sustainability.  “Everyone’s going to have to train,” says Beck, “because literally everything is being shaken, or will be shaken, very soon.”

Timpanaro said he feels privileged to be a part of this landmark event.

“Training is so essential, even at fundamental levels,” Timpanaro suggested.  “In order to embrace change, we’ve got to be trained to think and act strategically.”

For registration or more information, visit www.Power08.com

Over the last three years, I have experienced – and documented - some major transformations in my approach to life; and it turns out that three accepted truths of our day turn out to be false. They are: (1) Hard Work Pays Off, (2) Practice Makes Perfect, and (3) Knowledge is Power.

That may sound contrarian, but to me the whole work-life balance issue needs a fresh perspective. I’m not saying you can solve your entire problem by reading an article, but you can at least consider some new ideas and build upon them (that means “implement”) in your own experience. We don’t know what we don’t know and that’s o.k. But we’re not going to get any better by accepting our chaotic fate. Make no mistake – attaining a true work life balance is both possible and valuable, so it merits our investigation here.

Let’s begin with the concept of ‘hard work.’ Read the rest of this entry »

 Having spent the majority of my lifetime in Texas, I must begin with the disclaimer that the Good Ol’ Boy approach to sales and marketing can be effective once it has been established.  Who you know - and the size of their guns - can really blast your business through walls and take you to high places.  But sometimes, attempts to establish our businesses solely by making quick and powerful friends may take longer than our resources will allow.  We all know that pure selling is about relationships and people.  However, knowing this is not enough.  If you are interested in taking an intentional, measured approach to selling, the first step is to build a system.

Let’s take a look at the seven keys for creating a “killer selling system” for your business. Read the rest of this entry »

available

adjective -  1.  present and ready for use; at hand; accessible

                     2.  qualified and willing to serve or assist

Many of the modern “GTD” (Getting Things Done) strategies consist of positioning us to be constantly available/accessible.  The incessant flow of new technologies - cell phones, Blue Tooth, Blackberry, and wireless computer access just to name a few - bespeaks the need for speed and our ability to multi-task.  These “possessions & skills” are ubiquitously equated with successful workflow.  However, they can also be the very things that keep us frazzled, on the brink of explosion, and constantly connected to stressful variables.  Read the rest of this entry »