When I picked up a pack of strawberries at the grocery store, I stood there for a moment and smelled their fresh aromas and examined how beautifully red they were. I could almost taste how juicy and sweet they would be.
One would normally not think of a tailgate party for an NFL football game as an appropriate venue for providing inspiration for sage business advice. However, when you bring together some pretty intelligent folks, good food, and a few high-octane beverages, you never know where a conversation might go.
Football season is wrapping up with bowl games and playoffs—both college and pro. The business year, on the other hand, is just beginning for most of you. A commonality in both ventures is that it’s critical to work hard for the full four quarters. As my home team, the Pittsburgh Steelers, used to say: be 60-minute men.
I admit that when starting Next Gear Solutions, I thought the same thing. A family is much better than a cold business environment that cares only about the company’s needs and not about the needs of the employee, right? If faced with only those two options, I would continue to choose the “family business model,” but I believe there is another more optimal choice, which is the “sports team” business model.
According to Gallup, only 33% of employees are engaged at work. Based on OC Tanner research, 79% of employees who quit their jobs claim that a lack of appreciation was a major reason for leaving.
Guys, I’m really excited about this issue – and it’s truly thanks to some amazing contributors and industry experts who were willing to take the time to craft some solid, educational articles.
I believe you will agree with me that you want everyone in the company to be efficient, effective, and earning a profit for the company. The first place you start checking on is the job that each employee is supposed to be doing for the company.
