Trust everyone... but cut the cards
Some of you guys will remember this favorite saying (in the subject line of today's episode) of Ronald Reagan, and it is a good one to live your business life by. What it means is, YOU take responsibility for getting stuff done so you can insure there's no temptation for anyone to violate your trust.
Why should you do this? Because no one cares about your business as much as you do, and it's human nature to slack off unless there's a reason not to. You can delegate authority, but you can't delegate responsibility, and it's YOUR responsibility to make sure the job gets done because YOU'RE the one who's affected by the outcome.
Let me give you an example. I have an accountant who I like.
We've done business together for seven years, and he does a good job. Before I found him I fired two "professional firms" because they were just plain worthless.
Do I trust him? Sure--but I always cut the cards when dealing with him. I don't assume he's going to have the tax return prepared by the due date--I call him days before to "check his progress" and let him know I will be in to sign it at the date and time of our next appointment.
While he's usually got it done, there have been several times when there's been an embarrassed pause, then an admission that he "hasn't gotten to it yet," followed by a promise to get it done by the time we meet--and he does.
If I hadn't "cut the cards" it wouldn't have been done, and I would have had to face the consequences from the IRS, not something I'm keen on. But, since I cut the cards, my taxes are done early, the IRS is paid what they're owed on time, every time, and I get on with my business with no interruptions.
This is simply the way the world operates--very, very few people can be trusted to get done what they say they're going to get done, by the time they say they're going to get it done--so you have to take the responsibility for riding their butts until the job is done.
What happens over time is, they tend to make you "first priority" and slack off with others who are more tolerant. Fine by me, as long as I ain't the one they're slacking off with.
Trust everyone--but cut the cards.
Let's get to it...
Mr. X.
Group M Marketing
Kimble and Kennedy Publishing
Why should you do this? Because no one cares about your business as much as you do, and it's human nature to slack off unless there's a reason not to. You can delegate authority, but you can't delegate responsibility, and it's YOUR responsibility to make sure the job gets done because YOU'RE the one who's affected by the outcome.
Let me give you an example. I have an accountant who I like.
We've done business together for seven years, and he does a good job. Before I found him I fired two "professional firms" because they were just plain worthless.
Do I trust him? Sure--but I always cut the cards when dealing with him. I don't assume he's going to have the tax return prepared by the due date--I call him days before to "check his progress" and let him know I will be in to sign it at the date and time of our next appointment.
While he's usually got it done, there have been several times when there's been an embarrassed pause, then an admission that he "hasn't gotten to it yet," followed by a promise to get it done by the time we meet--and he does.
If I hadn't "cut the cards" it wouldn't have been done, and I would have had to face the consequences from the IRS, not something I'm keen on. But, since I cut the cards, my taxes are done early, the IRS is paid what they're owed on time, every time, and I get on with my business with no interruptions.
This is simply the way the world operates--very, very few people can be trusted to get done what they say they're going to get done, by the time they say they're going to get it done--so you have to take the responsibility for riding their butts until the job is done.
What happens over time is, they tend to make you "first priority" and slack off with others who are more tolerant. Fine by me, as long as I ain't the one they're slacking off with.
Trust everyone--but cut the cards.
Let's get to it...
Mr. X.
Group M Marketing
Kimble and Kennedy Publishing
