4 Steps to Continuous Improvement

"Without continual growth and progress, such words as improvement, achievement, and success have no meaning." -- Benjamin Franklin

It's awfully hard to reach the destination if we never truly commit to making the journey. We can map out the trip, look at the flights, plan an itinerary, and even purchase some of the items we need. We might even hang pictures on the mirror as a daily reminder of where we plan to go and repeat certain phrases that keep our dream destination top of mind. We tell ourselves we're making progress, and we may believe it to be true -- but in reality unless we take specific action, we are no closer to where we want to be. If the cycle continues, we never will be.

Success, much like our dream destination, rarely comes in a single bound. It is more likely to be reached in a series of steps. Some may seem small and insignificant -- and are most likely taken without fanfare, without applause, and even without notice. In today's world of instant celebrity and the desire for quick gratification, this alone may discourage many from ever taking the trip -- or even reading any further. So be it.

To truly reach the pinnacle of success, however we choose to define it, we will most likely need to pass through the portal of continuous improvement. While it won't always be the most exciting journey and we will certainly reach points where we just want to stop, it is a trip worth taking. Continuous improvement can only come through continuous commitment and that continuous commitment is demonstrated in these four key steps.

1. Teachability: Continuous growth is built on a foundation of continuous learning. Ray Kroc once said: "When you're green, you're growing. When you're ripe, you rot." I agree. There is no stopping point in which everything we've taken in remains perfectly preserved. We're either in the process of growth or in the process of decline -- and the choice is ours. To grow, we must progress from merely teaching to being teachable. At the very moment we think we've learned all we need to know, the signs of rust and rot are already showing up.

2. Variety: Taking in information from various sources and formats is a critical component to effective learning. Books, audio, podcasts, and video are all great sources for learning and each has specific value in activating our senses and getting them involved in the learning process. While we may have a tendency to favor one over the other, it is important that we explore the advantages of each. I like to keep books in both hard copy and electronic versions in order to maximize reading time. Having a book accessible by smartphone allows me to redeem the time that is otherwise spent waiting for clients, prospects, doctors, etc. I also like to listen to podcasts and other audio while driving. I have to make the trip anyway; I might as well turn off the radio and learn something.

3. Quality of Content: To effectively learn and grow, we must be consistent in our commitment. We fully understand the need to feed our bodies on a daily basis -- and whether we do so or not, we also understand the benefits of a healthy diet. Do we apply the same commitment to feeding our mind? Just as daily "junk food" will eventually break down our physical health, "junk information" takes its toll on the mind -- and there are plenty of places to get it. How many times has an hour of TV turned into several hours? In spite of our best intentions, the time is gone and what do we have to show for it? What have we really learned? I believe 15 minutes with a good book will do more for consistent learning than 15 hours of average TV intake.

4. Consistent Application: All the books in the world won't do us a bit of good if we are not committed to taking them off the shelf and opening them up. Take a look at your bookshelf. Are there books that you've bought or been given sitting there gathering dust? Are there partially read books with bookmarks prominently poking out sitting on your desk or nightstand just waiting for your return? How about your CD rack, Internet bookmarks, and other areas of information storage? In spite of our best intentions, its way too easy to procrastinate and let other priorities crowd out the time we've committed to learning. To prevent this from happening, I suggest setting minimum goals for yourself. Reading just 15 minutes per day will allow you to finish the average book in about a month. What would the information contained in 12 good books do for you over the next year? What would one 20-30 minute audio or podcast per day do to improve your sales, leadership, or relationship skills? Small changes can make a big difference in daily habits. Why not give it your best?

Continuous improvement is a mindset and it is a decision. It takes determination and it takes time. Most of all it takes commitment and perseverance -- regardless of our circumstances and regardless of our doubts and fears. What's possible for you?

About the Author: Terry Crouson is the Owner and Head Coach at Silver Coach Solutions, LLC and is currently doing business as The Growth Coach of West Metro Detroit. He is dedicated to helping business owners, executives, entrepreneurs, sales professionals, and self-employed professionals find their way by finding their why. He is a highly respected business coach, speaker, facilitator, and community builder. Terry is certified in the Strategic Mindset Process, and is also a DISC Certified Behavioral Consultant.

The Power of Reflection

"By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest." --Confucius 

Today, more than ever, we live in an action-oriented society -- particularly in the world of business and business ownership. We're constantly bombarded with messages, memes, and yes, articles to remind us to not just be people of thought, but to be people of action -- and that's not a bad thing. But, how often are we told to be people of reflection? What does it mean? How do we do it? Why should we do it?

More and more it seems the world of "business" is giving way to the world of "busyness". I can remember sitting in a training class and writing those two words down, one over the other, on the notepad in front of me. As I looked at them I noticed that the only difference between the two is the "I" and the "Y" -- and that led me to ask myself a question: "Why am I so busy in my business?" I even used the question as the basis of a five minute talk we were required to give that day. It's also a question I've asked of many of my clients, prospects, and workshop attendees in the course of my coaching business. Sometimes it's a question I have to once again ask of myself.

The truth is, we are told that to be more, we have to do more -- and I believe it is true. It's awful hard to reap the rewards of business ownership or our selected profession without doing something. But doing for the sake of doing is at best, less productive and at worst, disastrous to our business and maybe even our health. Like anything else, too much do could be overdoing it.

That's why we need to learn how to slow down and how to harness the power of reflection. Among its many definitions, Merriam-Webster.com says reflection is "a thought, idea, or opinion formed or a remark made as a result of meditation -- or consideration of some subject matter, idea, or purpose." Simply put, reflection can be considered as a form of meditation intended to allow us to think, to reason, to consider, design, or refine our thoughts -- and ultimately our actions.

Effective reflection doesn't have to take a long time, but it is likely to take some practice. patience, and consistency. In my coaching practice, I suggest my clients observe a Strategic Time Out Process, also known as STOP. The idea is for each client to set aside 15 minutes each day for the purpose of purposefully reflecting on his or her business and his or her life. No email, no phones, no interruptions, and no distractions.

Like any other discipline, it takes time to gain clarity over our thoughts and to strategically focus on what we want, why we want it, and how we can get it. This is the time in which our subconscious mind has opportunity to bring all of the day's conversations, considerations, and events to the forefront and allow us to make better decisions on what we should do, where we should spend our time, and even who we should spend that time with.

Consistency and commitment are the keys to reflection and to reaping the rewards it has to offer -- and we must convince ourselves that it is a worthwhile effort. "I can't afford to just stop in the middle of what I'm doing", you might be saying. Believe me when I tell you that you simply can't afford not to. In fact, let me challenge you to use the STOP process for one week -- for just 15 minutes per day. If you'll make the commitment and give it your very best effort, I think you'll see a noticeable difference in the way you think and the actions you take.

Give it a try -- and be sure to let me know how it goes. You can reach me at: tcrouson@thegrowthcoach.com.

About the Author: Terry Crouson is the Owner and Head Coach at Silver Coach Solutions, LLC and is currently doing business as The Growth Coach of West Metro Detroit. He is dedicated to helping business owners, executives, entrepreneurs, sales professionals, and self-employed professionals find their way by finding their why. He is a highly respected business coach, speaker, facilitator, and community builder. Terry is certified in the Strategic Mindset Process, and is also a DISC Certified Behavioral Consultant.

Four Forks You May Have Found on the Road to Success -- or Failure

Yogi Berra is famous for saying: "When you come to a fork in the road, take it!" Although it may have been meant as a joke while giving directions, most business owners and entrepreneurs find something strangely recognizable here. 

Every business and business owner starts with an idea, a desire, or recognition of an unfilled need. With varying degrees of faith, focus, and fear (lessness), we moved forward in creating the vision we saw in our mind's eye. We began with purpose and with ambition to fulfill the vision. We had a why and we were determined to put the what, when, where, and how into action. Question: How did that work for you?

So what happened? Why didn't the dream match our reality? There are probably way too many reasons to adequately list here, but my experience tells me that either rapidly or gradually, we probably lost our way to our why. We may have stumbled onto some of the many forks in the road, and to some degree or another, we took them. Rather than remain on the path we originally laid out or that was laid out for us, we became distracted and we veered off course. Sound familiar? Well, if it happened to me, I have to believe it has probably happened to someone else.

So what are some of these forks and how can we recognize them in the future?

The Fork of Fear: Much like Dorothy, who stepped onto the Yellow Brick Road, we begin the journey in the bright sunshine, with great support, and with a song in our heart. However, since the journey is uniquely ours we soon find ourselves alone and it seems to be getting awful dark. We've reached the fork of fear and suddenly we lack the courage to continue on the original path and move in the direction of safety, better light, or less risk. But, did we?

The Fork of Pride: Sometimes the longer we walk our path the more independent we become -- and while freedom and independence are at the root of our desire to run our own business, pride and arrogance can sneak in and cloud our judgment. We begin to take our own counsel and stubbornly hold on to faulty plans and habits. Ruts are beginning to form and we are falling into them convinced that we're still on the right path even as the horizon slips away. We can't seek help now. What will people think? Who cares! They aren't paying your bills or feeding your family.

The Fork of Complacency: What may have begun as a journey of great urgency with a tight schedule and planned milestones now gives way to something else. We begin to enjoy the freedom of the open road and come to realize that no one is there to tell us what to do, how many miles we have to cover, how soon we need to arrive at our next check in point. We're seeing some of those roadside attractions that compete for our attention. We see malls and shopping centers and suddenly remember some errands we need to run or some items we need to pick up. We see shady spots and with smartphone in hand and stop for a minute to catch up -- but the minutes become hours. It seems to bother us at first, but after a while it becomes routine. Has this happened to you?

The Fork of Procrastination: Consistency and action, or shall we say consistent action, accelerates the journey. Much has been written about the power of small but persistent steps and their ability to move us surely and steadily to the finish. Great books like The Slight Edge and Eat That Frog contain the vital principles of consistency and prioritization. No matter how glamorous or exciting a business may seem there are times, lots of times, when it becomes tedious, boring, mundane -- unfun. Couple the mundane with the difficult and we've created the perfect opportunity for inconsistency and procrastination. For procrastinators, there is always another time. Worst of all, there is always another excuse. Sadly, when we buy or own excuses, we're often left with little to sell. Timing is everything in business and putting off vital tasks puts us at risk of missing the momentum when the pendulum swings our way. Ever lost a deal to a competitor because you put off making the call? Yeah, me neither.

While there are many other forks on many other roads, chances are you or someone you know has taken one of the four listed here in this article. If so, you are not alone. Best of all, it is not too late to do a little backtracking and get back on the original path. As you do, you'll probably find you are a little wiser, a little more humble, a little more teachable, and even a little more hungry. Who knows, you might even find a reason to write about your journey.

About the Author: Terry Crouson is the Owner and Head Coach at Silver Coach Solutions, LLC and is currently doing business as The Growth Coach of West Metro Detroit. He is dedicated to helping business owners, executives, entrepreneurs, sales professionals, and self-employed professionals find their way by finding their why. He is a highly respected business coach, speaker, facilitator, and community builder. Terry is certified in the Strategic Mindset Process, and is also a DISC Certified Behavioral Consultant.