Another season has come and gone.  Another month is almost in the books. Before we know it this year will be over.  Every moment seems to go by faster and faster.  There is so much to do! But to get more things done, we have to each thing effectively and efficiently the first time.  Easier said than done!

We all know - on some level - that having a plan makes things go more smoothly.  It may be something as simple as a list of all the things we need to get done.  It may be establishing a set of priorities.  It may be establishing a budget.  It may be all of the above.  The process of gathering our thoughts and "getting it together" is often the catalyst for greater accomplishment, because we get clarity of purpose and direction.  It isn't so much about having "a list" or "a plan" but about what MAKING the list or a plan forces us to do...order our thoughts.

Business is about how we compete in the market place.  Whether we are service providers, product manufacturers or distributors, technology companies, not-for-profits, or any other category of organization, we all compete.  We compete for customers.  We compete for funding and resources.  We compete day in, day out.

How well we compete determines how "successful" we are.  Whether we "get the customer" today is important.  Whether we get the customer today and build a long term, loyal customer is more important.  Loyalty is key to the long term survivial of our organizations.

So where, when, and how we compete are all decisions critical to the timing and the degree of our success.  Those decisions will have long lasting impact on not only our organization, but ourselves, our team members, customers, vendors, and other stakeholders. How have you chosen to compete? What race are you running? Are you nearing the finish line or just getting started? Who's on your team and how is that impacting the race being run?

This month's issue is about competing and doing it well.  It is as always about something else...finding that "more" inside your organization and doing it well!

Business is a skill.  Leadership is learned.  Management is art and science.  Business is people, numbers, skill, knowledge, experience, preparation, opportunity, and hard work!

There is no one way to do business.  There is no universal, mathematical equation.  No one business plan fits all.  The internet does not contain a template that you can download and for you to fill-in-the-blank for you to write in your name and it will guarantee success.  There are no fairy godmothers in business!