A Message From Howard

CEOs, Presidents and Business Owners:

Your business success is determined every single day.  Business success doesn’t take place because of a good or even a bad marketplace.  It takes place because of you.  You’re the one that has worked through the difficulties and slogged through the challenges of your business. But one day something happens in your business that…

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The CMAs, Country Music Awards, were held recently.  In my opinion, the country music industry puts on a great, well run, well organized, fast paced, truly entertaining awards show each year.

The lyrics of country music songs speak about life, its joys, its hardships and everything in between.  But have you ever thought about how country music can be a model for how to run a better business?

Now I’m not talking about how the guy who lost his pick up truck and his dog ran away.  Or the woman who’s done everything for her man and he did her wrong.  Those are just great country songs that tell a story.

And I’m not talking about the famous country singer who, in real life, trusted his/her manager and then ended up bankrupt either.  Though that would probably be a business lesson in and of itself!

I’m talking about how country singers work at the business of country music and remain popular with fans for years.  Country music stars relate to their audience.  The fans feel comfortable with these people enough to invite them into their homes, if they could. 

What’s unique about country singers is that they are consistent with their image and their song.  They tour constantly.  Country entertainers always find multiple venues to stay in front of their audience.  Many attend the annual CMA Music Festival, formerly known as Fan Fair in Nashville every year in June, which is simply a big convention of country music fans. (I just checked the official website, www.cmafest.com and the top ticket tiers are already sold out more than seven months in advance!  That’s a dedicated fan base!)  Not only do they perform at concerts held around the city of Nashville but also spend time in autograph booths so they can meet the fans up close and personal. 

What can we, as business people, learn from the country music industry?  Plenty.

Get a following.  Be consistent. Continue to deliver the message.  Work hard, give them what they want, keep your name in front of the customer, relate to your audience and don’t take anything for granted.  Keep working at it every single day.  And then, start over and do it again and again and again and again.

Business today is changing.  No doubt about it.  The current economic downturn is only a testament to how business is undergoing change.  As Jerry Butler sang in the 1960’s song, “Only the strong survive.”

It use to be that simply being in business was enough to make a profit.  Now the competition is so great only the strong survive.

Strong doesn’t mean physically strong.  It means emotionally, mentally strong.  It means being educated on your business and industry.  It means communicating with your employees and your customers.  And it means being prepared and ready each business day.  No matter what is happening in the economic marketplace.

You read about how only the strong survive every day in the sports section of your favorite newspaper or internet news site. 

Business is similar to sports.  You have to anticipate the unknown and be prepared for anything. 

For example, NASCAR.  Driver Jimmy Johnson and crew chief, Chad Knaus, recently won their third Sprint Cup title which puts them both in a very elite NASCAR group that few achieve in their careers.  Jimmy and Chad are quickly becoming NASCAR legends in their own time. 

The racing teams know that the smallest mistake can send the driver and his car into the wall.  A moment’s hesitation and the car behind you will pass your vehicle to win the race. Timing is everything.  To handle a racing car takes skill that is only acquired through practice, practice, practice, knowing every nut and bolt in the vehicle and how the racing machine responds on every track under every condition.

Do you anticipate what can happen in your business?  Do you continue to train and educate your employees - and yourself?  Do you expect your employees to be the best they can be or do you expect them to just show up everyday?  Do you expect the same of yourself?

As the CEO, president or business owner, are you as determined as Jimmy Johnson and Chad Knaus?  Or are you just going through the motions as you drive down the business highway every day? 

Business today requires a high response level to every aspect of your business.  You need to give more than ever before in order for your business to succeed. 

Business is tough right now.  And it may get tougher before this economic downturn is over and business is on the upswing again. Only the strong are going to survive.

So if you haven’t already, start today to take your business from mediocrity and just motoring along to crossing the finish line as a winner.

For many years, I’ve listened to Bruce Williams on the radio.  Bruce is quite an incredible business guy who has owned many interesting businesses and has been extremely successful in life.  He also has a great appreciation for animals and how important pets are in our lives.

For a few hours each evening, Monday thru Friday, Bruce Williams has a call-in radio talk show and answers a variety of questions for his listeners.  His business and finance knowledge is vast.  If you get the chance, go to his website, www.brucewilliams.com, and find out where you can tune him in on the dial.  You’ll become a listener just because of all the knowledge Bruce shares.

One of the business scenarios, you may hear, on Bruce’s radio show goes something like this:  Someone calls into his show with a question that indicates they are not truly committed to their business.  They have one foot in and one foot out.  They are not willing to risk it all.  Bruce always gives a great deal of invaluable information but one of the things he consistently says that I remember and live by is:

WHEN YOU’RE IN BUSINESS, IF YOU WANT TO SUCCEED, YOU NEED TO BE WILLING TO RISK IT ALL.

This doesn’t mean that you take foolish gambles and you do stupid things.  It means you have to be totally committed to your business.  Work your business every single day with the attitude everything is at risk and you can’t fail.  If you want success, you need to put it all on the line, carefully examining every decision and going for success.  Especially in these difficult, challenging business times this advice continues to ring true.

Thanks, Bruce, for all the wonderful business information you have given throughout the years.