I am always trying to learn from my day-to-day experiences. In fact, I try and transform any experience, especially my mistakes, into valuable lessons for myself and others, including my business coaching franchise owners and blog readers. I simply review any business or everyday experience and reflect on what went right, what went wrong, what should I do differently next time, and what's the lesson for me. This "life is an educational journey" approach has served me well and also helps me to view any setback or unintended result as merely valuable feedback, never failure. I highly recommend it.
Here is one of those common experiences. Recently, my neighbor Mark, a very successful first-generation entrepreneur, and I had to hire a tree-cutting service. Our properties share a private drive and adjoin each other. It's just our two houses on top of a hill with about five acres of property and countless trees. We are blessed with a gorgeous and peaceful sanctuary but which was in need of some tender loving destruction. That's right, destruction.
We had many trees that had grown too big, too unruly and last year's drought in the Midwest took a toll on many of our trees -- some distressed, some damaged, and some dead. Bottom line, we needed to clean up our property. We knew it would be costly. In fact, the destruction took over 3 days, half a dozen men, and about 20 trees were trimmed and another 20 trees were cut down and stumps were removed. In total, it cost us about $7,000. Ouch! We are trying our best to kick-start the economy.
However, we were amazed that such destruction could have such beautiful and beneficial outcomes. Sort of how a forest re-generates itself after a fire. Our combined properties looked fantastic. The old, ratty-looking trees were gone. The dead evergreens were gone. The over-grown trees have been beautifully manicured and trimmed. Our property looks more open, expansive and with much greater depth -- almost 3-D like. The houses and rolling hills once again stand out. The entire area looks fresh, crisp and clean. Also, the tree specialist said our properties are now much healthier. There was too much tree clutter before. Now the younger, healthier trees have room and sunlight to grow.
Ironically, it took some precise destruction (trimming, cutting, grinding) to create more beauty and better future growth. That got me thinking about my business and your business. What in your business needs to be destroyed in order to achieve healthier growth? What is broken and needs to be fully destroyed in order to re-generate itself better and stronger? Any of your old habits or approaches? Any company processes? What dead wood needs to be cut out -- any vendors, suppliers or advisers? What is over-grown and needs to be trimmed back -- any expenses, employee privileges, company policies, or procedures? Any customers or clients you lose money serving that need to be cut out? Any employees no longer carrying their weight, holding other backs, and need to be let go?
I know this sounds sort of harsh, but at times, to grow your organization you need to trim back or cut off the dead or damaged limbs that no longer work or function. It seems a bit ironic, but in order to have people and revenues grow, you periodically have to do some precise destruction. Cut out the dead wood before you and your company get over-taken.
Daniel Murphy
The Growth Coach
Business Coaching Franchise System