As the economy and financial industry continue to change, evolve and recover from the recent economic upheaval, keeping a close eye on your business becomes even more important to continuing financial success. This is a good time to review, revise and renew your business procedures and policies.
Here is a checklist of thoughts and questions that many have found quite helpful:
1. Could you serve your customers even better by looking at problems as challenges and viewing them as opportunities for you to learn, and to develop your products, service, procedures, policies and processes?
When the great W. Clement Stone was confronted with a problem, especially one he did not expect or that was unusually hard, he was famous for saying "TERRIFIC!" That would break the tension and open the door for the solution to appear.
2. Time is one of the most valued resources in our business, and in our life. Continue to "sharpen the saw" and become an even more proficient time management expert. One way to do this is through identifying your top priority items and making sure you get those important few accomplished each day.
Andrew Carnegie, America's first billionaire, developed a system called the 'Big 6' to do this. You can learn more about this marvelous process by going to http://www.dr-mastermind.com/big6.php
3. Do you resolve your customer's questions and problems quickly? Would your customers agree with your answer? How can you improve your customer service?
4. Are you creating and strengthening professional alliances, using the combined knowledge and wisdom of other business associates and companies? Often the marvelous power of the mastermind is one of our most underutilized assets.
5. Are you and your team adding value to all your current and potential customers? What is one thing you can do to add even more value?
6. Do you watch for things that have outgrown their usefulness or can be handled more effectively and efficiently in a different way? In addition to finances, regularly review how you invest your time, communication and other resources.
7. Are you creating a great working environment where your people are valued, motivated and rewarded (not just financially)? Everyone does better when they receive appreciation and recognition.
8. Are you promoting your operations and business regularly and consistently? Too often, the task of promoting slips to the bottom of the to-do list in the press of the urgent. Remember, if you want to keep your existing customers and attract new ones, marketing and promotion must be a priority.
9. Are you keeping your eyes open for improvement, even small improvements? That consistent, positive, direction is often much more important than the size of improvement.
10. Planning is vital if you want a healthy, growing operation. Planning lets you take stock of what worked and what didn't work. It helps you set new directions or adjust old goals. Setting goals is a very valuable habit and will increase your success. How can you improve your planning process?
11. Are you learning something new? Continuing education adds value to your skills and adds a new dimension of interest to your life. Plus, you may meet new and interesting people, who may become customers, colleagues, or lifelong friends.
12. Are you giving something back to your community? Find a cause that matters to you, and give what you can, no matter how small. Serve on a committee, be a mentor, volunteer, or make regular donations to one or more groups in your community that make your world a better place.
13. Are you putting time for yourself on your calendar? As a leader, it is vitally important to take the time to recharge and refresh yourself. The same goes for those on your team. Everyone does the best work when rested and refreshed.
All work and no play is a recipe for mental and physical disaster. Make it a point to regularly schedule time for yourself, and stick to that commitment. If you won't invest in yourself, who will?
14. Are you dropping what's not working and moving on? If a technique, product or a business relationship is no longer working for you, stop using it. This means don't invest a lot of energy into trying to make the unworkable workable. Move on! Something better will turn up!
15. Are you and your team "making do"? If so, stop that! Figure out what the BEST tools for your business are and find a way to get them.
16. Are you running powerful meetings? Consider finding a way to make meetings shorter. Many organizations have found they can double their effectiveness by cutting their meeting times in half and pre-publishing an agenda.
17. Last and certainly not least, in fact, maybe it is the MOST important. Setting goals is a very valuable habit that has proven to increase the success of many. Are you writing, setting, and regularly reviewing your goals?
Our tip for you today is: Get together with your success team and consider this checklist. Then, when you are reflecting on these powerful ideas, ask yourself:
What, from the above list, has attracted my attention today.
We suggest that from the list of things above, you pick one and take action on it. Take some action, even if it is small. Take one positive action step today!
It's possible that if you choose to ask these questions, and take action on the answers on a regular basis, you could find a way to improve something. And it is certain that, in a few years, you could say, "Wow, that was one of the smartest things I ever did for my business!"
About the Author:
John ("Dealey") Carpenter Dealey, International MasterMind expert, entrepreneur, philanthropist, author and self-made millionaire is dedicated to helping people solve problems, finish strong and take their business to the next level. http://mastermindsoaring.com/
To learn how mastermind can help you safeguard your success, sign-up for MasterMind Tips, a free weekly ezine, at: http://www.dr-mastermind.com/
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As the economy and financial industry continue to change, evolve and recover from the recent economic upheaval, keeping a close eye on your business becomes even more important to continuing financial success. This is a good time to review, revise and renew your business procedures and policies. 
