Business Archives - Page 17 of 19

The inevitability of change

by Joe Domaleski | Jan 10, 2023 | Blog, Business, Columnists, Community, News Center, Opinion

It’s a new year and with that comes new challenges and new opportunities. Heraclitus, a Greek philosopher, has been quoted as saying “change is the only constant in life.” Indeed, change is inevitable and is part of the life experience. Sometimes change is external and thrust upon us. At other times, change is internal and something we initiate. Common types of change include:

Seasonal changes
Environmental changes
Community changes
Technological changes
Life changes
Business changes

Change can either be planned or unplanned. Unplanned changes are typically external and unexpected. They can happen when you least expect it and be quite stressful. Planned changes are usually ones that you initiate or have some advance notice about. Despite knowing about planned changes, they can be just as stressful as unplanned changes. Change is hard, even though it’s part of life.

Major life changes, whether they are planned or unplanned, can be difficult and increase feelings of anxiety. It’s not uncommon to feel a heightened sense of depression coming out of the winter holidays and into the new year. The opportunity and challenge of a new year almost always bring stressful decisions and changes. The fear of the unknown is a deep-seated concern most people have.

I’m certainly not an expert on dealing with change, but over the years I’ve learned how to get better at dealing with change. Here are some tips on how you can deal with change:

Preparation – I try to anticipate the results of change by thinking about the best case, worse case, and probable case of potential outcomes. The Boy Scouts have a motto, “Be Prepared”. It’s good advice.
Acceptance – Knowing that change is part of the life experience gives me a sense of comfort that I’m not alone. We’re all fighting battles and dealing with change.
Perspective – I think this is easier for older people because we’ve had enough life experiences to put things into their proper perspective. I’d encourage younger people to be optimistic that things do get better with time and don’t let a single change become a source of stress. Time tends to make things better.
Optimism – Yes, I think it’s possible to find good in most changing situations. Count your blessings and look for a good outcome, even if the situation is bad. Some of the greatest things in life come out of change.
Humor – Sometimes you have to just acknowledge the insanity of a situation and laugh it off, lest it ruin you.
Deal with it – Most change is temporary and best handled by dealing with it and moving on.
Take care of yourself – Exercise, eat, sleep and do all of the healthy things you know you should be doing. It’s amazing how a simple walk outside can help clear your head and prepare you for change.
Own it – Don’t walk away from change, lean into it. Whether it’s planned or unplanned, make it your own by seeking the best possible outcome given the situation.

Yes, life is full of change and nothing is static. Acknowledge the inevitability of change knowing that we all experience change in life. What changes are you dealing with this year? Whatever they are, I wish you success. I’ll be out there dealing with change too. We’ve got this.

[Joe Domaleski, a Fayette County resident for 25 years, is the owner of Country Fried Creative – an award-winning digital marketing agency located in Peachtree City. His company was the Fayette Chamber’s 2021 Small Business of the Year. Joe is a husband, father of three grown children, and proud Army veteran. He has an MBA from Georgia State University and enjoys sharing his perspectives drawing from thirty years of business leadership experience. ]

Let go of the past and focus on the future

by Joe Domaleski | Jan 3, 2023 | Blog, Business, Columnists, Community, News Center, Opinion

Welcome to a new year. Last week, most of us lost track of time as we entered that strange week between Christmas and New Year’s Day. This week, it’s back to work, school, or whatever it is that you do regularly. Some of you are contemplating resolutions for the new year by writing down goals and such. That’s not a bad thing, but most people don’t keep those resolutions. I’ve been guilty of that myself. If it works for you, go for it. I’m going to do something different.

Instead of making a list of objectives, I have one simple resolution for the year. If I do it right (or at least mostly right), then other positive things should happen. I have a tendency to overcomplicate things, so this is going to be the year for simplicity. It’s a simple resolution, but that doesn’t mean it’ll be easy.

My resolution for 2023 is to let go of the past and focus on the future.

As a middle-aged person, I’ve accumulated a lot of past experiences and gray hairs to prove it. Most of my life experiences so far have been mostly good, some bad, and some great. Everything I’ve been through is uniquely mine – the failures, the successes, and even the mundane. Many of my experiences have been shared with other people. Other experiences have been experienced alone.

I’ve won and lost awards, sales, and accolades. I’ve been on winning and losing teams. The older I get, the more I realize that both victory and defeat are just part of life’s journey – neither is a permanent state. What’s popular today is quickly forgotten tomorrow. Dwelling on the past can hold one back from the possibilities of the future.

I feel sorry for people stuck in the past – whether it’s a good past or a bad past. Most people have a very selective memory, even if it’s not intentional. They remember the really good or the really bad, forgetting that most of life is fairly uneventful. It’s the trend line of those small victories and joys that add up to a life well lived. As I face the future, I’m going to lighten my load by letting go of some things that are holding me back:

Regret
Disappointment
Lost business
Missed opportunities
Jealousy

Letting go doesn’t mean I’ll forget the past. It just means I’m not going to dwell on the past so long that it hinders my forward progress. Past experiences are stepping stones to the future.

If I’m honest, part of this process means forgiving people who’ve let me down and seeking the forgiveness of people that I’ve let down. I’ll probably slip and backslide, that’s to be expected. We’re all imperfect. When that happens, I intend to get up and try again.

Letting go of the past will help clear my mind and open my eyes. It’ll allow me to convert life experiences into wisdom and knowledge that can be applied to the future. Having a clear mind and open eyes will better position me to focus on the future. Most of you have probably heard of the Serenity Prayer – made famous in movies, books, and various 12-step programs.

“God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,  courage to change the things I can,  and wisdom to know the difference.”

Indeed, the past can not be changed. The future hasn’t been written yet. Let’s make this the best year ever, no matter what happens.

How to be a leader of hope

by Joe Domaleski | Dec 27, 2022 | Blog, Business, Columnists, Community, News Center, Opinion

Have you ever said or heard, “hope is not a strategy?” Taken at face value, that seems to be a self-evident truth. One simply can’t wish the way to a better future. Just thinking or dreaming about something doesn’t make it happen. We live in a data-driven world in which decisions are made by people and algorithms. Indeed, facts matter. If you’re a leader it’s important to ground your decisions in facts. But there’s more to leadership than just financial reports and analytics. Consider being a leader of hope.

In fact, I maintain the whole basis for our way of life is hope and optimism. As I write this article, it’s the winter holiday season – Christmas for some, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa for others. It’s also the winter solstice, so there’s also a certain reality-based hope for longer daylight hours ahead. Regardless of one’s religious beliefs, most faith traditions associate hope and expectation with holidays around this time of year. Let’s explore what it means to base one’s leadership on hope.

What is hope? The Oxford English Dictionary defines hope as, “a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen.” I think most of us choose to act upon something with an expectation of something better or a desire to avoid something unpleasant. Hope empowers people to act even when logic dictates otherwise. “Paralysis by analysis” and “data-driven despair” has hobbled many people – probably more so this time of year when business and personal expenses are high.

In his “Essays on Man”, Alexander Pope wrote that “Hope springs eternal” which is another way of saying that people tend to find a way to hope regardless of circumstances. Hope gives people the power for overcoming challenges by visualizing a better outcome. In a previous column, I wrote about how to bounce back from a setback. Now we’re going to do a deeper dive into hope and optimism. Here’s how you can implement leadership based on hope.

Belief – hope starts with a belief that something is true or possible, even if the facts are incomplete or the odds are not in your favor. A wish is simply an emotional desire, which might not be grounded in anything. A belief is rooted in experience and rational thought. Great things can start when a leader believes in something or someone.
Vision – once a leader believes, he or she needs to create a vision to articulate the belief to others. Vision allows a group to rally around a purpose or goal. The vision makes it possible for people to see a better future or outcome ahead. The vision is what people cling to when times get tough. Hopelessness can occur when there’s no vision. Hope becomes action when there’s a strong vision.
Possibility – because a belief or vision may be based on incomplete information, it’s important for a leader to demonstrate potential and possibility early and often with actions that provide small “quick wins”. A baseball manager might encourage his team to get on base in order to demonstrate the possibility of winning. A salesperson who makes some small sales is able to demonstrate the ability to recover from a sales slump. Showing progress, even small progress, fortifies hope with a pathway to success that others can follow.
Goals – actions in support of the vision need to be directed and measured with specific goals. Just “seeing what happens” is not the most effective way to lead a team or organization. Actions and resources should be defined by goals that are specific and measurable. For example, the immediate goal of a losing football team might be to get a first down.
Flexibility – there’s almost always more than one way to accomplish something. Different paths may arrive at the same destination. A leader needs to be flexible as to how a team arrives at a goal. The very nature of hope means that it’s based in possibility, not a rigid or fixed path. Be willing to adjust when needed.
Energy – perhaps the most essential ingredient for hope-centered leadership is passion or energy. A passionate person can energize a team. An energized team can do just about anything. Energy is contagious and can make or break a team. Positive energy reinforces the vision and hope. A lack of energy will cause hope or vision to fizzle out.

Even if you’re not a Christian, there’s a beautiful quote about three great virtues in the Christian Bible – “Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians 13:13 (NLT). Even though those words were written thousands of years ago, they still ring true today. Hope is an essential ingredient in providing direction toward a desired future outcome. What do you hope for in 2023? Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year. Let’s be leaders of hope in the upcoming year.

How to bounce back from a setback

by Joe Domaleski | Dec 20, 2022 | Blog, Business, Columnists, Community, News Center, Opinion

It’s been an interesting year for our company. This time last year we won the 2021 Fayette Chamber Small Business of the Year Award and ended 2021 on a high point. Despite a slow first quarter in 2022, business really took off starting last spring and into early fall of this year. Indeed, we had some record-breaking high points in terms of new accounts and company successes. Unfortunately, some of those gains have been offset by some recent stumbles – one of which I shared in a previous column about delegation.

Without getting into details, let it suffice to say that we’re still ending 2022 with nearly a 20% growth in revenue from 2021. Most any business would be happy with that, and I can’t complain. Yet, we had loftier expectations and revenue is not the same thing as profit. Inflation is clobbering everyone – businesses and consumers. We came really close to meeting our goals, but some recent setbacks have made it apparent we’ll fall short of where we had intended to be.

When things are going well, it’s easy to be optimistic and engaged. Everyone loves playing for a winning team. When things aren’t going well, oftentimes that will inspire action and activity out of necessity. Some people, not all, don’t mind being the underdog in a “fixer-upper” situation. When things are going well and then suddenly fall apart, that’s a setback. The sudden change in momentum and fall from the top caused by a setback can throw people off. I personally think that a setback is one of the hardest types of situations to handle in business.

Most people are motivated by future expectations, even more so in business. When you’re riding a trend of consistent growth, it’s natural to think that’ll last forever. When you’re down in a hole, the only way out is up. In both of those situations, most people can visualize a better future ahead. A setback is a disruption to forward progress and a stark reminder that the road to a better future is full of potholes. No one likes losing ground that was recently gained, just ask any football team.

Some typical setbacks in business include: client loss, sales loss, key employee departures, staffing shortages, supply chain disruptions, economic pressures (like inflation), cash flow problems, unexpected emergencies, lawsuits, negative regulatory changes, sudden changes in the marketplace, and so on. What’s a setback to some businesses, may be an opportunity for others and it’s upon that basis I’d like to suggest some ways to bounce back from a setback.

Recognize the setback, but know that it’s not the end. This can be hard to do, especially for an organization or leader who is used to winning all of the time. The road to change has to begin with where you’re at. Take the time to assess the situation, but don’t obsess over it. Gather enough information to know how bad the setback is, so that you can make informed decisions on how to proceed. If there’s time on the clock or money in the bank, you can recover.
Keep moving forward. Winston Churchill has been quoted as saying, “If you’re going through hell, keep going.” People are attracted to momentum and future expectations. A sudden halt creates a disruption that can rattle even the most seasoned person. A leader has to set an example and lead from the front. It’s okay to take smaller, more deliberate steps after a setback – but keep moving forward.
Find the lessons and make adjustments. Every setback has the potential to be a learning opportunity. Figure out what happened, and why, and make adjustments to correct the situation or pivot. Usually, that’s not the hard part, because it’s obvious when a business loses ground. The hard part is to do this while moving forward at the same time. A leader has to be willing to set out to be directionally correct without all of the facts.
Get comfortable with being uncomfortable. It’s human nature to get comfortable when times are good. Being able to handle discomfort and inconvenience is something every leader has to be willing to do. I feel sorry for leaders who’ve never experienced a setback. When they do stumble (and everyone eventually does), it’s going to be a hard fall.
Stay focused on the task at hand. We live in an increasingly cluttered world full of news, social media, content, and other distractions which can lure us away from the discomfort of current circumstances. It’s okay to take breaks and watch an occasional “cat video”, but maintain focus on what needs to be done. If you don’t, no one else will.
Avoid comparing your situation to other people or organizations. It’s been said that “comparison is the thief of joy.” Most organizations are deliberate about painting a rosy picture of how things are to an external audience – but that’s not reality. People do that on social media as well. Each of us walks our own path in life. There are always going to be people who make more money or have an easier time in life. Conversely, there are always going to be people who are perpetually on the struggle bus. Run your own race, being compassionate to those who are less fortunate and avoiding the temptation to idolize the seemingly successful (who probably aren’t).
Do what must be done. It’s been my experience that knowing what to do is the easy part. The hard part is doing it. Sometimes this may involve major business changes that involve staffing, operations, vendors, services provided, methodologies, marketing campaigns, and so forth. Once you know what needs to be done, immediately start doing it. If you know that change will be difficult, it’s best to get it over with to minimize the pain.
Rally the troops. This may be the most important way to bounce back and is the main function of a leader. If you lead an organization, then it’s your job to inspire action to recover from the setback. If you’re a solo entrepreneur, then rallying the troops may involve getting your family and/or your clients behind your comeback plan. There is no force on Earth more powerful than a motivated team, no matter how bleak the odds are.

A setback can be an eye-opening, ego-rattling situation – especially when it happens amid a string of successes. As the name suggests, it’s just a “set back” not a complete failure. Some of the greatest victories in history have been made from recovery situations. Everyone loves a great comeback story. How will your story be written? Just remember, “Fortune Favors the Bold.” Be bold.

Ghosting in the workplace

by Joe Domaleski | Dec 13, 2022 | Blog, Business, Columnists, Community, News Center, Opinion

With a title like that, you’d think this would be an article better suited for Halloween. Rest assured, we won’t be talking about ghosts, apparitions, or other haunted spirits. What we will explore is the concept of “ghosting”. Ghosting as a term first gained prominence in the dating world in which one party suddenly breaks off all contact with someone – no texts, emails, social media, or contact whatsoever.

When we were kids, we might have called this the “silent treatment”. but it’s a bit more draconian than that. Even when you’re being ignored, you oftentimes know the other person is there – sometimes literally in front of you ignoring you. With ghosting, someone simply vanishes without a trace – digital or otherwise. Most cell phones and digital media platforms have the ability to let you block someone, which further reinforces the ghosting action.

As the job market began to heat up after COVID, many employers began to deal with ghosting in the workplace. Ghosting first entered the workplace when job applicants simply decided to not show up for interviews. One of my clients confided in me that 50% of their job applicants never show up for the interview! Whether it was a change of heart or the pursuit of a better offer, some job seekers deem it acceptable to ghost potential employers with no warning. Common courtesy traditionally inspired someone to cancel an appointment or interview if needed, but that’s not the case with ghosting.

Many people who do the ghosting do not feel like they have an obligation to follow up on an opportunity in which they no longer have an interest. While I don’t personally agree with that, it does happen. Some job seekers also feel ghosted by potential employers who don’t follow up with them either. This doesn’t just happen with large employers, I’ve seen it happen here in the local community with smaller organizations.

I’ve never had to personally deal with ghosting by a job seeker, but three years ago I did have to deal with another form of ghosting – someone just not showing up for work. I had hired someone for a sales role and that person started with a lot of energy and excitement, as you’d expect from someone in sales. About two months later, the person just stopped showing up for work. All attempts at communicating with this person failed. Calls, texts, emails, and even social media contact were ignored. I began to worry about this person and had a mutual friend reach out. She told me the person in question was alive and well, but simply didn’t have any interest in the job anymore. Not wanting to be confrontational or disappoint me personally, they unilaterally decided it was best to just ghost me and our company. I have it on good authority this person has had several jobs since then.

Other forms of ghosting can creep into the workplace – sometimes blatant and at other times subtle. During COVID, I had some clients ghost me as they became unable to pay our invoices. Despite offers to work with them through the difficult period with generous payment terms, some people are too proud (or embarrassed) and simply choose the path of least resistance – ghosting. As I write this, I’m being ghosted by a long-term client who owes us money. The owner of the business called me for a personal business favor two months ago but has since not paid our invoices. I tend to be a trusting and patient person and frankly, I’m not sure how to handle the situation. It’s pretty blatant ghosting. In another situation, I reduced a client’s invoice amount during COVID to help them through a tough time. As soon as things got better, they parted ways with us. Not only were they not grateful, but they also didn’t feel any obligation to us whatsoever and moved on.

I’ve also seen other more subtle forms of ghosting, in which someone will only communicate with you on their terms whenever they need something, but it’s never reciprocated and they ghost you until they’re ready to make contact. I’m not sure if it’s a power play or what. We all get busy and sometimes I don’t follow up as fast as I’d like, but I don’t ghost anyone. As a general rule, I think it’s best to respond to someone in the manner in which they communicate with you unless you’ve both agreed to use a defined system. For example, we have too many clients for me to speak with everyone on the phone. We use an online ticket system to handle client requests. It’s allowed us to grow our business and provide better customer service by ensuring all requests are tracked and handled.

Another subtle form of ghosting is when someone does the minimum (or less than the minimum) to get by at work. Symptoms of this can be a lack of energy, tardiness, leaving early, making lots of mistakes, or simply not caring. I think we’ve all seen instances of that, whether you’re working in the same workplace or you’re a customer who sees the behavior. When that happens, the person may be physically there, but they’re not present mentally. If someone isn’t happy in their job, you’d think they’d speak up. Most employers I know want to work with people as best they can to accommodate personal preferences as long as the job gets done. Many people just don’t take pride in doing a good job even if they plan to leave. Does a good or bad job reference mean anything anymore?

As much as I’d like to think that client relationships will last forever, they don’t. All client contracts, including the ones we have, are directly impacted by leadership changes, insourcing, budget cuts, or a client just wanting to work with someone new. My business benefits from that when a client chooses us over someone else. At other times, we lose the business. That’s part of running a business. I respect that and oftentimes make similar decisions on behalf of our company. During a business change like that, I think it’s honorable to have a peaceful ending to the business relationship. Unless there’s some compelling reason to abruptly end a business relationship, then the honorable thing to do is let someone know you’re making a change and why. Frankly, it’s cowardly to do anything otherwise. In the movie “Hang ‘Em High” Jed Cooper said, “When you hang a man, you better look at him.”

Most people don’t like confrontation. Ghosting isn’t the answer. Life is too short and the world too small to burn bridges. An effective leader starts things and ends things deliberately and directly. Doing so demonstrates confidence, courtesy, and professionalism in the workplace.

Leadership with head, heart, and hands

by Joe Domaleski | Dec 6, 2022 | Blog, Business, Columnists, Community, News Center, Opinion

The struggle is real, especially during this holiday season. How do I provide effective leadership by finding the balance between what I’m thinking (head), what I’m feeling (heart), and what I’m actually doing (hands)? Let’s explore each of those three concepts in more detail.

Using your head is what most people traditionally think about when it comes to leadership. The ability to process information, think critically, and make good decisions is a foundational skill set for any leader. For me personally, this not only applies to how I run my own business, but how I advise clients. Indeed, as a service business, my company is paid for our expertise and creativity. It may sound easy, but it’s not. Information is not always clear. Oftentimes various pieces of information conflict with each other. Clients can give us the wrong information and then change their minds later. Right now, our best and brightest economists aren’t quite sure if we’re in a recession or not because the data is conflicting. Sometimes the information comes in late or not at all. This happens quite often and I’ve found myself having to be “directionally correct” to get things started as information comes in later. If you wait until you have everything you need, it’s possible you’ll never even get started.

Even if you have good information, it’s not always clear what to do with it. We have more options at our disposal than any other generation before us. Sometimes that’s a good thing, but many times it’s overwhelming and can lead to paralysis by analysis. Finding just enough data to make a good decision without getting bogged down in minutiae is a balancing act. Many organizations pride themselves on being data-driven. Data is a great way to model the world around us. I have a math degree and love numbers. Having good data and information is essential for running a profitable business. Taken to an extreme, running an organization purely by numbers removes the human element and that’s not always good. During the last recession of 2009-2011, I was advised to shut down my business based on the numbers. I adopted Admiral Farragut’s advice from 150 years ago, “Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead.” I’m glad I did.

Using your heart as a basis for leadership has become quite popular over the last twenty-five years and for good reason. Passion from the heart inspires great actions that can exceed the limits of what a business model might predict. Noted leadership expert John Maxwell has said that “Leadership is influence, nothing more nothing less.” I agree with that statement. The most admired leaders are mostly remembered for their passion and heart, not their ability to read financial reports. Most customers are interested in more than just the lowest price, they want to spend their money with organizations that match their values. Employees are the same way. Salary is important but work environment and “good vibes” are just as important. It’s the job of the leader to inspire customers and employees with heart-centered leadership.

Good intentions and a pure heart alone are not enough to run an organization. Passion and purpose can jumpstart a project or initiative, but it still takes a good business mind to make it all work. Over my business career, I’ve struggled with finding the proper balance between heart and mind. I think most leaders have the same struggle. Emotions sometimes get in the way of making tough business decisions that need to be made based on the numbers. Yet, some people can be quite ruthless when it comes to being single-mindedly focused on numbers. More often than not, those same people don’t really understand the numbers – but that’s a story for a future column. It takes a heart and a mind to be a leader, but that’s not all.

Using your hands means leading by example. Having a pure heart and focused mind is not enough for leadership. For most people, seeing is believing. A leader must be willing to roll up their sleeves and do the work in order to inspire people. When I started the business as a solo entrepreneur that literally meant working in the business during the day and working on the business at night. As the business grew and we hired employees, that meant I had to find a balance between delegation and stepping in. A leader has to show customers they are willing to step in and make things right when things aren’t going well. An employee has to know the leader “has their back” and will support them in the face of adversity. Sometimes people don’t know what to do and the leader has to step in and show people what needs to be done. At other times the leader needs to use discretion and restraint in order to let people make mistakes and learn.

Knowing what needs “hands-on” attention isn’t always clear. As our company has grown, I don’t personally have knowledge of everything that goes on. I did when we had a smaller team, but oftentimes I don’t have direct information which means I need to rely on my team to bring things up that need my attention. Like many leaders, I make mistakes and sometimes insert myself into a situation that’s already going well. Doing so can result in a team member thinking I don’t have confidence in them. Conversely, there are times when I really should have “hands-on” involvement in a situation and I miss the opportunity. We’re all human and make mistakes. Finding the right level of personal involvement in a project, account, or situation can be a challenge. It involves instinct, awareness, and willingness to act.

So let’s put all of this together in the interest of being more effective leaders. Today’s leader needs to find the balance between head, heart, and hands in order to be effective. Some have used the term, “Leadership Trinity” to describe this balance needed for a modern leader. Using your head involves the what, using your heart involves the why, and using your hands involves the how. As we bring the year to a close, I’m going to double down on all three facets of leadership to make next year better. How about you?

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