Ceptara

Summary

• Small business is hard.  How do you know you're prepared to be a small business owner, and how do you create a better stronger business?
• Make sure you are on the right path. Are you executing your passions? Is it easy to dedicate time to it? Do you have a plan? Do you believe in yourself and your vision?
• Build a system for success. Create a vision of the future. Build a repeatable system and execute well. Instrument for success. Improve what doesn't meet expectations. Maintain momentum.

Eliyahu Goldratt published The Goal in 1984 describing the Theory of Constraints (TOC), a process of on-going improvement. It was read by millions, cited by hundreds but remains a minor part of the quality body of knowledge.

Running a business or organization is hard work.  It can sometimes seem like all we do is react to the next crisis and hope that we're making money and making a difference.

There is a better way!  There's no magic wand that you wave, no silver bullet.  Running an organization takes passion, focus, diligence and faith.  And it takes a systematic approach in making sure that you're building a better stronger business.

• The customer experience is king: design, execute, monitor and adjust (Plan-Do-Check-Act).
• Cost savings come in the oddest places, leave no stone unturned. 
• Know your limits and use experts to help, such as a mentor, coach or consultant.

In keeping with my series about how we’re not as far along as we think, I’d like to talk about a few major faux pas I’ve seen recently.  One was at a famous and large retailer, Walmart.  The other is visible from my backyard.

• Decide what problem to fix
• Do something new or differently
• Check to see if it helped
• Capture and standardize the new practice

I had an opportunity to speak to a few Everett (WA) small businesses this morning by presenting at the [Three Morning Seminar Series].  We had limited attendance, so it was a great way to have more intimate conversations with those that were there.

We talked about three Lean Six Sigma tools that are useful for all small businesses:

• Never be satisified with the status quo and don't sacrifice yourself along the way
• Get a fresh perspective (usually an outsider) to tell you what can be right in front of you
• Work ON your business or organization or group, and don't give up!

Small businesses have a unique sense of reality.  If they don't do the work, they can't make payroll, people lose confidence, and the business immediately feels the impact.  At Ceptara, we're also a small business and we feel your pain.  It's challenging to find, keep and motivate customers.  It's difficult to work efficiently and effectively so the business maximizes its profitability and people can take vacation.

Download this deck to learn about how Ceptara can help you in your small business...

Quality is the ticket just to get into the game.  And yet we think it will just appear naturally if we hire the right people.  Some firms have established an organizational mechanism to drive quality, however, most organizations, especially those that are immature, are more likely to allow quality to be something that gets fixed just before the customer sees the end product.

SUMMARY

• Focus on action not messaging, use tasks to track work
• Establish projects to make tasks manageable
• Process your inbox to zero using the 5Ds
• Block time for planning
• Focus on what's important, subordinate everything else