The "New" Business Rules

Every business today is trying to figure out how to improve their revenue and increase business.  Ironically, it seems to me that the key to success in 2014 is to return to a common sense approach and to realize that by helping others, you really are helping yourself.

The ideas listed below will never be used at the Yale or Harvard Business School because they are too simple.  However, the ideas listed below, while simple, are not easy.  Enjoy!

The New Business Rules for 2014

1. Take care of your relationships and the money will take care of itself.
2. Lead YOU first. You can’t help others reach for their highest potential until you’re in the process of reaching for yours.
3. Small daily improvements over time create stunning results.
4. Surround yourself with people courageous enough to speak truthfully about what’s best for your organization and the customers you serve.
5. Every moment in front of a customer is a moment of truth (to either show you live by the values you profess – or you don’t).
6. Copying what your competition is doing simply leads to being second best.
7. Remember that what makes a great business – in part – are the seemingly insignificant details.
8. If you’re not thinking for yourself, you’re following – not leading.
9. The job of the leader is to develop more leaders.
10. In the new world of business, everyone’s part of the leadership team.
11. You’ll get your game-changing ideas away from the office versus in the middle of work. Make time for getting away. Creativity needs space and quiet.
12. The people who gossip about others when they are not around are the people who will gossip about you when you’re not around
13. The way you do one thing defines the way you’ll do everything. Every act matters.
14. The purpose of work is to help people. The other rewards are inevitable by-products of this singular focus.
15. Remember that the things that get scheduled are the things that get done.
16. Keep promises and be impeccable with your word. People buy more than just your products and services. They invest in your credibility.
17. Lead Without a Title.
18. You become your excuses.
19. Brilliant things happen when you go the extra mile for every single customer.
20. Good enough just isn’t good enough