What Every Organization Needs for the New Year
A good friend of mine, Corey Baker, has a saying for every leader to heed. He states that every organization needs “Big Mo and Cash Flow.” I’d say he is right on track. Momentum is crucial and cash flow even more important.
What happens if you don’t have either momentum or cash flow? It’s understandable how a lot of organizations would be missing one or the other (or both), especially in light of the past 18 months. This blog is focused on momentum. Normally cash flow follows momentum. So how do you get it?
Gaining Momentum
How do you get the “Mo”? Momentum is the tendency to repeat successes. It is a process of motion moving forward. There are three possibilities for your momentum. You are either:
- Moving Forward
- Not Moving
- Moving Backwards
Which of these is your reality?
If you are moving forward.. How fast or slow is the movement? What are the practical things you can do over the next sixty days to increase the velocity of your momentum? Look for the simple things to add fuel to your fire.
If you are not moving… What can you do to get some REAL momentum? Notice the highlight. If you are stagnant then make sure that whatever you try to do to move momentum forward is authentic or it can backfire and move you in the opposite direction. Make lists, talk to outside sources, get aggressive… do whatever it takes to get an inch of momentum and start pushing forward.
If you are moving backwards… It is important to follow what the best turnaround specialists advise. First, stop any sliding backwards. Second, focus on small victories while you overhaul the big weaknesses of your organization. Third, empower a few to do great things and start celebrating bigger successes.
To get a better perspective on momentum watch a college basketball game. Watch the swings of momentum and how those swings happen. It is fascinating.
Find Your Momentum
If you are a leader of an organization, of a department, or even simply your family, let me encourage you to find your momentum. Get real with where you are at and then put your plan together.
Over the past few months I have been getting real with our business and our momentum. In 2008, the business we had acquired began to move backwards as we tweaked it for future growth. As a leader development company we ran right into the economic collapse where training and leader events began to dry up. Our business began to slow and momentum was the most difficult for about six months until…
That is the key word - until. In the midst of our decline our board and I made some key decisions to invest in adding to our leadership team and expanding a key brand. We focused on hitting the results of one event to stop the momentum slide and then we began putting the pieces together to make a momentum run.
At the end of 2009, we began resetting goals to finish strong. We then began gaining momentum for 2010 with new business and strong teamwork. Going into the year our team knows that we are making progress and moving forward aggressively. You can just feel the momentum in the air.
Now it is your turn. Find your “Big Mo” and then watch the cash flow follow.
Posted on January 05, 2010 in Business Growth
9 Comments
Jerry Pattengale said...
Jeremie, This is one of my favorite posts on this site—well stated, esp. the three categories of moving. We find ourselves in our momentum state “either by design or default.” Often, but not always, leaders (and non-leaders) seem to wait for some unreasonable sense of good fate. It’s the broken waterhose syndrome. No matter how long you wait or how hard you hope, when you turn the key the motor still won’t work correctly—by default you’ve agreed to this. While the broken hose is not your fault, its duration of brokeness is. Enjoy your work. JP
Comment by Jerry Pattengale - Jan 06, 2010 @ 01:32 PM
Funmi Odia said...
This is a timely article especially during this season when the pace of work is yet to pick up. I believe that if one is not moving at all, it translates to backward movement. One has to be diligent and creative to ensure forward movement at all times, in season and out of season. Many thanks.
Comment by Funmi Odia - Jan 12, 2010 @ 06:15 AM
Gary Henby said...
Vision can inspire people to maintain momentum, even in tough times. It has been inspiring to me to see people who embraced the vision and carry it forward in tough times using their untapped creativity and capability to overcome challenges. I have also been blessed with people who have taken the ball and run with it in business and family. Or, as I remember from the book, “Flight of the Buffalo” , The lead changes so as to maintain the forward movement and allow the strongest to reduce the resistance. As the lead goose changes as they fly in a V they create a draft for the other geese, also if a goose is not able to keep up, another goose will stay back with them until they are well enough to continue. I have to admit, I have been in all these roles of the goose and appreciate all the other geese.
Comment by Gary Henby - Jan 12, 2010 @ 07:59 AM
Jeremie Kubicek said...
These are great thoughts, gentlemen. I appreciate your feedback and wisdom. Wishing you a year of momentum!
Comment by Jeremie Kubicek - Jan 12, 2010 @ 09:42 AM
Larry H. Walker said...
Even as I read through the three categories of momentum, I caught myself reverting to a psychological equivalent of “FRODO’S” fingering of the ring to disappear if things got too tough. My “magic comfort ring” is found in the over-large and well-worn pocket where I store my excuses…it is right next to my “blame” pocket. What momentum killers!
Comment by Larry H. Walker - Jan 12, 2010 @ 10:36 AM
jackie lauren said...
Thanks for the wonderful article and comments.
I’m taking my time to write to move “forward”
it’s easy to remain “stuck” on past laurels.
i found the article so motivating i shared it
with a few of my good friends and in turn
it should flow as it is meant to be.
Have a great moving week!
Jackie
Comment by jackie lauren - Jan 12, 2010 @ 12:19 PM
Rachel White said...
Hello Mr. Kubicek,
Thank you for writing such a wonderful article. I currently working and going to school full time, and volunteering for a couple of organizations, to give back. From time to time, I am asked by others why do I have such a busy life. I can now attribute it to momentum. I am putting in the effort now, so that I can see the results laters. There is a scripture that speak to momentum…“cast your bread upon the waters and after many days it will come back to you”. Repeat action in the positive.
I liked your statements, “Momentum is the tendency to repeat successes. It is a process of motion moving forward… Get real with where you are at and then put your plan together.” I am constantly looking at my successes and asking how do I repeat or improve upon them.
Thank you for encouraging momentum in others.
Comment by Rachel White - Jan 12, 2010 @ 12:28 PM
Auntie said...
Great cheerleader article. Only fluff with no real direction building or instruction. We who are struggling need to know HOW to do these things not just “get out there and do it”—especially when we don’t know how. Very dissappointed.
Comment by Auntie - Jan 14, 2010 @ 05:30 PM
Jeremie Kubicek said...
Dear Auntie, thanks for your feedback. Let me help you by addressing a few key thoughts. From your reply I can assume you are not moving forward or possibly moving backward. In these cases reality can be your friend.
Ask yourself these questions.
1. What is not moving (or what is moving backward)? Is it sales, customer exposure, distribution? etc.
2. What would need to happen to have your business move forward one step? One new partnership? Or x number of clients? Or a new hire that yields $x?
3. What series of events do you dream would happen? For instance “I wish we could get 10 new clients who would bring in $x of revenue monthly and sign one new partnership in the next 6 months that would allow us to reach this market, etc.” Write your own dream series down and then chart a course to get there.
While I don’t know your market or business I do know that momentum is a series of events that start with little things. The little things become bigger.
Over the next few weeks I will be sharing more on this topic. Hope this helps. Thanks again for your openness.
Comment by Jeremie Kubicek - Jan 14, 2010 @ 05:44 PM