Movers & Shakers
We moved. These two words speak volumes to those who have traveled that road. I see you are nodding your head. Well, it is nice to join the club. For 25 years we have faithfully served our clients from the same location. We had simply outgrown the space and it was time for some new digs.
I learned some valuable lessons through this move which can be summed up in these three statements:
- Know where you want to go
- Decide what to bring with you
- Determine what gets left behind
The first statement seems self-explanatory. If you don’t know where you’re going - you won’t know when you get there. You could miss it altogether. In searching for the location of our new headquarters, we had specific criteria as to location, layout, and future growth potential. We are excited at what we found, but it was helpful to know what to look for in the first place.
The second statement also falls into the ‘no-brainer’ category. Once you have determined where you are going, the next logical question is, ‘What will I need to bring with me to make this journey successful?’ Everything we needed to serve our customers in the manner in which they were accustomed made it onto the trucks for relocation to their new home.
However, this third statement is where it got a little sticky. What do you leave behind? We have 25 years of history to wade through. Along with the history come the memories. These memories remind us of where we have been and the technology that helped us get to where we are today. Do you bring all of that with you? What about the document archive that has been protected like the Dead Sea Scrolls? Literally pounds upon pounds of stuff – and when your moving company is charging by the pound, the cost of keeping everything builds exponentially.
The overarching principle we learned: All this stuff makes it difficult to move.
This principle can be applied easily in business as you are seeking to move in a new direction. Whether that be expanding into new product areas or preparing to position yourself as an industry leader.
- Know where you want to go
Clearly defined goals are the first step to success. Write them down. Knowing your target will help you achieve it and keep your team engaged until you do.
- Decide what to bring with you
What is required to successfully move your company from where it is to where you want it to be? This is an extension of your written goals. The destination determines your ‘packing’ list.
- Determine what gets left behind
Make the tough choice and let go. Look at how much of the Saturn V rocket was left behind in order to reach the moon. All that ‘stuff’ from your past was necessary to get you moving. But it is nothing but dead weight as you prepare to reach new heights.
In order to shake you need to move. In order to move, you need to be willing to part with those items that are holding you back. Keep the memories. Lose the weight. You will find it so much easier to reach your next goal with that streamlined new look you are sporting. Now that you are prepared to move, it’s time to shake things up.
Tom McTee, Super-Genius