What Are You Waiting For?

Last Thursday, October 16^th, I celebrated my 2^nd National Boss’ Day as my own boss. When I opened my own consulting firm in May 2013 I was excited about the possibilities that lay ahead, and began building on that lifelong dream of owning my own company where I could make a difference in the daily lives of others.

It was a daunting goal, with many, many steps along the way, but I knew I could do it; I wanted to do it.

Since that time, there have been many positive steps forward in fulfilling my strategic plan, and a few steps backward. Some steps forward were planned, and others presented themselves unexpectedly. As I came upon those unexpected opportunities, the loudest voice in my head was that of a friend who constantly asks those with whom they come in contact – what are you waiting for?

What are you waiting for, indeed.

Recently, another friend announced that she was taking the same giant leap of forming her own company. As we talked about the courage it takes to make that decision and move forward, I found myself asking her many of the questions that were asked of me almost 2 years ago.

• What products or services are you offering?
• What is your target customer base?
• How will you reach/communicate with them?
• What makes your company different from all of your competitors?
• What will your brand look like?
• Tell me about your strategic plan and goals

Quite honestly, the decision to do something – anything – is the easy part. It’s the strategic planning and then execution that takes all your time, effort, and resources.

This is also the easiest place for you to get bogged down, and eventually question your decision to strike out on your own in the first place (or whatever the decision may be). Getting mired in the minutia can easily provide 101 reasons why you can’t do something today, next week, or next month.

So, how do you guard against the “I can’t do it right now because…” mindset? It’s easier than it seems; really. 

Whether you are your only employee, or you have 1,000+ employees, it is vitally important that you build a team around you that gives you the support to do what needs to be done, when it needs to be done.

You need a team of friends, colleagues, peers, and staff that will ask, “What are you/we waiting for?” You need people who are supportive of your efforts, and are not afraid to let you know that you may have taken an unnecessary or possibly detrimental side trip off the strategic path.

We’ve all heard that nothing worth-while is ever easy. However, that does not mean that every step forward has to be like pulling teeth from a dinosaur.  In truth, sometimes you just have to make yourself take that step. Sometimes you just have to tell yourself, “Today is the Day,” and move forward.

In 26 days I will achieve the half-century mark in age.  I’ll be 50. Whoohoo!!! I’m excited about Life After 50, and all the possibilities ahead. So, in writing this particular blog today, I once again have to ask myself, “What am I waiting for?”

What are you waiting for?

Before founding her own consulting firm in 2013, Dawn Gannon served as a respected project management and administrative operations professional in the military, higher education, and women’s healthcare fields for 25 years. She holds a Masters of Business Administration and a Graduate Certificate in Organizational Management from American Public University, is a contributor on LinkedIn, and the author of the Management in Motion blog.

Dawn currently serves as the Past Chair of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine’s Women’s Council, and teaches health and safety classes for the American Red Cross. As an infertility survivor she has been a featured speaker within the Fertility Community, and written numerous articles on the topic of childfree living. 

Does Friendship Have a Place in Business?

Do you have friends in business?

Photo Credit: Bing Images

I don’t mean your competitors with whom you smile and shake hands when you happen to be in the same place at the same time. I mean those with whom you spend time outside of work, have shared memories and have an affection for.

What about your co-workers? Any friends there, or do you just do your job while they do theirs?

I recently connected with a friend I had not spoken to in over 25 years. Other than the requisite tell-me-about-your-family-and-life-over-the-last-quarter-century, the conversation moved along as if we saw each other just last week. After the conversation, I mentally looked back on other long-term friendships and realized just how much each of those individuals made me who I am today. How much I learned from each and every one of them.

Some of those who have had a significant impact on my life and how I conduct business today were personal friends, while others friendships were forged through business, even though we may have been competitors.

Which brings me to the question – does friendship have a place in business? If so, what is that place?

I believe it does. Granted, ensuring your business makes decisions that take advantage of market conditions or other differentiating circumstances is vital to its success. However, what if choosing an action is detrimental to your friend’s company? Is friendship more important than drawing an ethical line based solely on business concerns, or is it necessary to ensure that humanistic considerations are considered as well?

Yes, universal ethics require that businesses operate in an honest manner, and one in which employees are treated fairly and provided a safe work environment. However, when it comes to business strategy, sometimes the ethical choices are not so crystal clear.

They (whoever ‘they’ are) say that competitors can be friends, and you hear about it quite often in sports; but what about in business? Yes, you get more flies with honey than you do vinegar, but what happens when the bonds of friendship become a barrier to taking the next step in your business strategy?

The reason friendship matters in business, is that friends treat other friends differently than acquaintances. They tend to be more acceptable to working with people and companies they know, rather than those they do not. The costs involved tend to be less, and a sense of trust is already established. It’s a win-win for everyone.

While this seems a silly topic to discuss, I think it goes back to my July 14^th post on why kindness matters in business.

Where do you draw the line? How do you know when you’ve gone too far to back out, and then what do you do? Salvage the friendship, or allow it to cease as a result? Do true friends understand the difference between personal life and business and see your decision for the business tactic that it is, or walk away from the friendship in disappointment?

I suspect that there are several who will read this blog and think that I’ve completely – and finally – lost my mind. However, I would be truly interested in discussing this issue with those of you who have faced this challenge.

Thanks in advance for the discussion!

Before founding her own consulting firm, Dawn Gannon served as a respected project management and administrative operations professional in the military, higher education, and women’s healthcare fields for 25 years. She holds a Masters of Business Administration from American Public University, is a contributor on LinkedIn, and the author of the Management in Motion blog.

Dawn currently serves as the Past Chair of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine’s Women’s Council. She has also been a featured speaker within the Fertility Community, and written numerous articles on the topic of childfree living.