Here's just a few examples gathered from friends .... feel free to add your own as a reply comment.
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1. Be impeccable with your words (speak with integrity, don't gossip or talk bad about others; it will come to haunt you).
2. Don't make any assumptions (ask questions and expres what you really want; communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings).
3. Don't take anything personal (nothing others do is because of you; what others say or do is a projection of their own reality and issues).
4. Always do your best (your best is going to change from moment to moment; it will be different when you are healthy or sick. Simply do your best and you will avoid self-judgment and regret).
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Always be on-time
Anticipate what can go wrong
Be proactive
Don't bad mouth colleagues
Find responsible people to whom you can delegate
Don't lose your temper (it's OK to swear in private)
Learn to take very deep breaths.
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Don't stop working at a problem until it is solved.
The customer is your partner and treat each engagement with the customer as such - a win/win for all.
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Focus on your strengths.
Acknowledge what you have accomplished rather then what haven't.
It is okay to question yourself but never doubt yourself.
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Never underestimate yourself and others won't either.
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Never, ever disappoint a customer.
Monday, August 22, 2011
Thursday, August 18, 2011
What A Small Business Should Look For In A Vendor
The first three qualifications I would look for when selecting a vendor are ...
1. Can they do what we want them to do? That may not be as simple as it sounds; you may want to include all the very subtle qualifications such as do they really know "about your business" (what you do, why, to/for who, what makes you tick). Building something merely to meet my cold, hard, written requirements, and building something that meets my written requirements but also includes knowing WHY I wanted it built can be the difference between a mediocre product and a great product.
2. Can they do it in the manner that we want them to do it? Can they and will they comply with all of our flow-down process and regulatory requirements (as Norbert Kubilus discussed)? If we have been contracted to build a product for a highly-demanding client (and/or one that operates in a strictly-regulated industry), the client will flow down process and regulatory requirements (e.g. "do it this way", "maintain these records as proof of compliance", "assess your work practices on a regular basis to prove that you are constantly in compliance", etc.) to us. Any vendors I sub-contract will also have to meet these requirements.
3. Can they be trusted? Will they provide the product or service on time? Will they provide services in compliance with flow-down process requirements? Will they promise not to use or pass on any intellectual knowledge that has been transferred to them (other than in our contracted business)?
1. Can they do what we want them to do? That may not be as simple as it sounds; you may want to include all the very subtle qualifications such as do they really know "about your business" (what you do, why, to/for who, what makes you tick). Building something merely to meet my cold, hard, written requirements, and building something that meets my written requirements but also includes knowing WHY I wanted it built can be the difference between a mediocre product and a great product.
2. Can they do it in the manner that we want them to do it? Can they and will they comply with all of our flow-down process and regulatory requirements (as Norbert Kubilus discussed)? If we have been contracted to build a product for a highly-demanding client (and/or one that operates in a strictly-regulated industry), the client will flow down process and regulatory requirements (e.g. "do it this way", "maintain these records as proof of compliance", "assess your work practices on a regular basis to prove that you are constantly in compliance", etc.) to us. Any vendors I sub-contract will also have to meet these requirements.
3. Can they be trusted? Will they provide the product or service on time? Will they provide services in compliance with flow-down process requirements? Will they promise not to use or pass on any intellectual knowledge that has been transferred to them (other than in our contracted business)?
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
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