Doing It Better

By Cyndi Seidler

Reprinted from Business Organizing News, Winter 1997 issue

One of the reasons I was able to go into business for myself in the first place was that I had continually educated myself to do better or develop new skills and know-how. My philosophy is that the more things I know about and am able to do, the better I will be. Hence, if I’m better, I’ll make more money. And, if I know more, I will save money.

I read a lot of books to educate myself in areas that I feel will improve or enhance what I’m already doing, as well as to learn new things. I’ve saved money on hiring people to do the things I’m perfectly capable of doing myself, like marketing, finance, building and designing a web site.

This is not to say that because I know something that it can’t be delegated. But, if I were to hire a marketing person, for instance, I am in a position where I will know if the plan is a good one and even brainstorm or provide proper guidance, maybe even supervision.

I’ve seen some business owners cheated because they didn’t know how to do a particular "hat" and the person assigned the activity could "get away with murder" without the owner knowing. This is common in finance. If the executive were to know what the finance reports or books are saying, discoveries might be made sooner to prevent potential disasters.

Management executives should also be computer literate. In this day and age, it is practically vital that executives use computers for management of their contacts, their finances, projects, and anything else that will improve operational efficiency.

Some of the things an executive should look at knowing about are 1) Building a better business plan and marketing plan, 2) Project Planning with targeted goals, and 3) Organizational policies and procedures. These are just a few management know-how and skills that help run a business better.

By being a player, not a spectator, an executive can do better and focus on building higher levels of success. Books are a great resource for continued education. Bookstores and libraries are filled with subjects galore. There are classes, workshops, and seminars to build your knowledge base. And, if you’re internet-savvy, there are educational sites, like Altos Education Network (www.altosnet.com) which offer classes.

Doing better is a personal commitment, one which should always be in the forefront of every executive’s planner.

Copyright © 1997 Cyndi Seidler.  All Rights Reserved.

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