Things I Learned From My Mother

Last week, after 95 years of life, my wise, beautiful mother died.  Her last years were difficult ones and at the beginning of those difficult times, 15 years ago, my dear friend for whom my mother was a mentor, encouraged me to write this. Reading this at this time is a wonderful reminder of the legacy she left. Sharing it in the hope that you will find a kernel of wisdom for your own life.

Be responsible and reliable

Be organized and efficient

Get things done, do it now

Things are just that, and can be replaced

Take care of yourself

Always try to look your best

Keep yourself and your home clean and neat

Having class and having money are not the same

Save the pennies, so you can spend the dollars

Enjoy beautiful things

Presentation is important

Appreciate and choose quality

Good manners; you never know when you might meet the Queen

Good food is an important part of life

Respect another’s privacy

Determination and independence

Don’t be afraid to take risks, when your number’s up, its up

Confidence and courage to try new things

Be there for your life partner, s/he is #1 in your life

It is better to have a few good friends, than many acquaintances

Be a good friend

Why Vistage Works

Elisa K. Spain

Take A Break And Grow Your Company

Sometimes when life feels overwhelming, our instinctive reaction is to work more. This is especially true when our personal lives are demanding more of our attention; we feel we have to make up for that time, so as not to fall behind.

And, yet, I wonder if the counterintuitive response is to instead, take a break. Perhaps take more than one break. Go for a walk, go to the gym, meditate, do a few yoga poses, or simply sit quietly and take a few breaths.

And with that clearer mind the break provides, pause and think about what falls within Steven Covey’s four quadrants of time management. Most importantly, ask ourselves, is everything that feels urgent, truly important? Or is it urgent because we have lost our perspective, and are working “off the top”? In short, what is on our plate that can best be ignored, at least for now.

I remember years ago traveling with one of my colleagues. I had my files all spread out and was busy working on the plane. My colleague was sitting a few rows back, eating an apple. At the time, I thought, “well how unproductive she is; this is a great time to catch up”.

I have thought of that scene on the airplane many times in my life. It didn’t take me long to realize she chose the smarter option. The reality – business travel is exhausting; why not arrive refreshed and ready to take on the challenges of the day?

And, even if you aren’t actually traveling to the next truly important event (be it urgent or even better the important, non-urgent), why not approach it with a fresh and healthy mind and body?

The result may very well be the insight and action needed to grow your company.

 

Why Vistage Works

Elisa K. Spain

Vistage CEO Confidence Index: CEO Optimism Declines in Q1 2016 – At Lowest Level In 3 Years

CEOs expressed greater concerns about the outlook for the domestic economy but remained upbeat about their own firm’s prospects in the Q1 2016 Vistage CEO Confidence Index survey. The Vistage CEO Confidence Index was 92.3 in the 1st quarter 2016 survey, down from 95.5 in the 4th quarter, and significantly below last year’s 105.8. Despite continuing economic and political uncertainty, more CEOs reported that finding, hiring, and retaining staff is the most significant business challenge they now face. With a tighter labor market, higher wages and benefits to secure key personnel may be needed. Given the still weak global economy as well as the sharply different economic policies favored by the presidential candidates, smaller firms have remained the engine of economic growth.

Below are some key highlights from the Q1 2016 Vistage CEO Confidence Index (all members surveyed):

54% of CEOs plan to expand their workforce in the year ahead.

32% of CEOs said the single most important issue they faced was finding, training, and retaining employees.

41% of CEOs plan to increase spending in new plant and equipment, the lowest level in three years.

70% of CEOs expect increased revenues in the year ahead, and 55% of CEOs expect increased profits.

41% of CEOs said they do not feel that they are prepared for a cyber-attack.

For more details Vistage Confidence Index.

 

Why Vistage Works

Elisa K. Spain

Achieve No Goal Before It Is Time

Once well-known brand, Paul Masson wine, is best remembered for its 1970s marketing association with Orson Wells, who promised for Masson: “We will sell no wine before its time.” In this ad, Wells is discovered by the camera listening to Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony, “It took Beethoven four years to write that symphony” Wells says, “Some things can’t be rushed. Good music… and good wine”.

According to one of the members of my Vistage CEO group, the same applies to goals. He says, “it’s the goal that matters, not the timeline. If you don’t achieve your goal in the time frame you set, and it’s something important to you, then change the timeline, not the goal”.

Not unlike my blog,  Let It Rest a couple of weeks ago, the message here is, let things unfold at their own pace. It’s hard sometimes to know when to activate, and when to simply pause and wait. Sometimes we want something so badly that we work and work to achieve our goal. What I have learned from observing successful leaders is they recognize what is in their control and what is not. And, they proceed accordingly; sometimes simply waiting for the right time to reengage, and reactivate.

Steve Jobs is famous for delaying the production of, and ultimately the release of products, until he was satisfied that the design met his goal. While he is perceived as an innovator, Apple was never the first mover. The first IPhone-like device was called the Treo. It did a lot of what the first IPhone did, but not well. Steve and his team took their time developing a better product. Steve is reputed to have sent his product development team back to the drawing board, time after time, to get the design exactly as he wanted it, i.e. just one button.

So, when setting your goals for your next product launch, next division, next business opportunity, remember Beethoven and Jobs. And, achieve no goal before it is time, better an IPhone than a Treo.

 

Why Vistage Works

Elisa K. Spain