Just wondering what the one(just one) most important thing you are going to change in 2008 to make your business more profitable and why you think this change will help? I am in hopes we can all learn something with this.
In his bestseller and business classic book,
Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, Steven Covey says the third habit is, "Put First Things First." In 2008, we will be running the same business model that produced a successful 2007, but with an emphasis on habit three.
This change will help make our business more profitable in some small ways. By quickly entering expenses in our spreadsheet and filing the receipts, it is less likely we will lose them (lost a couple in 2007), and more likely we will be able to deduct the expense. By reviewing credit card statements soon, instead of putting that task off, any inaccuracies we wish to challenge can be challenged before the period for doing so expires. We lost a few bucks in 2007 to that kind of procrastination (nothing serious). By carefully reviewing receipts for truck maintenance before rushing off the the next shower or run, I can challenge them on the spot instead of letting an overcharge for two quarts of oil go because it was discovered later and I decided then it was not worth the time and trouble to fight (42 quarts billed but truck only holds 40).
More importantly, focusing on habit three will help keep me focused on the non-trucking projects I begin instead of starting new projects before the previous ones are finished.
Putting first things first has served us well in previous years. Sleep comes first, so we end up driving safely. The truck comes first, so we maintain it and thereby reduce unplanned breakdowns. Eliminating debt and saving money comes first, so we end up paying less money in interest and watching the bank account grow. Business comes first, so we live mostly on the road and seldom go home, thereby maximizing our freiht-hauling opportunities.
That's all good, but by focusing more on putting first things first in 2008, I hope to free my mind and energy from a dozen intended projects and actually complete a smaller number of them.
Which ones do I do and which do I not? That's the beauty of putting first things first. The ones that are most important are the ones that will get done. The ones that don't get done are not that important anyway.
While it is more important and profitable to refine my business spreadsheets and develop them into a full-fledged relational database, it is more fun to chat things up here on EO.
It is moments like these where the first things first challenge comes. That is my personal challenge in 2008...to catch myself when drifting and refocus on doing first things first.
So, in that spirit, I'm outa here and back to a project.
Thank you Mr. Covey for your guidance. And thank you Mr. bigjoep89 for raising a question that all expediters will do well to answer.
