We, in the free paper industry, are typically a bunch of Type A personalities who need little outside motivation or direction. This can be both a blessing and a curse. We are a determined, confident, take-charge lot who like to make things happen, and others can either get on board or get out of the way.
There are times, however, when a Holiday Inn Express stay is not enough to ensure a plan we have hatched will be successfully executed. We need to be open-minded enough to seek counsel from others who may be more experienced, or just plain smarter than we are.
I did not know it at the time, but I was surrounded by great mentors who provided fantastic oversight when I broke into the advertising business. I was able to move forward with most ideas, with constructive input along the way. Somewhere around age 40 I learned how beneficial it is to surround myself with others smarter than me … and listen to them!
I was reminded of this (again) when my 5-year-old grandson fell off a balance beam and hurt his arm during his own birthday party at a gymnastics studio. I was sure he would be okay as soon as Mom & Dad finished consoling him and let him get back to running around with his friends. I kept my opinion to myself, and boy am I glad I did. You see, his dad and a few others in attendance are doctors. They evaluated his injury and did the right thing with a trip to the emergency room to cast his broken arm. It turns out those in the medical profession knew more than I did - who would have guessed!
Where can we find advice in areas where we may need help? Everywhere. The obvious place is our own workplaces where people hold special skills in a variety of areas; graphic design, sales, circulation, accounting, etc. Seasoned veterans have the experience to head off problems before they arise, and younger staffers have a good pulse on what today’s consumers desire. We simply have to be willing to ask their opinions and then make informed decisions based on the information they provide.
However, our search for advice should not be limited by our own walls. Trade associations, education outlets, including universities and community colleges offer expertise in virtually every area of business and professional growth. In Iowa, we are fortunate to have Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, whose mission is to provide information and resources to anyone who needs it, regardless of where you live. They have a white paper on just about any topic you can imagine.
We can also reach out to local business associates who may have special insight, training and experience from which we can benefit. Those who work in other industries, such as insurance, banking, manufacturing, food service and more, have many of the same problems we in the publishing industry face. Supply chain issues, a tight labor market and rising costs of doing business affect every business, just in different ways.
Family and friends are another great resource as sounding boards. My wife is often my go-to when I need to be convinced of, or warned about my next great idea. I also have good friends who sometimes make a lot of sense when discussing business or community issues, and I respect their opinions. However, I would caution not to take advice from friends (or yourself) while sitting around a campfire on Saturday night.
One final thought regarding surrounding yourself with smart people. The new year will be upon us soon, and I would encourage everyone to pencil in at least one or two training sessions or conferences that MFCP will be hosting. Not only are they a great bunch of Type A people, but they have a collective intelligence in a variety of areas and are happy to share their experiences.
As 2024 draws to a close soon, be sure to book your next Holiday Inn Express stay, or better yet, surround yourself with high caliber people in 2025. You will be glad you did.
Mike
There are times, however, when a Holiday Inn Express stay is not enough to ensure a plan we have hatched will be successfully executed. We need to be open-minded enough to seek counsel from others who may be more experienced, or just plain smarter than we are.
I did not know it at the time, but I was surrounded by great mentors who provided fantastic oversight when I broke into the advertising business. I was able to move forward with most ideas, with constructive input along the way. Somewhere around age 40 I learned how beneficial it is to surround myself with others smarter than me … and listen to them!
I was reminded of this (again) when my 5-year-old grandson fell off a balance beam and hurt his arm during his own birthday party at a gymnastics studio. I was sure he would be okay as soon as Mom & Dad finished consoling him and let him get back to running around with his friends. I kept my opinion to myself, and boy am I glad I did. You see, his dad and a few others in attendance are doctors. They evaluated his injury and did the right thing with a trip to the emergency room to cast his broken arm. It turns out those in the medical profession knew more than I did - who would have guessed!
Where can we find advice in areas where we may need help? Everywhere. The obvious place is our own workplaces where people hold special skills in a variety of areas; graphic design, sales, circulation, accounting, etc. Seasoned veterans have the experience to head off problems before they arise, and younger staffers have a good pulse on what today’s consumers desire. We simply have to be willing to ask their opinions and then make informed decisions based on the information they provide.
However, our search for advice should not be limited by our own walls. Trade associations, education outlets, including universities and community colleges offer expertise in virtually every area of business and professional growth. In Iowa, we are fortunate to have Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, whose mission is to provide information and resources to anyone who needs it, regardless of where you live. They have a white paper on just about any topic you can imagine.
We can also reach out to local business associates who may have special insight, training and experience from which we can benefit. Those who work in other industries, such as insurance, banking, manufacturing, food service and more, have many of the same problems we in the publishing industry face. Supply chain issues, a tight labor market and rising costs of doing business affect every business, just in different ways.
Family and friends are another great resource as sounding boards. My wife is often my go-to when I need to be convinced of, or warned about my next great idea. I also have good friends who sometimes make a lot of sense when discussing business or community issues, and I respect their opinions. However, I would caution not to take advice from friends (or yourself) while sitting around a campfire on Saturday night.
One final thought regarding surrounding yourself with smart people. The new year will be upon us soon, and I would encourage everyone to pencil in at least one or two training sessions or conferences that MFCP will be hosting. Not only are they a great bunch of Type A people, but they have a collective intelligence in a variety of areas and are happy to share their experiences.
As 2024 draws to a close soon, be sure to book your next Holiday Inn Express stay, or better yet, surround yourself with high caliber people in 2025. You will be glad you did.
Mike