Become a Part of the Solution

Super Bowl MVP, Hines Ward, recently won the coveted mirror ball trophy on Dancing with the Stars after battling with some tough competition. During the season, he was asked about his excellent dance routine to classical music and he replied that he never listened to classical music. He even admitted on Good Morning America: “When I signed up, I’d never danced in my whole life. I was so scared. I didn’t even go to my prom.”

So what was the key to his success? He obviously possessed strong athletic ability, but so do many of the competitors on the show. One answer comes from his ability to make a plan of action and then consistently practice until his movements became natural. During one segment, he was shown diagramming his dance routine as if it was page from his football playbook. Each move was carefully planned and a pillow became his practice partner.

I recently met with a number of individuals representing organizations that work to assist businesses to become more successful, and I asked them the question: “What things would best help local businesses grow?”

A lot of answers were listed on a flipchart and then prioritized according to its usefulness and the degree of control a businessperson has over each item. The number one response to help grow a business was to create a plan of action. You see, without a plan to guide your actions, it’s too easy to get off-track and become diverted by urgent items that can keep you busy but don’t help you achieve your business goals. Making that plan of action simple--even on one-page—can become your “game plan” to get the results you want.

The meeting I mentioned earlier was in response to a concept I’ve been discussing in this column for the past couple of weeks and that is almost ready to be launched. It’s called the BizGrowth Challenge and its purpose is to improve the local economy and quality of life by working collaboratively with organizations and experts that provide businesses with affordable resources to effectively achieve sustainable growth.

The first step towards any positive change is to have the right attitude for change to occur. Number five on our list was to “develop a more positive attitude about the current situation.” We agreed that an important element to create a turnaround in the economy is to change the mindset of individuals from “no I can’t” to “yes, I can.” Once this mindset is changed, then an individual is open to possibilities and begins to look for solutions to their current situation. If the needed resources are readily made available to allow businesses to implement a plan of action, then positive results will be realized. After learning about the BizGrowth Challenge and what it has to offer, 67% responded in a survey that they believe it will have a strong or very strong impact on local businesses to help them achieve sustainable growth.

Once the program is finalized, we will be looking for business owners who are willing to participate in the Challenge to implement the techniques, use the tools, and develop the strategies that will allow them to develop their staff, improve operations, reduce expenses, create strategic alliances, and increase the number and quality of customers they serve.

Besides learning to craft a simple action plan, the BizGrowth Challenge will also provide training, support, sources of funding, marketing strategies, and effective customer service techniques. Basically, it will support you to achieve whatever goals you have for your business and provide the resources to make it happen. By helping your business and other business owners who are willing to become proactive in a reactive world, we can make a difference and improve the overall quality of life on this wonderful island.

The Challenge will require you to rise above your self-doubts and work hard to achieve your goals. Hines Ward sums up what the Dancing with the Stars challenge did for him: “Winning the mirror ball trophy for me symbolizes overcoming my fear of the unknown. It says that I was able to excel at something I knew nothing about. I was able to rise above difficulty and take a risk.”

If you are willing to overcome any fear you have about the unknown future, rise above difficulty and make an effort to improve your situation, then take the Challenge to grow your business and help be a part of an economic recovery that is destined to occur if we truly believe in it and put in the necessary work. If you are ready to take the Challenge and become a part of the solution, contact me at rikvillegas@gmail.com to learn more.