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November DISC MBA Certification TeleCourse: If you are an HR professional, Coach, or Consultant and are looking for ways to offer additional value through the use of assessments, join us for the 5-week Behavior Certification TeleCourse starting on November 13th. This comprehensive course prepares you to become a "Certified Professional Behavioral Analyst" and to administer the DISC assessment.

Every once in a while, we review a magazine rather than a new book release. This time, we are turning our attention to Inc. Magazine The monthly magazine's tagline says it all: "The Handbook of the American Entrepreneur."

"Inc." has been around since 1979, but still maintains its new kid on the block status among business periodicals. The magazine's annual issue listing of the 500 fastest growing private companies is a perfect snapshot of the leading edge of the business world.

On some level, "Inc." could be criticized as "People" magazine for start-ups, with a hodgepodge of topics and a celebrity-CEO-flavor-du-jour feel. A random sampling of recent topics gives you the idea: an interview with a tattoo parlor owner seeking to franchise; a list of the "8 over 80" top octogenarian entrepreneurs; "Understanding Geeks, a field guide to your tech staff;" and a review of companies providing services for generating income from websites.

In short, it's a fun read.

Yet, for all that, there are strategic reasons for giving it a shot. Think of it as a sieve that combs through the business world and catches all the interesting detritus. It won't replace "The Economist," but it does have its place. For those of you who self-identify as entrepreneurs, it can remind you that the business world, for all its uncertainty and viciousness, is a really exiting and fun place to be. And if you approach it from the other end of the spectrum - practicing your craft in a time-honored profession - it can be a terrific source for new thinking and inspiration.

-Petersen Thomas, Vice President, J.Ferm

"Running a(nd) Business: Sometimes you need to take the long shot"

There comes a point in every runner's journey when lacing up the shoes and heading out in the early morning becomes an uninspired routine. Similarly, when you run a business, the routine of the "daily grind" can sap your creative juices and leave you feeling like you're just going through the motions.

Last week, while heading out for a business trip to Sweden, I was reminded of the need to give it a shot even if you don't think you can score. As it happened, I was so busy getting ready for the trip that I didn't have time to run that morning. While boarding my flight from Columbus to Chicago (to make the connecting flight to Stockholm), I was looking forward to a leisurely 4-hour layover. Unfortunately, bad weather kept us on the runway in Columbus 3 hours longer, which left 15-minutes to change gates once I arrived in Chicago. If you have ever traveled through Chicago's O'Hare airport you know that this pretty much guarantees that you'll miss your connection. After finally taking off, I realized that I had two choices.

Option one was to accept the routine delays of business travel. After all, there was only a miniscule chance that I would be able to get off the plane in Chicago, find the shuttle to the next terminal, catch the air transit train over to the international terminal, go through security, and scramble to find my departing gate in 15 minutes.

The second option was to literally make a run for it, push my luck, ask kind people to get out of my way as I push them aside, charm security agents to let me cut the security check line, and yell: "hold the plane" while running through the terminal to find my gate.

The first option would make a whole lot more sense. I could stay overnight in Chicago, hit the hotel gym for a run, call a few friends to reconnect, email my reports, and take the next flight out in the morning. After all, I had a few extra days before my business meeting in Stockholm. The second option, though seemingly impossible, presented a challenge and an opportunity and it would put my running skills to the test. For those who know me, it would come as no surprise that I decided to kick it up a notch, give it a shot, and run for the gate.

Exactly 16 minutes later and sweating profusely (to my seat mate's chagrin), I reflected on my choice.

What made me run? Why try when the likelihood of succeeding was pretty much nil? One part was surely my competitive spirit kicking in, but another part had more to do with the determination to give it a shot, even if there was little chance of scoring. Wayne Gretszky famously said: "You miss 100 percent of the shots you never take" and in running a business, we often fail to take the long shot because we get trapped in the routine of doing what is known, comfortable, and safe.

This time, I took the shot and made the goal. Other times, I've taken shots and missed. I guess that's just life. But even the times when you shoot and miss you learn powerful lessons. Some of my missed shots include forming partnerships with people who didn't share my vision and hiring people who didn't work out. But looking back, I am glad I took those chances. After all, I wouldn't be where I am today without them. With each seemingly "missed goal" came a lesson, an opportunity to get better, and a heightened sense of getting it right the next time.

Sometimes making the decision to take a long shot allows you to reconnect with your inner strength, creative problem-solving skills, and it gives you a chance to stretch your limits. Next time you have a chance to "run for it," put on your proverbial sneakers and go. How else will you know how far you can get in 15 minutes? Worst case scenario, you'd get a quick run in!


For more information on "Running a(nd) Business, email us at: jessika@jferm.com