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February, 2007 
 Lesson's from the Kitchen
 How to Make a Great Stew, Company or Network
Recipe for Success
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Greetings!

Years ago, my mother gave me the secret to making a great stew. I am not much of a cook, but her advice makes a lot of sense when you are trying to build a great company, team, or advisory board.

  1. Use a variety of ingredients for distinctive taste.
  2. Be patient - Cook slowly, over a low heat to allow the flavors to build.
  3. Follow a recipe, but don't be afraid to adjust the season to personal taste.

 Use Flavorful Ingredients
 

Start with diversity. Recruit people with different backgrounds and talents to enrich the flavor. Have at least one person on your team with little to no experience in the group or industry. (Not a rookie, just someone with a totally different background.)

These individuals will keep you on your toes, asking why, challenging the status quo. They may make you uncomfortable and force you to stop doing things because you have always done them that way.


 


 Be Patient
 

Keep your team together. One year assignments are not long enough. Just as someone really begins to understand your business, they move on. As you recruit people, encourage them to sign up for 2-3 year assignments.

Teams that stay together have greater commitments to each other and team goals. Remember great recipes are not cooked in a microwave; they are slow, measured and organized.


 


 Adjust Your Recipe
 

Start with a plan, so everyone knows where you are going and what role they play.

Establish periodic review sessions to taste your stew. Are you on target, meeting deadlines? Do the action plans still make sense? Have there been changes in the business climate which require adjustments in the strategy?



 


 Serving Suggestions
 

Every great chef knows half the secret is in the presentation. An attractive plate or the right garnish makes the dinner more appealing.

Keep that in mind when selling ideas to team members, management, and board members. Each group will have slightly different tastes. Serve them the right amount of information in a format to which they will relate.


 


 
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Fishing Lessons February 27 Fee $49


Want to expand your ingredients? Networking is a great way to meet new people! Networking Junkies, Lorraine Ball and Pat Milner Share networking strategies in their popular "Fishing Lessons" Seminar.

Tuesday, Feb 27 - 8 - 10 am
Old National Bank
1430 S. Range Line Road

Seating is Limited! Register Today!

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