Three investments you need to make in 2012!

Julian Consulting

Promoting healthy teams: The right people with the right fit, enjoying right relationships.

December 2011

Greetings!

"You've got to spend money to make money."

Cliches are expressions that have lost their original impact or meaning through overuse and familiarity. They may, however, still be true.

You may prefer to speak of "investing" rather than "spending money," but the point remains - if you try to get by spending as little as possible you will often miss the opportunity to be more productive, more effective, and to receive a greater return on your effort.

Three investments you need to make in 2012

Invest in better tools, other people, and yourself

Gold is not on this list - perhaps it should be, but that is a speculative type of investing that differs from what I'm suggesting.

Investment #1: You need to invest in better tools

Technology wants to be your friend. Investing in a newer smartphone with increased performance, additional memory for your computer, or better yet, a new computer (you should have at least 6 or 8 GB of RAM in a new computer these days) can each pay off in a short time.

There are a number of studies purporting to show that using larger computer monitors or dual monitors makes us more productive (this was part of my rationale in recently upgrading to a 27" monitor). Of course, it takes time to adapt to a new screen size and there likely are upper limits on the relationship between screen size and increased productivity. The point - buying your employees new monitors could pay off over time. Just make sure their tasks genuinely benefit from the larger screen.

As my business has grown I am facing issues of capacity. One of the larger investments of my time is producing session notes for my clients detailing our conversations along with the action items to be completed. This is critical to what I do and cannot be eliminated. My goal for 2012 - find out how to become more efficient in this area. If I can find voice recognition software that really works (I've tried several times), I will make the investment to save time so I can work with more clients.

Investment #2: You need to invest in those around you

No one succeeds without the help of others - even sole proprietors rely on vendors, clients who pay on time, and the encouragement of those who love them.

People provide the greatest opportunity for investment. The best leaders are not afraid to surround themselves with the strongest individuals who have complementary strengths (thus reminding the leader and others that the leader is not omnicompetent and has areas of weakness).

Invest in equipping your people with the tools and skill sets they need to succeed. Invest in opportunities to build the personal security and trust of your team members (this will pay immediate dividends). Invest in the shared financial success of those who make your organization function effectively. Invest in the continuing education of your workers. Invest in creative and meaningful rewards for specific behaviors you want to encourage. Invest in generous severance packages that send people away as advocates for your organization rather than as embittered former employees.

Investment #3: You need to invest in yourself

"That he not busy being born, is busy dying" (Bob Dylan).

You need to continue growing, learning, sharpening your skills. You need to be renewed in your vision and energy. You need to love what you do and view it as your calling. You need to invest in you so that you can be the best leader to those who follow.

In 2012 I'm planning on adding a new set of tools to those I currently offer. This will require an investment of time and money, but will help me continue to grow professionally and, more significantly, to better serve my clients.

I am committed to being a lifelong learner. I am amazed by what others know and how they make their callings look so easy. One of the best documentaries I ever saw was on Netflix and is called "Note by Note: The Making of Steinway L1037" (click for a link to the film). This film details the process of creating pianos that produce music that can only be made on a finely crafted instrument.

Make 2012 a year of "can't miss" investments. Invest in better tools, invest in those around you, and invest in yourself.

At Julian Consulting, we help you succeed as you invest in people. Team members who are personally secure and able to trust others make stronger contributions to your shared objectives. Leaders who know their strengths, surround themselves with the best people possible, and are committed to their calling inspire people to great things.

A new kind of office

Be the first in town to have your own Archipod!

Working from home is a viable option for many these days. But when I began doing so, I had young children and we had to lay down the ground rules for all involved. Saying, "Pretend Daddy left this morning like most parents and is working from an office somewhere away from home" just doesn't cut it. You still get the "Can I have a soda," "Could you drive me to Susie's?" "Would you like to play a game with me?" and so on. Just a few minutes ago I had to yell out to my three teenagers as they played the Wii - I was having trouble concentrating with the noise.

Enter Archipod - your own garden office that's in your backyard, but not in your home.

I mention this for those who like to plan ahead. Here's the perfect gift for someone who has everything (including at least some semblance of a yard), when cost is of little concern to the gift buyer.

For those who do not yet have everything and for whom money is still a concern, you can check out the link just to satisfy your curiosity: Read more about Archipod here. This is an investment in productivity that looks cool in a European sort of way.

Thanks for reading.

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Remember, I'm committed to your professional and personal success!