CEO Manifesto

Now more than ever it's imperative to change perspectives from surviving to thriving in the new economy. A steady hand at the helm will take your company successfully through this storm.

What's the saying, "we cannot direct the winds, but we can adjust our sails."

Currently, we can't do anything about certain forces in our life, namely COVID --the wind, we CAN adapt to these factors and adjust our approach. A strong wind comes, or changes direction, and our best response is to adjust our sails to avoid sinking our boat. 

Adjusting our sails is sometimes counter-intuitive, like sailing upwind, this is called "closed hauled." We can take steps and “adjust our sails” to modify the circumstances. and so it is that I present the this year's CEO Manifesto:

1. I believe that when we follow a solid process, we get solid results! It's not "my way," it's the Standardized way.
2. I must believe this process works for any business, and that our situation is NOT unique!
3. I am NOT the "Boss, " I am the captain of my ship and therefore am responsible for every soul on-board.
4. I check my EGO at the door, because I must think of others, first. I must become a Servant-Leader!
5. As Captain of the ship, I must make sure that every station is covered by a well-trained person. I have to rely on that person's ability to perform their duties. I am NOT a helicopter!
6. I believe that my organization must become a Continuous Learning Organism, and that the newest person in the organization knows something the rest of us may not know. We must download and share this knowledge. We are never done!
7. As Captain, I must create a well-oiled machine, and build a T.E.A.M., where Together Everyone Achieves More.
8. I must create a Culture of High Performance. It is the responsibility of the ships officers to continually observe the performance of each sailor and provide feedback regarding their performance.
9. As Captain, I must look at the horizon and make financial decisions to get us into the next safe port. This will require that I make Long-Term financial decisions rather than Short-Term decisions that only benefit me.
10. I must groom my First Mate, as my right-hand. I must teach this person everything I know and help them to become a better Captain than myself!
11. Decisions are made using Data. We drill and practice until it becomes second-nature. We celebrate mistakes, and learn from them!
12. Everyone on the ship must know that they are Interdependent -- What one person does affects all others. One person off the rail on the other side will un-balance the boat, and can even cause an overboard situation!