choose your business model

Last week my family and I crossed desserts, went through mountain ranges, and cruised through valleys and plains. The diversity from one ecosystem to the next - sometimes within the same state -- was impressive. 

I appreciated these diverse geographies. They were new and refreshing. When we returned to California, I realized -- like many others, I think -- that I prefer my home context. I've lived within that context most of my life. I don't think about how I live there, I just do it.  

If you operate a business or lead an organization, you too are part of an ecosystem. And, interestingly enough, unlike your personal life, the life of your organization or business is highly dependent on your operating or business plan. 

As we meandered through the states, we slept overnight in hotels along the way.  In every case, their business plan was obvious. These plans seemed to vacillate between two extremes. On the on hand were hotels generate profit by managing (limiting) expenses -- spend little and maximize revenue. In these hotels we enjoyed complementary breakfasts of powder eggs, bacon which tasted like cardboard, and second rate cereals. On the other end of the spectrum were hotels that lived to create a good experience for their customers. The hallmark of these hotels lie in attention to the details. The swimming pool was clean, the spa was hot, treadmills worked. The staff seemed to go out of their way to provide service and the bacon was really good. For these hotels, each customer was an investment in future revenue.

Regardless of the kind of enterprise -- for profit or not for profit, government, educational or religious -- your success lie in your capacity to identify your context (your ecosystem), foster understanding of that context within your organization, and operate with intention. Work your plan so that it resonates with that context and watch your business thrive.  

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