Leadership As A Business Strategy – Confidence To Go First

Is your business a leader in your industry? Are you considered a thought leader regarding your industry? Do you even consider these questions important to the strength and stability of your business? … You should…and here’s why!

In any race or contest, it is a simple truth…if you’re not in the lead, then you are playing catch-up! In business, if you’re not leading your industry segment, then YOU are behind and playing catch-up!

Personally, I’d much rather feel the nip of the competition on my heels than be running desperately, fighting off the other competition to close the gap with the leader.

Sure, some business owners will comfort themselves by pointing out that they’re not last in their category, maybe there are even competitors ‘following’ their lead…but that’s just a compromise. It’s an acknowledgment that they’re not first and they never will be! They’ve already lost the game, they just haven’t given up yet!

When you are the leader in your segment, your words have power. Your actions have consequences, and your choices move markets! When you are not the leader, you are being overpowered, moved, and whip-sawed…subject to the whims of your leader.

As a business coach, I see it all the time, the newly minted entrepreneur working diligently to focus on the goals they’ve set but working in a vacuum, completely oblivious to the market in which they play. No business operates on an island, immune to the influences of the others around them competing for the customers’ attention and money! If you accept that premise, then you must also accept that the businesses that will find success are those that direct and influence that market.

So what can YOU do to be a leader in your market? Here are a couple of ideas:
– Be Vocal! – Speak out about what’s going on in your industry, share your opinion. Yes, you will alienate some, but you will also galvanize others behind you!
– Challenge the Norm! – If you’re just like everybody else, then you’re only competing on price, and that is a losing game. What are you doing to be different and challenge the mediocre masses?
– Take On the Leader! – Even if you don’t win right away, take on the leader, challenge them, call them out, make them work for it! Yes, you MIGHT make some headway by supporting them…but how many others are doing the same thing. Once again, you slip into the quiet masses!

As our Quote of the Day from Rick Krug says, if you don’t have followers you’re not a leader, you’re just going for a walk. What will YOU do today to create followers and take your position out front?

If you’re not sure what to do next or how to implement leadership as a business strategy, I’d love to talk and help you create a plan to make it happen. Just click on https://www.ThomRigsby.com/coaching and schedule a no-obligation Discovery Session right now!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C03WxGWOwnc

A Life Worthwhile

What makes a life worthwhile? Well, if you believe Albert, it has something to do with living (working?) for others. Me? I think he was on to something. Read on and join in the conversation below.

I’ve shared my baseline belief statement many times, but, on the off chance that this is your first visit…welcome…and here it is again…

I believe we are each uniquely gifted, talented, and placed to do work that matters.

– Thom Rigsby

When I share that with people a common question I get is, “What do you mean by ‘work that matters?'” Wow! You were thinking that too? Huh…well, okay, let’s take a look at what makes work matter! I use a three part test for determining if your work matters.

First, does the work energize you?

Second, does the work challenge you?

Third, does the work align with your goals and values?

And finally, does it create opportunity and/or value for you and other people? And THIS is why we’re here today. We tend to be pretty good at seeking and creating value for ourself, buy how are you when it comes to creating value for other people? This is the crux of Albert’s statement, that a worthwhile life is on spent helping and creating value for others. When you focus and do that well, you will find joy and fulfillment beyond measure!

Take a minute right now and consider these questions about the work you do every day… about the work you are getting ready to do THIS day. Does it energize and challenge you? Does it align with your goals and values? Does it create value for you and others?

If you answered no to any of these questions, it’s time to reconsider the work you’re doing and begin pursuing better alignment with your purpose in life. At the time it was one of the toughest realizations I’d made in my life…and an equally difficult decision to take back the reins of my life. If you haven’t read my story, I’d encourage you to do so, here’s the link that answers the question Who Is Thom Rigsby.