Where do you belong?

My years in Corporate America felt empty. Management battled with the unions. Competition was often intense.
Not much socializing nor team spirit.
Turnover was high.
There was an occasional Christmas party. But it was rarely attended by the suits.
They usually had their own Christmas party.
Suits, like the Cabots, only mixed with suits.

It's different working in family-owned businesses.
We feel respected, appreciated, even loved.
We have a feeling of being part of something bigger.
It’s the foundation of all religions.
The foundation for civic and social clubs.
The foundation of successful organizations.
At our little family-owned businesses:
• We often get together for a cook-out.
• We make lasagna, spaghetti or chili for lunch.
• We do 99% of our planning together.
• We wind down together at 4:30 each Friday.
Beer, Cokes, wine, popcorn, small talk.

We work to create a sense of belonging.
We have low turnover. People help each other.
Our sales people even trade accounts.
If you get nowhere with one, someone else may.

Competition is aimed at our competition.
We don’t compete with each other.

Make sure your teammates feel that way.
You can’t put a price tag on high morale.
It‘s the secret to peak performance.

Want a free peek at my new peak performance book?
"What It Costs to Be the Boss" may change your life.
Just email me at this address.
Please send mailing address and phone number.
I’ll send you a four-chapter sampler from the book.

Are you in control?

Tom Ledbetter asked me to speak to his business class this week.
This always makes me think about the joy of owning a business.
My wife and I have owned and operated seven since 1982.
It gives you a great sense of freedom -- and responsibility.
It gives you control -- the pathway to a happy life.
A Gallup survey of 100,826 people confirmed that’s true.
Business owners control their lives and are happy.
Employees feel controlled by others and aren’t.
"Despite the recession, it pays to be your own boss."
That’s the conclusion of Gallup editor Frank Newport.
"The more control you have, the happier you are."
"I’m happy," you may say, "and I work for someone else."
That’s great. You must work for an inspiring leader.
Not everyone does. The corporate life fosters managers.
You’ll find too few true leaders in corporate America.
I know. I left corporate America and won’t go back.
I share this because I’d like you to enjoy what we enjoy.
We embrace each day's challenges and opportunities.
We reap the rewards of our successes.
Is there an entrepreneurial heart inside you?
You could control your own work and life as an owner.
You control your time and, to a large degree, your income.
You’ll be happy. It’s the only way to live.
My "Ultimate Guide to Business" will be out this fall.
More about that later. For more on leadership, click here.
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