Yes it is hot outside, but the type of heat I am referring to is the pressure one feels in the work place regardless of if you happen to be a hardworking employee or running your own empire.
Owning and operating the teaching facility of Starleen's Studio is incredibly challenging! Between making & marketing your artwork, order fulfillment, managing apprentices, running the shop, accounting, picking up students from the airport, website management, achieving projected cash flow, issuing purchase orders, juggling demanding wholesale orders, traveling to shows or conferences... well, you get the idea.
I am often asked how do you keep up with the demands of balancing out everything that needs to be accomplished. To be honest, I can't 100% of the time... unless I cut corners. For me, that is just not an option. I would rather delay cash flow than compromise workplace excellence. I believe all small business owners are left with the choice of either perusing excellence in every facet of your company OR just doing enough to somewhat stay afloat.
There are pro's and con's to either approach. Cutting corners means everything gets done ahead of time, the quick buck is made, & deadlines are met and on the surface it seems harmless. Here is the BUT... The price to this approach is that projects almost always needs to be reworked at a later date or you need to smooth over an account that did not get everything as promised in a timely manner. The long-term ripple effect is a decline of repeat loyal customers due to negative experiences (regardless of how great your product is). Shifty managers or owners will say " I cannot afford to have one employee focus on problem resolutions presently.... who will answer the phones? Besides every business has fall out". To me this talk translates to blah blah ba blah blah... blah. By the time they get done with you, it will sound as if your crazy to put yourself in the clients position and somehow twist it into their fault and yours for entertaining that they even have a valid point! I call it "Suit Talk" and it is a language all it's own.
On the other hand the practice of excellence will cause you to spend more time than necessary fixing a problem with a customer, distributor, or supplier REGARDLESS of how small or large the problem may be. Yes, it takes time to do so, and almost always there is no time in your day planner to fix the source of error and every repercussion caused by the ripple effect. BUT if you don’t spend the time nurturing your business relationships NOW, you will spend triple the time nurturing the people in your contact manager later on after their guard is up.
I have worked for many large businesses, accepted consulting contract work, then tried to work for a small NJ 3rd generation manufacturing company. The absolute worst offender was the 3rd generation machine shop. Why? In my opinion they lack the manpower to allow one or two employees's to focus their attention and see a problem through from start to finish. As a result there are stacks and stacks of accumulated problems everywhere in their offices. They lacked long-term vision that will secure future success because of the fight for survival in today's slow economy. They only live in the moment... Sad.
I had one terrific boss in a larger company of 800 employees. She recognized the value of a workers with a high level of integrity and work ethic. Her pride took a back seat to owning up to being wrong for the sake of those around her. She often took heat for slow progress during systems integration. Constantly reprimanded for over analyzing and not thinking on a high level, but she stood by her approach to think about all the details and do it right even if it meant slower. She allowed fall out and played "catch-up" but was honest about it during her conversations with vendors and customers alike. If the company was in the wrong, she made it right for the customer at all costs. A real stick you neck out stand up person. As a result her department shined and served as crutches for other departments that crumbled during rollout of systems integration. Smart lady. She more than anyone else taught me that no matter what I decided to involve myself in business wise, to make sure they were a stand up operation. If not, turn in your resignation professionally and run for your life before their practices pollute your passion for excellence. She told me once " Even if our backs are turned, you will always do the right thing. Compromise of work ethic of any type eats at you Starleen. It is how you are designed. Even if you stack cans on a grocery store shelf, you would rather make the manager mad than do it incorrectly as instructed just to save on time. That is a leader... "
All of these experiences formed how I conduct business today. I made the decision upfront to run Starleen's Studio with integrity, hard work & the practice of excellence in every way. Sure I might drive apprentices NUTS & items NOT on the high priority pile will sit for up to 3 weeks mocking me for completion. BUT oh the pride felt when my collectors and students spread the word of how the craftsmanship is beyond fantastic or how great their hot glass experience was in my shop. That is priceless and makes taking the heat of juggling priorities worth it all.
So can you take the heat of running your own business with excellence regardless of the cost? ~ Starleen
History of glass molds
