PreceptColab.net

I read another fantastic piece of literature from my favorite author, Malcom Gladwell, titled “How David Beats Goliath, How underdogs break the rules”.  There are some thoughts that really hit home for me and should resonate for any small to medium sized business operator.

• Stop playing by the rules of the game!As a small business you are already disadvantaged especially from a resource standpoint, then why would you complete with the big boys in the same way they compete with each other and expect to be successful?  Find the way that you can utilize your strengths to break the typical rules of competition.  One of my good friends helps small businesses do just that!  Rob Dempsey, CEO of Atlantic Dominion Solutions, recently started helping small to medium sized businesses become more responsive and flexible.  He calls it ADS Skirmish, this is one way to help change the rules of the game on the larger slower moving competition.
• Out work them!  This should be self explanatory.
• How can we change how the game is played?  Get an outsiders opinion!  My career path has been a winding road to this point, and there have been events that still stick out in my mind.  At one point I was working with a very large public accounting firm doing consulting work.  I was reviewing the business operations and culture for a large organization by interviewing senior management.  Usually individuals that are discussing these entity level issues with top management are older and more experienced then I was, and this seemed to be a huge hurdle for the CEO.  At one point he stopped and looked directly at me and said “I have been doing this for over 20 years, what can you tell me about my business?”.  That was a good question and he looked at the current situation from a view point common to experienced executives.  I had to respond quickly and BS wasn’t going to work in this situation so I plainly responded, “I can’t tell you how to run your business, but without having all the predispositions about how this business and industry operates I will be able to provide you with a fresh perspective and new ideas that you sir might be able to infuse in your business and make it better.”  He paused and thought about what I said.  He looked back at me and after a long pause said “great point, lets continue our conversation.” 

Sometimes we need to collaborate and pull information from industries, people, and sources that we would not consider under normal circumstances.  There is a sense of pride that my industry is different and if you haven’t operated in it you wouldn’t understand.  That may be the case, but someone that is totally unfamiliar might give you the idea that can change the rules of the game you compete in. 

Here at Precept Collaborative Network, we plan on changing the competition norms the consulting industry has operated under for many years.  If you are intersted in joining this network and changing the game please email me at

Hayden.olson@gmail.com

One of my cohorts from the Rollins MBA program emailed me earlier this week with a very intriguing question, and rather than just responding to him via email, I have decided to pontificate about my thoughts on the subject on this rarely viewed blog. 

The following is the email I received.

“The Chinese say:  crisis = opportunity.

What potential opportunities do you see in the current economic climate (in Florida and beyond) and how can you plan to take advantage of such opportunities now and when the economy rebounds?

Regards,
Allan”

First, I agree wholeheartedly with the Chinese proverb.  In my opinion, based on my experiences and observations, most every situation in life is cyclical.  Examples are been seen in the economic markets and the latest hot management trends.  So in order to combat the urge to react to all bumps along the way, I try to keep some perspective on business and in life. 

I heard once on the radio “recessions are nothing more than a half off sale for the rich.” that makes a whole bunch of sense to me.  Which is why a down market (temporary) is the perfect place to acquire or start (if you don’t have the funds) something that you intend to invest in and grow over the long-term.  The sage financial advice still rings true, “buy low sell high” even when starting something like a company or a small business on the side.   PreceptColab.net is a vision that directly responses to the current situation of the markets and local economy, on a global and local perspective.  It just so happens that at this time there are other market trends and social movements that intersect with this down market (to be discuss in subsequent posts), making the collaborative network an appealing solution to those people that may be feeling the “crisis” in a more direct way (highest unemployment rate since the great depression, 11.2% in FL).

Given the current employment situation, there are many experienced talented individuals that out of work and can’t find a job due, mostly due to the shortsightedness of many businesses and their managers.  PreceptColab.net is a way for these independent individuals to join a network of similarly experienced professionals that collectively form a consulting network with knowledge resources that can rival those of the large management consulting firms.  These individuals can form a small consulting business while maintain or seeking full-time employment and rely on PreceptColab.net for all the administrative matters involved with the consulting, such as billing, contracts, collections, financial reporting, etc…  And similarly to an investment, if diligently invested in overtime the small consulting gig may grow to the point those individuals no longer have to rely on shortsighted business managers for their family’s financial stability. 

We all need to take a look at what we can buy or invest in during this “crisis” or opportunity that can have wonderful returns for us in the long-term.   Keep your perspective and remember the saying, “in time that too will pass”.

Stay tuned for more information on how you can become a member of the Precept Collaborative Network (PreceptColab.net).

Yesterday morning I had the opportunity to volunteer with impactbrevard.org at the Brevard Zoo, working on the oyster restoration project.  To be honest the work isn’t glamorous.  We drilled holes in oyster shells then used zip ties to attach them to plastic mesh mats that will be laid in the Indian River Lagoon.

Beyond the stench, and it was strong, one thing in particular really struck a positive cord in me.

There was a father with his two children there to volunteer with us, and the oldest son was fulfilling a requirement by his school to do 20 hours of community service per year.  Initially I thought that was pretty neat that we are putting genuine requirements like that on our kids as they grow up, but then as the day went on something deeper hit me.  The requirement for the children to fulfill volunteer hours is great, but the example being set by his father is what made it stick out to me.  He could have very easily dropped the boy off and told him to call him on his cell when he was finished.

In business we, as managers, place quantitative metrics on items that are to be accomplished, similar to the 20 hours above.  We, as workers, are programmed (via performance plans) to accomplish our goals so we get our raise.  However, do we stop and think whether or not the true objective of making people volunteer is being accomplished?  Don’t we want people to see how fulfilling it is to give to someone or something else when it is unwarranted?  If this is the case are we marginalizing the objective by putting metrics on it?  Dan Ariely, author of Predictably Irrational would probably say yes, and I agree.  Children have the uncanny ability to mimic their parents behaviors and social norms as they grow up, so if we really wanted the children to give back and want to serve, then should the mandate be on the parents?

If so, then in business and as leaders shouldn’t we be putting the emphasis of giving back to the community and serving our customers on ourselves with the intention of having a more profound affect on those that may be looking to us as the example?

Therefore in addition to setting hard metrics for those who work with and for us, we need to be also leading by example for the more genuine goals.

I am a new father (2 week old baby) and I want to set the right example for her and for those who are paying attention in the business world.  The seeds that are being planted now may reap much more than we can imagine down the road, like that father volunteering with his two kids.

The best gift that we can give is not the action of giving itself, it is the continued return from those around us that look up to us for an example of how to live.

I will be at the Brevard Zoo tomorrow to volunteer with impactbrevard.org from 11-1.  I suggest everyone check into how they can give back to the community… very rewarding!

check out impactbrevarg.org on facebook for more informtation

Finished a good week of work, Gabby is still alive after 2 weeks, and there are some really great new business developments on the horizon.  Overall a solid week and hopefully a wonderful weekend!

It is a beautiful morning and a perfect day to start putting the concept of PreceptColab.net down in to a document that can be discussed with some key partners that I have in mind.

according to dictionary.com, Precept is defined as “a procedural directive or rule, as for the performance of some technical operation.”  Precept was carefully chosen to be included in the  name of the collaborative network.

more info on the way….