Or board reckonings?
Monthly reckonings?
Reckoning forecasts or vice versa?
*sighs
I have a slight head cold. Had it for the last three days. I’m consistent if anything I come down with an annual sniffle. It’s been early or late summer the last three years although my sniffles were caused by Covid two years ago.
It’s not a death bed sentence by any means I’m one of those fortunate people that rarely get sick. Once a year I get a physical brake. Yeah I spelled that correctly it’s a “sit and rest for a bit” sign of life that my ass hasn’t had enough bed rest lately. My down time is often spent traveling, camping and climbing fun rocks and trails to see the sun close up.
Fun hobbies. But ultimately they can wear you down over time. I take this as a sign to slow it down and smell the flowers. Unfortunately I can’t smell shit right now.
Also
Don’t lick your fingers while eating a delicious pastry right after you leave the gym without washing your hands first.
Listen
I’m well aware of the contradiction of working out and then consuming a cinnamon roll. The whole reason for the workout was so I could enjoy that cinnamon roll.
Sometimes you win.
Sometimes you lose.
Sometimes it’s a tie.
As I was deep throating the icing off of my phalanges my inner dialogue was casually telling me “shoulda washed your hands first”
Why?
5 days later “well shit”
Both of my nostrils are fighting for oxygen. They’re taking turns at the moment.
Poop
I feel like a car slightly stuck in the mud. I can pull out of it but another tire starts to spin as soon as I do.
wtf was I talking about before this?
Oh
Board meetings with your self
Yourself, sorry
I’ve been in management and operations for almost 30 years. From key, AGM, GM, regional and owner operator.
I’ve had my fair share of board meetings. I’ve sat in and hosted quite a few.
Forecasts
Analytics
Training
Conditioning
Addressing issues
Making plans for the upcoming quarters
I’ve spent a few thousand hours of my life in these meetings. I dislike them with a passion
But
They were necessary and advantageous
Your business needs a steering wheel, the road to success isn’t a straight line nor is it one consistent interstate.
Philosophies change
Trends change
Consumer spending, confidence and habits change.
Staffing issues
Consistency
Upcoming events
Forecasts and comparisons to sales of recent years
Are you trending upwards or downward?
Hours upon hours of business evaluations, tweaking of what’s working and what’s not.
A reckoning of your business.
I despised these meetings with my entire soul.
Necessity doesn’t mean coherence. I like to create. I don’t like the administration duties that align with it.
That’s all
I know I know, call the wahbulance
But
My little reckoning with my life for four years was just that.
A board meeting for me.
Manager meeting focused on Chad
My life was stagnant. It was no longer trending with me
Morph yourself into a small business for a moment. Your life, not your bank account, portfolios or personal wealth.
You
Your body and soul
Every week you sit with yourself for 20-30 minutes.
Forecast yourself
Where do I see myself in the future? Objectives, targets and aspirations. Are you trending upward or down?
What departments are falling short? are they physical? Mental? Emotional?
Are you trying to attain a healthier lifestyle? Relocating?
Can’t shake that ex? Scared to take that jump?
Staffing? Are you outgrowing your circle of friends? How do they influence you? Represent your long term goals?
My biggest pet peeve during these work meetings were the repeated offenses.
“We talk about this shit every week and nothing changes”
That’s a me quote. I’d pull out my meeting notes and show the entire room highlighted points of the same exact conversation repeated weekly.
Discussion without action
Frustration
Stagnation
I preached a good meeting. I knew what focal points to hit. I made P&Ls relatable, forecasts reasonable.
All the while my personal life was falling apart
I wasn’t practicing what I preached at home. And why would I? This was business. Not personal.
Well, I’m the CEO of me. I alone make all the decisions about my personal business. And I was managing it poorly.
Running it into the ground.
Ignoring my repeating mistakes and half assed efforts.
Poor staffing and maintenance.
I know I’m throwing metaphors all over the place.
When I split with my old business the only thing I put in my forecast at the time was simple
“We don’t move backwards Chad.”
Sideways for a bit is ok.
We don’t move or look back.
Don’t let that foot step a rung back. Oh I stood still on that ladder for a while.
I’ve talked about my list of bullet points I made for myself on an after long drive home from a hike. Same layout of notes as I would relay in a manager meeting.
Shortcomings
Addictions
Personal life
Perspectives
Direction
How do I revive my own personal business? Because mine was failing.
I wrote a long list dude. I’d missed years of personal meetings. I challenged myself like a frustrated CEO trying to turn the company tide. Lit a spark up my own ass.
Trying to save the company.
And I did. Well I got it in the right direction. My manager meetings with Chad are daily.
Every day we have a morning meeting over coffee and I my CEO asks me the following questions.
Are we in a better position today than yesterday? Are we moving forward or back?
What obstacles did we encounter and how did we deal with them?
What are we doing to improve a weak point?
What’s for dinner?
Ok that last one is my daily text with my wife.
This is my life now. A daily manager meeting with myself. Sometimes it’s a notebook review, some it’s a short mental recap.
It’s no longer a reckoning that’s time served. The business of Chad is in the black. We are in daily improvements and in upkeep mode right now.
Meetings are productive, we’re serving croissants with the coffee and everyone is flowing on the same page.
Meeting adjourned.
