Almost everyone has played the blame game at some point. The rules are simple, if you get accused of doing, or not doing something, you need to deflect the situation by pushing the blame onto someone else! The key to winning the game is to ensure that no one is able to blame you for the things you have done incorrectly, or create enough diversions to avoid any fingers being pointed at you! If you play the game long enough, denial begins to set in and pretty soon the player actually begins to think he/she can do no wrong.

This game most always has a sad ending, with the winner more often than not, isolated, and suffering from a severe case of denial.

Playing the blame game is easy, it often starts off as an easy way to get oneself out of a sticky situation. The problem begins when addiction to the game sets in, and soon you are so far in the game that quitting is no longer an option.

Do your best to stay away from this game at all costs, for the betterment of your life, and for those around you.

With time, as your startup grows, the need to hire more people and build and develop support structures will arise. This is a critical point in the life of any new business. A company’s employees are essentially word of mouth agents, who go out to their families, friends and acquaintances, and let them know what it is really like to work at your company. If your employees are disconnected from your business’ vision, are not aligned with the core values that the business is built on, and are just paid wages in return for the hours they put in….do you really think they will care?

People are your most important assets. Unfortunately, this mantra is just a mantra at many companies. I admit that as businesses get larger, keeping that close knit working environment becomes more challenging. However, that should not be used as an excuse to dilute the passion, the basis which the business was found on. Many talented individuals join smaller companies,  not only to shine and stand out, but to be more than just another statistic at a larger company! As a small business, this is something we need to take advantage of and build a culture that not only rewards, but is transparent in operation.

The greater the level of buy-in by each person that works at your business, the higher will be their level of productivity. Before placing your customers as your number one priority, take a look at the people who work side by side with you everyday. Are their needs taken care of ? Do they feel like they are a part of the business that your team is creating? Answering these critical questions will not only result in a more motivated work force, it will result in happier customers, and in turn, happier investors!

There is no better feeling than working with team members who are in unison. A team where everyone knows where they are going, and how they are going to get there. Business becomes easier, simpler and a lot more fun. Even when the going gets tough, everyone is there to support each other and get through the rough patches. It becomes an even greater joy to do what you do, and this pushes you to push yourself even harder and faster.

Do places like this even exist in this world?

I truly believe they do. It is also true that harmony within teams does not appear magically one day. It is the result of a series of ongoing acts and events. It begins with picking the right partners and team members, followed by developing a vision that is supported by everyone involved, and lastly, a continuous effort to sacrifice personal desires and needs for the benefit of the entire team and greater good. It is all about team spirit and fervor. I have had partners in the past who could not make these personal sacrifices for the team and the greater good, no matter how well we got along with each other. This led to massive gaps in our relationships, and jeopardized the ability to move forward.

Harmony in the workplace is the common responsibility of everyone on the team. The leaders must however continue working towards re-inforcing the vision and values of the business. They do not however have the ability to solely create the desired level of harmony. If you are not happy with and within your team, think of ways to start making a difference today.

Is there a reason why Toyota continuously trumps its global competition year after year? The Japanese meticulously follow the philosophy of kaizen, which is the japanese word for “improvement”. It is a fascinating, yet simple principle. It has given the Japanese an edge over their competition in many industries. This holistic notion of not sitting still, rather continuously tinkering with a product/service to make it that much better, impacts hugely on an organization. When everyone is focused on improving several metrics by pushing the envelope, that is when true innovation takes place.

Apple could have stopped with the iPod enhancements after the first couple of generations. They had a product that was far superior to what the competition was offering, and had secured a market share that put them in a dominant position. Yet, year after year, the product kept getting better through gradual enhancements. Eventually, the product started to morph and further product lines were formed. Greater feature sets were made available, and they kept on cementing their lead in a market place replete with stiff competition.

It is a known fact that complacency kills. Not only in business, but in all aspects of life. The day we stop learning and wanting to improve ourselves, marks our eventual downfall. If you are a new startup, my advice to you is, release iterations of your product/service as quickly as possible. Start collecting feedback and listening to your customers. Keeping all of that in mind, make necessary adjustments and improvements in the identified areas. Rinse and repeat.

How is your business adding value to the industry you are part of ? What are you doing that is fundamentally different, or superior to what your competitors are doing? These are questions that all business owners should be asking themselves, on a regular basis. Way too many businesses are created without clearly thinking through how they plan to create sustained value for their customers. If the focus remains on just making money, there are many easier ways to do that rather than to own a business.

Thinking about starting your own business? Focus on how you will create value for each one of your target customers. What can you do to improve the current processes prevalent in your industry? Does your product/service solve a particular type of problem in the market place that has no viable solution currently?

If you cannot come up with a good reason why your business exists….it may be time to close the laptop, disconnect the phones, take out a pad and pencil and figure out what you want to accomplish, and whether this business is the correct vehicle to reach those goals.