Clarion Communications

How do you measure success?

In business, there is only one way. You measure the success of the business with its touchstone.

Think of a builder who uses a plumb line. What’s the purpose? To see if the targeted idea of having the building remain upright has a chance of success.

To have the chance of success, the builder needs something to measure his work by, hence the plumb line.

But what is the plumb line — or touchstone — for measuring the success of the business overall?

After all, the business owner needs to know the walls are straight, the foundations are secure, and the work is being completed within budget. Otherwise . . . .?

You can finish that sentence for yourself. “Otherwise . . . he doesn’t know if these things are in place.”

Now the builder will use the plumb line and take corrective action to make sure things line up. When they don’t he fixes things.

So, too, must the business owner and his managers. When things don’t line up to the plumb line it’s simple.

Fix it!

If this seems a simple bit of business 101 for you, it might be. But how many businesses fail at this point? Thousands, every year. And you could be one of them.

No touchstone.

Therefore things don’t get measured.

Things that aren’t measured cannot be fixed.

Problems that don’t get fixed cost money . . . sometimes more than the business owner has at his disposal.

Now stress has set in, the business owner’s body system is not functioning in equilibrium, and his troubles are only just beginning.

Because if he doesn’t fix the business, he probably can’t get rid of the stress. And that is a killer.

Do you have a touchstone?