Market Closeout

Framework for the future.

by Troy Marshall, American Angus Association

One of the saddest quotes I know is from Oliver Wendell Holmes; “Many people die with their music still in them.” We all have grand intentions, but if we are honest, our expectations and our results don’t always seem to line up. The two most common reasons are opposite sides of the same coin: we either don’t have a plan, or we spend so much time planning and waiting for the right conditions that we fail to act. While we all want to finish with no regrets, we often hope we can get there without much pain. In reality, the choice is between the pain of discipline or the pain of regret.

Everyone talks about the power of having a strategic plan and a vision of where you are heading. Yet as important as it is to have a plan, the most important thing we shape is the overall culture in which we operate. In some of our operations the team is relatively small, but we all are charged with building a team to succeed. Building a team or culture is the framework in which planning and action takes place. It is the primary determinant of our success.

The first key area to building a team for success is to bring the right attitude and a contagious passion. Are we looking for problems or solutions? Are we prepared to do what is necessary and live a life without excuses?

The second area is focus. Solving problems requires teamwork, and a good team can always accomplish more than a great individual. Focus means that we know our overall goal, and that we know our role in helping to achieve that goal. Focus and teamwork grow in importance as the challenges we face escalate.

The third area is continuous improvement. Your team must be improving. Are you better today than yesterday? A team is only as good as its weakest link. Are our actions focused on helping to satisfy our customers? Whether it be your business, your marriage or yourself, you are either growing or you are dying. Making continuous improvement is contingent on our willingness to embrace change.

The fourth area is having a plan and a vision of where you want to go. There are three things that will change where you will be in five years:

• The books you read,
• The people you meet, and
• The dreams you dream.

The fifth and final area is building the right culture. Lou Holtz says that boils down to three things:

1. 1. Do what is right — Can I trust you?
2. 2. Do everything to the best of your ability — Are you committed to excellence?
3. 3. Show people you care — Do you care about me?

These universal truths are the backbone of every strategic plan and help us to create the vision, team, and actions that lead to success. They are the framework for building a better future in this time of change.

Editor’s note: Troy Marshall is the director of commercial industry relations for the American Angus Association.