"Will YOU Pull Up A Chair?"

Hello  



 

About this time of year – my wife and business partner Sharon, and I go through a process to help us focus our thoughts for the 12 months and its roads about to be travelled.

Although…

I remember us going through the same process (in another business) with one of our co-directors – sat around a swimming pool in a decidedly sunnier Portugal one year early in May.

What’s so brilliant about…

This process is the sheer interaction of everyone involved and how – after the subsequent agreements are reached-the paths through the days to come (or occasionally: daze)

are far cleaner, clearer and somewhat closer than before.

Now if you’ve:

Never been through this particular process then you are going to be just so delighted when you take the time to do it.

Let me explain:

The exercise is called: The White Table (or even the white room) – we’ve used both.

The idea is to mentally clear from your business activities absolutely everything you currently do.

So if you sell products – then for the sake of the exercise you have NO products.

If you provide services – then for the sake of the exercise you have NO services.

Your business has NOTHING to sell – nada, zip, zero!

Now…

Each person in turn has to state which SINGLE product or service they wish to put on the table.

And more than that – must put forward a cogent presentation as to precisely ‘why’ they believe this product or service should be considered for inclusion in your ‘offerings’ to your market in the following 12 months.

Naturally…

Anyone else involved in the exercise can put forward their thoughts as to why or ‘why-not’ – the product or service should be excluded.

You can imagine the lively debates that take place!

It’s probably a good idea to set up the rules for these exchanges – and for the criteria in bringing something to the table at all.

Next:

Someone else has a turn and makes their proposal for a SINGLE product or service they’d like to be ‘on the table’.

Now if you’re on your own…

Carrying out this ‘method of focus’ for the following 12 months then simple carry out the process on paper – writing or typing out the various ‘pros’ and ‘cons’ – making each item
on the table – justify its existence.

I’m certain you can see and probably feel too – just how powerful, provoking and pointing this is.

You’ve tabled your products and services

You have agreement about the business you’re in

You know the areas on which to concentrate

I wonder just how many business people can really say that?

You will pull up a chair – won’t you?

PPS: comments, thoughts, ideas, puzzles or laughter to: peter@tgimondays.com

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