I have nothing against numbers. I believe in the bottom line as much as the next business person. (And, fundamentally, that’s what I am–a business person. Except maybe without the silly, stereotypical baggage).
But these days, when numbers–like profits, for example–are harder to hit, we’re tempted to focus on them even more. Obsess on them, even. Sometimes to the exclusion of the stuff that, ironically, is the precursor to the very numbers we’re trying to create.
Of course, when numbers are good we get paid and rewarded accordingly. If you focus solely on the so-called “bottom line,” however, you’ll miss something vital–call it soul, call it meaning, call it impact. Call it your legacy–that which you leave behind that means something to people, that will enable your influence and assistance to continue even after you’re gone.
You know. The good stuff of the human experience.
Tom Peters once said his nightmare is to have his tombstone read, “He made budget,” a nightmare we should all share.
Instead, push yourself and your company to do good work, to do important work. If you can do that, the numbers will follow.
And as a bonus, your tombstone will be a whole lot more inspiring, too.
Thanks for the reminder that numbers are just the tools we use to get bigger things done. Right now, with the focus on damage control and cash flow it would be easy to let real opportunities slip through our grasp.
Thanks for the reminder that numbers are just the tools we use to get bigger things done. Right now, with the focus on damage control and cash flow it would be easy to let real opportunities slip through our grasp.
Steve:
Great post, and a message we’re not hearing a whole lot lately. Fred’s right, there certainly is plenty of opportunity right now to do good and important charity work that benefits others. With so many people hurting, it’s nice to step back and take your eye off #1.
Steve:
Great post, and a message we’re not hearing a whole lot lately. Fred’s right, there certainly is plenty of opportunity right now to do good and important charity work that benefits others. With so many people hurting, it’s nice to step back and take your eye off #1.
Numbers aren’t everything but they sure have to count. With business owners, they usually start up a business and then a while into the prorgram they throw up and it’s because of the numbers. Then they learn to grow up and begin tracking their finances. Then they are true business entrepreneurs.
I read on a top marketer’s blog that you should not expect to get paid for the things you love to do. Not sure about that.
Numbers aren’t everything but they sure have to count. With business owners, they usually start up a business and then a while into the prorgram they throw up and it’s because of the numbers. Then they learn to grow up and begin tracking their finances. Then they are true business entrepreneurs.
I read on a top marketer’s blog that you should not expect to get paid for the things you love to do. Not sure about that.
J.B.:
Of course numbers count. Said another way, of course we count numbers. It would simply be irresponsible to run a business without paying fastidious attention to the bottom line–all I’m saying is that we shouldn’t confuse that with the understanding of what creates the bottom line in the first place.
As for not getting paid for the things you love to do? We have a name for that: it’s called a hobby. You should absolutely expect to get paid for the things you love to do if you can create the business case for those things (numbers again!) and/or apply what you love to do to the paid work at hand.
I love my work–writing, speaking, consulting, etc–and I’m not the slightest bit embarrassed or ashamed to say that I get paid well for it. That’s the ideal any business person should strive for.
J.B.:
Of course numbers count. Said another way, of course we count numbers. It would simply be irresponsible to run a business without paying fastidious attention to the bottom line–all I’m saying is that we shouldn’t confuse that with the understanding of what creates the bottom line in the first place.
As for not getting paid for the things you love to do? We have a name for that: it’s called a hobby. You should absolutely expect to get paid for the things you love to do if you can create the business case for those things (numbers again!) and/or apply what you love to do to the paid work at hand.
I love my work–writing, speaking, consulting, etc–and I’m not the slightest bit embarrassed or ashamed to say that I get paid well for it. That’s the ideal any business person should strive for.
If you don’t love it…why do it? You devalue yourself and inflate the value of the task by simply doing because you HAVE TO. And how well will you do it if your heart isn’t in it and isn’t the heart where love lives and your actions where the love in your heart takes flight?
Things done with passion are the most fulfilling and satisfying. Passion is impossible without love.
And, if you drive down the highway and only look at the speedometer, you’ll miss all of the great scenery along the way. If numbers are why you exist…you won’t exist very long. I would suggest that our current financial opportunity is the result of too much honor and love being given to the numbers and the generation of the numbers and not enough time and effort being spent on the things that really matter – people and relationships.
The real bottom line is living with love and passion and doing what you do best. The numbers and the money will then follow.
If you don’t love it…why do it? You devalue yourself and inflate the value of the task by simply doing because you HAVE TO. And how well will you do it if your heart isn’t in it and isn’t the heart where love lives and your actions where the love in your heart takes flight?
Things done with passion are the most fulfilling and satisfying. Passion is impossible without love.
And, if you drive down the highway and only look at the speedometer, you’ll miss all of the great scenery along the way. If numbers are why you exist…you won’t exist very long. I would suggest that our current financial opportunity is the result of too much honor and love being given to the numbers and the generation of the numbers and not enough time and effort being spent on the things that really matter – people and relationships.
The real bottom line is living with love and passion and doing what you do best. The numbers and the money will then follow.