Hello,
Reading time: about 2 minutes
Yes, this month's title sounds like a preachy nostrum, but it probably got your attention.
What we do as a consulting company is help people unhappy with some part of their business get, well, happy about it.
And there is a secret to that. . . explained below.
All the best,
Joe Grant
joe@joegrantconsulting.com
P.S. We help fix business problems. In the almost 15 years we've been doing this work, chances are we've come across solutions that may help you. Find out more by visiting our website.
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The Secret to Happiness
 A good friend who runs an agency told me he asked his psychiatrist this question, based on several decades of counseling unhappy people: What is the real secret to happiness? Without hesitation the doctor replied, "Always do the hard stuff."
Hmmm. That's not the answer my pal wanted. In our business don't we do enough hard stuff already, for crying out loud?
Then again. . . maybe the shrink is on to something.
Think about how you feel when you're struggling with a gnawing business problem. You stew about it, swing in and out of denial, and hope the issue will magically fix itself. Hey, it's easier just to pull the covers over your head and snuggle in the warmth of your comfort zone than actually DO something about it, right?
We see this all the time with agency owners - they'll revert to micromanaging art directors or inject themselves in account minutiae because that's easier ground than the gravelly path of facing up to some unappetizing task. But ask them point blank how to solve the problem they're bitching about and they'll tell you exactly what needs to be done - then blizzard you with dog-ate-my-homework excuses for not doing it!.
Suppose there's someone they should fire. Usually everyone knows what needs to happen. And by the way, the other guy knows things are corroded beyond saving, too. Hell, he's probably saying behind your back, Take this job and shove it, Bozo. The answer: do the hard thing; pull the trigger. When it's done everyone will be better off and harmony again returns.
Maybe you screwed up with a client but dread dealing with it. Pick up the phone and tell him you blew it. That you feel terrible about it, that you don't know how you'll ever be able to fix it. Tell him how you'll prevent it from happening again then offer a clutch of options to make things better. Yup, that's a hard thing to do but it's the right thing and certainly better than pretending no one sees the elephant under the rug.
It works the same on a personal level. Perhaps you know in your heart you need to face up to some behavior issues (pick it: cut out the crap you're eating or drinking, get more exercise, try to see more divinity in the "little" people in your life). Ask yourself, "What's the hard thing to do here?" Generally the hard thing will be the right thing.
A trick I use is to write out what I'm troubled by. There's something therapeutic about using a pen to address exactly what's got you spooked. It transforms those roiling dark clouds into specific manageable issues.
And that's what it's about: managing your issues, not letting them manage you. Which means you've got to do the hard stuff.
It's a sure way to happiness.
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For more ideas about better client/agency relationships, see the article archive on our website where you'll find a whole section about client relations.
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Heads Hunted |
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If you're a boss you better know how headhunters work. Or if you're looking to jump to another job, a "career search professional" could become your new best friend. Either way, this site will keep you in the know about resources and techniques. Visit Ask the Headhunter. |
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Rise 'n Shine |
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Trouble getting it in gear in the morning? You'll have no excuse for not hopping out of bed when one of these alarming things goes off. Could make a nice gift for that employee who never seems to get to work on time.
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Who's Flyin' |
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FlightAware offers an easy and fascinating way to track when your mother-in-law flies to town; it will also give you a new appreciation for the complexities of today's air travel. Remember, there are no traffic lights up there!
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Convergence |
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Broadband means you can watch pretty good quality live TV these days on your computer. Channelchooser lets you pick from scores of video channels, many familiar from your cable service, ads and all.
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Time to Waste |
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Marvelous as it is for personal enrichment and business, the internet also provides all sorts of ways to blow off your time. Imagine the fun you'll have at a site called I Am Bored.
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US in Perspective |
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Of course we think the USA is the best and biggest. But take a graphic look at how we fit in the world on this page offered by the Hive Group.
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The Hoax on You |
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Should have run this in April, but only now came across it. Nevertheless it may spark some ideas for next April 1st.
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About Grant Consulting
Grant Consulting, formed in 1992 by Joe Grant, is a consultative resource for advertising agency principals who want to improve their companies. The firm works exclusively with senior managers to help them discover and then reach their full potential. Copyright 2006 Grant Consulting Associates, Inc. All rights reserved. We encourage sharing in whole or in part if copyright and attribution are included. Contact us at:
Grant Consulting
239.394.8220
joe@joegrantconsulting.com
www.joegrantconsulting.com
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