The top business owners set the ‘rules’ of conduct for everyone that wants to work with them. Everyone is clear about where the boundaries are, what they can expect, what’s expected from them – and what the consequences are if they don’t perform.

That’s how you run a business.

By setting the rules that everyone agrees to, and having known consequences for poor performance - everyone knows where they stand.

By doing that they get great productivity from their people, suppliers, and custom

Or how bad their customers are?

Or how bad their suppliers are, or how bad their staff is?

Yet in the same industry and in the same area there’s’ probably a switched on business owner that is absolutely creaming it.

I find this all the time.

Switched on business owners have the same conditions yet they just seem to be able to make it work.

Why can they make it work?

And how can you do the same?

I have found that the best business owners focus on their business. And they focus on the things that they can control.

If there’s something happening around them, or in their industry that they can’t control – they don’t let it get to them.

They just adapt their business so that they can survive and prosper.

So what are they doing?

They are controlling their business.

Let me explain.

The media tends to talk about a handful of successful business people and the word ‘ruthless’ is often used.

For some business owners, they truly are ruthless. That’s their way.

I am not ruthless. And I don’t promote being ruthless.

However I am fussy and if I don’t like something I won’t do it, I won’t tolerate it and I’ll move to change it. Immediately.

You see I have found that very successful business owners have a low tolerance to pain.

Where as mediocre business owners have an extraordinarily high tolerance to pain.

Let me clarify this for you.

Mediocre business owners will put up with problem suppliers, problem staff, and problem customers.

The top business owners will not.

Top business owners will seek to improve the situation immediately.

Mediocre business owners tolerate poor performance. They will whine and complain about it – yet they won’t do what it takes to improve or eliminate it.

The top business owners don’t tolerate poor performance. And everyone that works with them knows it.

The top business owners set the ‘rules’ of conduct for everyone that wants to work with them. Everyone is clear about where the boundaries are, what they can expect, what’s expected from them – and what the consequences are if they don’t perform.

That’s how you run a business.

By setting the rules that everyone agrees to, and having known consequences for poor performance - everyone knows where they stand.

By doing that they get great productivity from their people, suppliers, and custom

I have found that the best business owners focus on their business. And they focus on the things that they can control.

If there’s something happening around them, or in their industry that they can’t control – they don’t let it get to them.

They just adapt their business so that they can survive and prosper.

So what are they doing?

They are controlling their business.

Let me explain.

The media tends to talk about a handful of successful business people and the word ‘ruthless’ is often used.

For some business owners, they truly are ruthless. That’s their way.

I am not ruthless. And I don’t promote being ruthless.

However I am fussy and if I don’t like something I won’t do it, I won’t tolerate it and I’ll move to change it. Immediately.

You see I have found that very successful business owners have a low tolerance to pain.

Where as mediocre business owners have an extraordinarily high tolerance to pain.

Let me clarify this for you.

Mediocre business owners will put up with problem suppliers, problem staff, and problem customers.

The top business owners will not.

Top business owners will seek to improve the situation immediately.

Mediocre business owners tolerate poor performance. They will whine and complain about it – yet they won’t do what it takes to improve or eliminate it.

The top business owners don’t tolerate poor performance. And everyone that works with them knows it.

The top business owners set the ‘rules’ of conduct for everyone that wants to work with them. Everyone is clear about where the boundaries are, what they can expect, what’s expected from them – and what the consequences are if they don’t perform.

That’s how you run a business.

By setting the rules that everyone agrees to, and having known consequences for poor performance - everyone knows where they stand.

By doing that they get great productivity from their people, suppliers, and custom

For some business owners, they truly are ruthless. That’s their way.

I am not ruthless. And I don’t promote being ruthless.

However I am fussy and if I don’t like something I won’t do it, I won’t tolerate it and I’ll move to change it. Immediately.

You see I have found that very successful business owners have a low tolerance to pain.

Where as mediocre business owners have an extraordinarily high tolerance to pain.

Let me clarify this for you.

Mediocre business owners will put up with problem suppliers, problem staff, and problem customers.

The top business owners will not.

Top business owners will seek to improve the situation immediately.

Mediocre business owners tolerate poor performance. They will whine and complain about it – yet they won’t do what it takes to improve or eliminate it.

The top business owners don’t tolerate poor performance. And everyone that works with them knows it.

The top business owners set the ‘rules’ of conduct for everyone that wants to work with them. Everyone is clear about where the boundaries are, what they can expect, what’s expected from them – and what the consequences are if they don’t perform.

That’s how you run a business.

By setting the rules that everyone agrees to, and having known consequences for poor performance - everyone knows where they stand.

By doing that they get great productivity from their people, suppliers, and custom

Mediocre business owners will put up with problem suppliers, problem staff, and problem customers.

The top business owners will not.

Top business owners will seek to improve the situation immediately.

Mediocre business owners tolerate poor performance. They will whine and complain about it – yet they won’t do what it takes to improve or eliminate it.

The top business owners don’t tolerate poor performance. And everyone that works with them knows it.

The top business owners set the ‘rules’ of conduct for everyone that wants to work with them. Everyone is clear about where the boundaries are, what they can expect, what’s expected from them – and what the consequences are if they don’t perform.

That’s how you run a business.

By setting the rules that everyone agrees to, and having known consequences for poor performance - everyone knows where they stand.

By doing that they get great productivity from their people, suppliers, and custom

The top business owners set the ‘rules’ of conduct for everyone that wants to work with them. Everyone is clear about where the boundaries are, what they can expect, what’s expected from them – and what the consequences are if they don’t perform.

That’s how you run a business.

By setting the rules that everyone agrees to, and having known consequences for poor performance - everyone knows where they stand.

By doing that they get great productivity from their people, suppliers, and customers.

On my 1-on-1 Business Coaching Program I take my clients through a process to achieve that in their business. And before you know it – my client is in control of their business and getting extraordinary results.

So take control in your business. Set your rules. Clearly define expectations, and outline consequences for poor performance. That way everyone knows who’s the boss, everyone knows the rules, and everyone can choose to play your game or not.

And it is a game. Just like playing a game at school.

In Australia we play cricket. And if you took your cricket bat and ball to school when you were a kid – you were the boss. You set the rules. And everyone had to follow them – because if they didn’t you’d take your bat and ball and look for some other kids to play with – that followed your rules.

Do the same in business. It’ll work wonders for you…

It’s your business – So take control of it.

It’s the ultimate vehicle for creating your life. So don’t let other people create it for you. Create it yourself and value what you do, value who you are and value what your business does.

If you don’t want to work weekends. Don’t. It’s up to you.

If your industry is tough and you don’t like it – move into a better industry… learn business skills and create another business.

Copyright © 2006 by Casey Gollan. All Rights Reserved