"The Secret to Getting Everything you want in life is...

"The secret to getting everything you want in life is helping enough others get what they want.”


Many of us recognize this Zig Ziglar quote that he’s been saying for 50 years. It was true then, is true today, and will be true 50 years from now.
Earlier in my career I consulted for a Franchise Company and helped identify key strategies for its growth while designing and creating much of the infrastructure for the organization. The business model was sound. Unfortunately, the Founder had his heart and focus in the wrong place. Each month he could tell me exactly which Franchise Operators had paid him on time, yet he could never tell me how much business each of the Franchise Operators had generated for themselves. He was preoccupied with filling his own pockets and genuinely didn’t care about the people that invested their savings (in some cases their life’s savings) and whether or not they were getting a return on their investment. This is the story of the golden goose, except that he had an entire flock that he was ignoring.


In the 1990’s the Chicago Bulls won six NBA Championships. Head Coach Phil Jackson was given the reins of the team and was put in charge of the greatest player in the game…Michael Jordan. In Jackson’s book, “Sacred Hoops: Spiritual Lessons from a Hardwood Warrior”, he wrote that the key to getting the Bulls to win their first championship was getting Michael Jordan to trust his teammates. Jordan was reluctant to pass the ball to forward Horace Grant fearing that Grant would turn the ball over. Once Jordan learned to trust and support those around him, they were able to win as a team. Their second Championship series was against the Phoenix Suns. With time winding down in Game 6, Jordan drove down the court with the ball while being double-teamed. The old Jordan would have forced the shot. The new Jordan spotted a wide-open John Paxson outside the 3-point arc. Jordan hit Paxson, Paxson hit the three and the Bulls won Championship number 2.

The story is the same. Once the focus goes to making those around you successful, success will find you.
 
Jim Pascale is a 20+ year veteran of consulting with small business owners and has comprehensive knowledge of small business management and franchising. Contact Jim at jimpascaleminnesota@yahoo.com.