I’ve been pondering about snow shovels a lot lately. I know this is an odd thing to spend much time thinking about, especially because I live in the south and snow shovels rarely see the light of day (which by the way is a huge perk of living in the south). But, on those rare occasions when they have to be dug out of the back of the garage, I’m really thankful that we have one. And the simple fact that we have a snow shovel suddenly seems really smart on that cold, snowy day—and our neighbors are grateful we’re there to help! Here are a some of the benefits that the snow shovel can bring, when needed:
One, we can take care of our portion of the sidewalks which makes life easier for everyone in the neighborhood. Two, we can help those in the neighborhood who didn’t move from a cold weather climate and have never owned a snow shovel. And third, this can create what might be (and was)one of the most positive bonding experiences we could have with our neighbors.
So, what do snow shovels and my happy neighbors have to do with your business? Everything! Here is my point. I live in a state that rarely sees snow and usually if we get a glimpse of the cold white stuff, it melts almost immediately. That being said, we had a huge snow storm recently that left us with 9 inches on the ground and pretty much crippled our lovely city. Our snow shovel helped us keep our driveway and sidewalks clear, and helped our neighbors do the same. Is your business prepared for the snow storms that may come your way? Yes, they may be rare, but they still happen. In the event they do, is your snow shovel ready? Will your customers and colleagues be grateful or frustrated?
In business there are many things that can go wrong. Most do a great job of handling the things that go wrong on a regular basis—business usually requires that. But most do a lousy job of handling those things that go wrong only rarely. Perhaps it’s a product or resource shortage, a marketing typo or blunder, computer problems, phone problems, or some other issue. No matter which area of a business we work in, there are things that could go wrong, usually don’t, but someday likely will.
If you set aside the “in your face” daily activities that constantly demand your attention and devote some time each week, each month, and each year to thinking about the things that rarely go wrong, but might, and preparing for these events, you’ll likely find that, at some point, you’ll be able to turn a rare difficulty into a positive bonding experience with your co-workers, colleagues, and customers. You may even come out looking like a hero!
