Yes….Happy New Year to all of you. It’s that time of year that we all try to make improvements and make promises to do better in the next year. I do often wonder why we must wait until the start of a new year to improve.  Anyway, let’s see if we can help you this week.

Here are some interesting statistics about New Year’s Resolutions and the actions people take in the month of January to try and improve:

1 million – Boxes of smoking cessation gum, lozenges and patches sold in January 2008

99% – Jump in web visits to Weight Watchers in January

12% – Percentage of gym memberships sold in January (the most of any month)

42% – Jump in traffic on career sites in January

1 in 10 – Number of New Year’s resolvers who actually quit smoking

50% – Number of Americans who make New Year’s resolutions

25% – Percentage of people who fail after one week

Source: Entrepreneur, December 2009 issue

Interesting, isn’t it? I think the reason we do things is rooted in the personal motivation one has to do something. Or the benefits you will get from sticking to your resolution. Here are some suggestions I have used to get things done:

Get an Accountability Partner. If you want to lose weight, tell the people who can help you that you want to lose weight and ask them to partake in the endeavor with you. They can help push you and hold you accountable. Like many things in life, when you try to do things all by yourself, it’s not usually very successful; we all need a little help. This also works in business; I have two groups of contractors that are part of my ACE groups. ACE standing for Accountability Creates Excellence. I have seen the power of accountability at work with these contractors. We push one another and we help each other and we make sure we all do what we said we would do. So, what are you waiting for?  Get an Accountability Partner.

Think about what might happen if you don’t do something. For me personally this works really well and when I’ve taught it to others, it’s helped them too. If you don’t work out and stay in good shape, what might happen to you? You might have trouble later in life with your back and legs. You might not live long; as we all know, or should know, exercise does increase your chances for living longer. If you don’t save your money, you might have to work till you’re in your 70s or 80s. If you smoke, you are taking days off your life. If you don’t, you are adding days to your life. If you do some business planning for 2010, you have increased your chances for success, if you don’t, you might, I say might, go out of business. I think you get the idea. Think about what might happen if you don’t do something.

Do the Tombstone Test. At your funeral, what would you want people to say about you? I know, it’s hard to think about this, but I want you to. Remember, I’m in the job of helping people get better and be all they can be. To do this, I have to make my clients feel uncomfortable. Think about what you’d want your loved ones to say about you during your eulogy. I would assume that you would want them to say you were kind, honest, a winner, someone who always tried to be the best they could be and so on. I would think you’d want them to look at you as someone they admired and tried to emulate. So, if this is the case, what are you waiting for? Take some steps today to become the person you want to be remembered as.  Do the Tombstone Test.

It’s a new year; it’s time for all of us to try and improve. What is your motivation to improve? Who’s counting on you? What would you do if you knew you would not fail? Our world needs you, especially right now. Positive people trying to get better is unarguably the most influential thing we have in our world right now. I hope you agree and are ready to make 2010 a year in which you make permanent changes in your life.

Hello! For the past 51 weeks you’ve heard from me (or Matt Caruso). We’ve talked mostly about business, a little bit about health, wealth and, of course, family. This Holiday Season may I be one of the many to thank you for being a part of a successful organization and/or running a business and employing people. Let there be no doubt that you do make a difference and that your small business will play a major role in our country’s recovery.

Take some time yet this year to rejoice and be glad for what you have and get ready to make 2010 a year in which progress and stability take front and center. I know I’ll be celebrating a year gone by and looking forward to a new year. My Great Idea this week is to tell you to celebrate this holiday season! I’m giving you special permission to do so.

It’s a photo of my 2002 Toyota Sequoia hitting the 200,000-mile mark. It’s significant for two reasons. Number one, it’s been an excellent truck, still looks great and rides great and it’s paid for. (Dave Ramsey, eat your heart out.) Number two, it’s a lesson in leadership, I think. Let me explain.

I would love to have a brand new truck; to be honest who wouldn’t. New stuff is great, but after a while the newness wears off and it’s just transportation, right? But in a business environment where I have made cuts and my whole team at Grunder Landscaping Company is trying to save money and make sacrifices while we wait for the economy to turn around, does it really make sense for the owner, the leader of our company, to get a new truck? I don’t think it does.

I firmly believe a leader shows what’s important to them by what they do more so than by what they say. You know me, I’m a professional speaker; I speak to my people all the time.

Most of what I talk to them about revolves around our Vision Statement: Our Vision is … To be recognized by our clients, our team members, and experts in our industry as the best landscaping company in our market area.

And our Mission Statement: Our Mission is … To enhance the beauty and value of every client’s property while exceeding their expectations every step of the way.

And our 4 Core Values: The Grunder Landscaping Company is guided by four core values which create a framework for decision making.

1. Quality.  We must do everything the best possible way. We are completely committed to high standards in all aspects of our business. We will:

• Use the best materials and continually enhance our offerings.
• Hire the best team and develop new leaders through mentoring and training.
• Provide the best service and continually look for opportunities to improve.
• Commit to the safest work environment with no compromises and continual vigilance.

2. Leadership. We are a leader in our industry and our community and therefore dedicated to being the best in all that we do. As a leader we will:

• Deliver high standards in quality and service.
• Be good environmental stewards.
• Act with integrity and professionalism with our employees, clients, vendors and peers.
• Maintain an image that supports our mission.

3. Teamwork. We strive to work together with our clients, vendors, team members, and the entire community by:

• Showing respect to all.
• Supporting cooperation.
• Adapting to the ever changing work environment.
• Providing effective communication to all.

4. Profitability. The efficient use of labor and materials results in a profitable company.  Being profitable enables us to:

• Reinvest in new equipment, processes, facilities, and people to help us grow
• Provide for growth and opportunities for our team
• Help our team provide for themselves and their families
• Give back to the community

We talk to our people weekly about where we are going and what we are trying to do. We try hard to reinforce the behaviors that are consistent with these beliefs and stop the behaviors that don’t.  The above words aren’t just words, they are who we are and what we do; they serve as our compass.  So, if that’s the case, should the leader, me, Marty Grunder, eat, drink, and sleep them too?

My favorite quote that hangs in our office is this one: “Whatever you allow, you encourage.” My right-hand man, Paul Stoll, found that. I love it. And I think that is some great advice.

How I can ask my team for help but then pull up in a brand new truck? Doesn’t that send the wrong message? For now, my truck is just fine and I hope in a small way I’m teaching a lesson and showing that I too am making some sacrifices. I got a new radio put in it and I’m getting it detailed and it’s become a game to see if I can get the machine to 250,000 miles. Maybe one of you who gets my weekly Great Idea works for Toyota or knows someone who does; if you do, I can be hired as a spokesperson rather cheaply.

Many of you run small businesses just as I do. And we are all working very hard right now. The economy has taken its toll on a lot of us. My landscaping company continues to do pretty well. No, we’re not going to have a record year, but we’re going to be okay. And, quite frankly, I am excited about the future. My job right now is to keep my people motivated and engaged as best I can. We’re going to experience a turnaround in the future and I am going to need all of them to make my business work the way I want it to work. I suggest all of you look for ways to keep your people happy and show them you appreciate them. We do a cookout about once a month on a non-payday Friday. On a Friday during the summer, we brought in an ice cream trolley to go with the burgers and it was a huge hit. Here’s a photo of one of our team leaders enjoying the ice cream.

This week, plan something simple like this to show your team you appreciate them. Your competition isn’t thinking about this. It’s important to watch our pennies, but it is also smart business to spend some money on things that matter most. And in any economic environment, your people are your most valuable asset. Don’t just tell them, show them!