Apply Childhood Lessons to Your Business and Watch It Grow
By Tom Kline, Controller RK Auto Group (RK Buick, RK Chevrolet, RK Subaru, RK Scion, RK Toyota)
How can eight lessons we learned as kids lead to grown-up success? Our list continues….
Harry Truman once said he “found the best way to give advice to your children is to find out what they want and then advise them to do it.” Business doesn’t always work that way. However, the lessons of our childhood provide a foundation upon which to build our lives and our companies. Don’t miss the first three lessons: Grow Your Business On Child's Play by RK Auto Group.
4. Go forward by moving ahead.As a kid, you probably watched ducks swim across a pond, barely rippling the surface. Underneath the water, the ducks were paddling like crazy to stay afloat. Learn from them. It’s a sink or swim world—successful businesses know this and keep paddling ahead.
5. Be childlike in your approach to problems.Many situations demand unorthodox solutions. Don’t be afraid to think outside the box.
6. Ask for help.Know when and where to get help—even if things are running smoothly. Amass your resources, and find opportunities to network. Expand your business knowledge by taking classes, attending seminars, going to trade shows, and joining professional organizations.
7. Admit your shortcomings.Kids learn it’s better to tell the truth. Admit when you don’t know something. More often than not, clients will be impressed that you can admit you don’t know everything. Just get them answers in a reasonable timeframe.
8. Learn other people’s rules and how you can benefit.Not everyone plays by the same rules. And some businesspeople are more ethical than others. You can guard against harmful strategies by learning how to play others’ games. In some cases, you might not want to play at all.
Nurturing a successful business requires dealing with every situation to the best of your abilities. Don’t be afraid to seek out help. And keep paddling (even if it’s behind your desk). One final thought: A positive attitude is essential to success. So heed the ancient proverb that says “Don’t open a shop unless you know how to smile.”
Go back to Grow Your Business On Child’s Play by RK Auto Group.
Tom Kline is Controller of RK Buick, RK Chevrolet, RK Subaru, RK Scion, and RK Toyota). RK Chevrolet is the recipient of Chevrolet Motor Division’s coveted Service Supremacy Award four years in a row. This is an award, which less than 400 of the nation's 5,000 Chevrolet dealers have won. RK Auto Group has been included in the Ward’s Auto list of top 500 U.S. car dealers; and has received the prestigious "Genuine Leaders Award" for excellence in sales, service, and customer satisfaction. The dedication of each employee at RK Chevrolet, RK Buick, RK Subaru, RK Scion and RK Toyota made these awards possible.