Business operation colors are important to sound small business management. Recently, I found myself thinking about the opportunities I’ve had, to live and work in a free country, and about the miracle of PRINTING—the “wonderful world of COLOR”—that has enlightened so many lives since Johann Gutenberg’s day.
Have you ever considered how often we as people express ourselves by using COLORS to describe events, situations, even the passions of our lives? Colors mean something especially in business. Whether it’s job shop management or field service management, healthy operations is key. There are excellent tools for keeping small business operating in the pink, i.e. BPM – Business Process Management software and other type solutions.
Business Operation Colors for Financial Health
BLACK: In a climate conducive to free enterprise, it’s important for a business to operate “in the black,” to thrive and survive. As my friend Dave Ramsey says, “It brings Financial Peace.”
In addition, it eliminates ulcers and encourages owners to continue to risk all, building a successful company. Furthermore, with good credit a company can stay on top of the competition by staying on top of technology and retooling as needed. The right systems help a business stay “in the BLACK,” by eliminating waste, and giving owner time to grow the business by having chaos removed operations.
RED: Many small businesses find themselves “In the Red”, painting a not-so-pretty picture of debt and worry. However, there is a RED remover. Again, the power of well-planned written systems can eliminate waste and chaos that cause many companies to fall into the RED. It took years to discover that systemization promotes sustainable order in a business. As a result, bringing about a cleaner, more peaceful, “ROSY” environment for me and employees.
BLUE: This is a good description of the emotional state of many small business owners in today’s ultra-challenging market place. Uncertainty and pressure causes many to feel “BLUE” and often stops forward momentum.
As I wrote in my book, System Busters: How to Stop Them in Your Business, when there’s a shortage of encouraging news on the economic front, from staff, friends or even family, you can choose to give up. OR, you can do what King David of old did, ENCOURAGE YOURSELF! Read positive books, articles and other materials on productive thinking and doing. For many years, writer Zig Ziglar has encouraged thousands of business people and others to steer clear of “Stinking-Thinking”. In other words, stop singing the BLUES and you may not be BLUE!
Business Operation Colors for Solid Management
AMBER: You and I know that CAUTION is what many business owners feel in these times—leery of hiring or investing (if we have anything left) in an uncertain economy. I believe there are many ways to move forward in this economy, and with little capital. Again, one way is to systemize your business. When business slows down, I suggest you throw CAUTION to the wind and take the opportunity to work on improving your business processes. It pays great dividends!
GREEN: 1) Build business systems/processes that reduce consumption of resources—i.e. chemicals, paper, and other consumables used to produce products. 2) Provide tools promote low levels of waste, reducing the impact on the ecosystem. 3) As much as possible, eliminate all forms of waste, which saves energy. Not to mention, your utility bills. Green = Money!
For those who demonize industry for using trees to make products, they might remember that TREES ARE A RENEWABLE RESOURCE! To emphasize, trees removal for products is like harvested wheat, cut-down to make bread. If, as some say, the earth is millions of years old, it’s amazing that we never run out of trees—they just keep growing and growing! Good system!
GREY: Overcoming negativity in these times, requires commitment and willingness to move ahead. In other words, do whatever it takes.
It’s the GREY areas that hold many companies and owners in limbo. However, it isn’t rocket science and doesn’t take a lot of capital to implement quality control, service control and other cost savings systems.
Systemizing your company can be the key to huge savings, which can add to your bottom line—the difference between RED and BLACK.
Did I mention? Great Systems Work! (yes, even some GREEN ones!)
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